Music and Sound Design BA (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

Key Course Facts

Student Satisfaction	65%
Salary after 15 months	£18000
Number of students	12 graduates / year
Unemployment Rate	0% unemployed Proportion of students of this particular course unemployed and not studying 15 months after their course ended. Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
Student Dropout Rate	5% Proportion of students of Music and Sound Design BA (Hons) who are not continuing into their following year of study or have not been awarded a qualification in either of the two comparison years. Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
Tuition Fees	£9250 Tuition (UK) £20800 Tuition (International) Tuition fees per year for Music and Sound Design BA (Hons) at Queen's University of Belfast UCAS course summary. Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023
Duration	3 years - Full-time
Campus	On campus - Main Site
Degree	Bachelor of Arts (Honours), BA (Hons)
Subject	Music, Audio Technology, Music Production

Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 10 graduates of Music and Sound Design BA (Hons) at Queen's University of Belfast for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Music.

Overall student satisfaction

65 /100

10 total respondents

	Queen's University of Belfast, Music and Sound Design BA (Hons)	Average review score among all Music courses in the UK
Explanations	100	100
Interesting courses	78	94
Intellectually stimulating	80	91
Challenged to do my best	80	92
Depth of concepts	80	89
Builds on previous learnings	90	91
Joined ideas from different topics	70	85
Balance directed/independent study	80	80
Applicability of course content	90	87
Clear criteria in markings	80	82
Fair assessment	90	91
Tests reflected your learning	70	93
Timely feedback	60	86
Helpful feedback	70	84
Approachability of teachers	90	87
Support from teachers	90	95
Organisation of courses	70	87
Communication of changes	80	85
IT facilities	90	89
Library	78	85
Course specific resources	90	93
Student feedback opportunities	50	84
Student feedback valued	70	87
Student's feedback acted upon	50	75
Work of student union	38	78
Mental wellbeing services	50	77
Overall satisfaction	65	87

Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
This particular course

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of Music

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£21455	£18360	£22141
25-75 percentile range	£17911 - £25024	£13492 - £22848	£16777 - £27979

Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Music courses in the UK

Course Description

The Music and Sound Design programme is designed for musicians interested in composing music and designing sound for a wide range of contexts but with particular emphasis on film and theatre. Students will gain practical knowledge and experience of composing in the studio, composing for instrumental forces, song-writing and scoring for picture. Working alongside leading audio professionals students will also learn innovative methods of capturing, synthesising and manipulating sound, enabling the design of sonic environments to accompany picture, stage productions, radio and gaming.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

	Graduates of this course	All UK graduates of undergraduate studies in Music
Total respondents	10	120
Unemployed	0%	3%
Studying	20%	6%
Working	60%	75%
Both studying and working	10%	11%
No information	10%	6%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Current jobs

Job in line with future plans

Utilise skills from studies

Work is meaningful

	Agree or strongly agree	Disagree
Job in line with future plans	55%	45%
Utilise skills from studies	45%	55%
Work is meaningful	75%	25%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% Skilled jobs

	% Skilled jobs
Highly-skilled jobs	65%
Non highly-skilled jobs	35%
Skill level unknown or unclassified	0%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Music courses of Queen's University of Belfast

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Music and Sound Design BA (Hons) at Queen's University of Belfast

30%	Business and public service associate professionals
20%	Engineering professionals
20%	Managers, directors and senior officials
5%	Information Technology Professionals
5%	Administrative occupations
0%	Business and public service associate professionals
0%	Engineering professionals
0%	Finance Professionals
0%	Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
0%	Business and public service associate professionals

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Average UCAS Tariff Score 177

Tariff score	% Students accepted for this course
<48	0
48-63	0
64-79	0
80-95	0
96-111	0
112-127	0
128-143	10
144-159	40
160-175	15
176-191	0
192-207	15
208-223	0
224-239	10
>240	10

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Your-Country/

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Music and Sound Design, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Music and Sound Design BA (Hons)

England UK	£9250	year 1
Scotland	£9250	year 1
Wales	£9250	year 1
Channel Islands	£9250	year 1
Northern Ireland	£4710	year 1
Ireland	£4710	year 1
EU	£20800	year 1
International	£20800	year 1
Northern Ireland	£4750	year 1
Ireland	£4750	year 1

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent	£518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home)	£50
Supermarket shopping	£81
Clothing	£35
Eating out	£33
Alcohol	£27
Takeaways / food deliveries	£30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food)	£24
Holidays and weekend trips	£78
Transport within city	£17
Self-care / sports	£20
Stationary / books	£13
Mobile phone / internet	£13
Cable TV / streaming	£7
Insurance	£51
Other	£95

Average student cost of living	£1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Queen's University of Belfast in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Queen's University of Belfast in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

- #1
- #19
Music

CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
[Published 08 June, 2023]
- #1
- #44
Music

The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
[Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 30 university rankings of Queen's University of Belfast

About Queen's University of Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is a public institution that has enjoyed international repute for the majority of the institution’s time as an educational centre, and this is reflected today in their impressive University Rankings from Times Higher Education and QS. With the university’s significant reputation for research prominence and academic results, and the city life on offer from Ireland’s capital, QUB deserves the consideration of any student hoping to excel in their field while also creating fond memories while they do it.

List of 326 Bachelor and Master Courses from Queen's University of Belfast - Course Catalogue

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Music and Sound Design BA (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews