Sound Design MSc

The University of Edinburgh

Course modalities offered

On campus - h Edinburgh College of Art
Sep 1, 2024 Part-time - 2 years

On campus - h Edinburgh College of Art
Sep 1, 2024 Full-time - 1 years

Key Course Facts

Student Satisfaction	83%
Salary after 15 months	£23000
Number of students	48 graduates / year
Unemployment Rate	5% 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	0% Proportion of students of Sound Design MSc 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
Duration	2 years - Part-time
Campus	On campus - Edinburgh College of Art
Degree	Master of Science, MSc
Subject	Audio Technology

Student Satisfaction	83%
Salary after 15 months	£23000
Number of students	48 graduates / year
Unemployment Rate	5% 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	0% Proportion of students of Sound Design MSc 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
Duration	1 years - Full-time
Campus	On campus - Edinburgh College of Art
Degree	Master of Science, MSc
Subject	Audio Technology

Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 30 graduates of Sound Design MSc at The University of Edinburgh for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Finance, Banking, Corporate Finance, Fintech.

Overall student satisfaction

83 /100

30 total respondents

	The University of Edinburgh, Sound Design MSc	Average review score among all Audio Technology courses in the UK
Explanations	82	82
Interesting courses	75	65
Intellectually stimulating	82	77
Challenged to do my best	82	85
Depth of concepts	82	91
Builds on previous learnings	75	73
Joined ideas from different topics	75	91
Balance directed/independent study	50	56
Applicability of course content	75	59
Clear criteria in markings	75	79
Fair assessment	82	79
Tests reflected your learning	71	82
Timely feedback	68	82
Helpful feedback	57	76
Approachability of teachers	71	70
Support from teachers	75	85
Organisation of courses	71	52
Communication of changes	82	78
IT facilities	93	79
Library	93	91
Course specific resources	89	91
Student feedback opportunities	71	79
Student feedback valued	75	85
Student's feedback acted upon	57	64
Work of student union	63	76
Mental wellbeing services	81	76
Overall satisfaction	83	54

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 Graduates in Accounting

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Finance, Banking, Corporate Finance, Fintech at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£23000	£29500	£39500
25-75 percentile range	£21000 - £30000	£23500 - £34000	£29500 - £48000

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Accounting courses of The University of Edinburgh

Salary of all UK Graduates of Accounting

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£24406	£24662	£30689
25-75 percentile range	£21389 - £28940	£19296 - £31978	£22604 - £41672

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

Course Description

If you've studied sound or music technology at university, been working in sound professionally, or if you've been experimenting with sound as a composer, designer, sound artist or engineer and are looking for a way to develop your voice, this programme may be for you.

We balance challenging practical project work with theoretical study and this creates an inspiring and motivating work environment. We also run an annual festival of experimental electronic music called Dialogues, which students often participate in.

Studying for an MSc in Sound Design will expand your craft and appreciation of opportunities for sound design across a range of media, musical and artistic practices. Our programme is practice-led and strongly interdisciplinary and we encourage students to create innovative and expressive sound media including the study of:

film sound
interactive game-audio design
sound installation and sonic art
sound software design
creative music and compositional practices

Our programme has over 20 years’ experience of teaching, learning and exploring the limits of sound design as a creative practice, academic discipline and career training. Our students are an international cohort of sound enthusiasts, working in a stimulating practical context, and make use of a wide-range of production studios, software and hardware in a lively university environment.

Graduates of the programme will have professional, practical, analytical and intellectual skills to take into sound-related industries or further study.

Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Association of International Accountants (AIA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System.

Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

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
Total respondents	15
Unemployed	5%
Studying	0%
Working	55%
Both studying and working	30%
No information	5%

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	80%	20%
Utilise skills from studies	65%	35%
Work is meaningful	95%	5%

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

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% Skilled jobs

	% Skilled jobs
Highly-skilled jobs	75%
Non highly-skilled jobs	25%
Skill level unknown or unclassified	0%

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

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

Example below based on all graduates of Sound Design MSc at The University of Edinburgh

75%	Media Professionals
25%	Teaching Professionals

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

Grading & Study Time

Assessment Methods

Study Time Distribution

Assessment Methods
	Coursework	Percentage of assessment by practical exams	Written exams

Study Time Distribution
	Scheduled learning and teaching	Guided independent study	Placements
year 1	23%	77%	0%
year 2	22%	78%	0%
year 3	15%	85%	0%
year 4	10%	90%	0%

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Average UCAS Tariff Score 195

Tariff score	% Students accepted for this course
<48	5
48-63	0
64-79	0
80-95	0
96-111	0
112-127	5
128-143	5
144-159	10
160-175	5
176-191	5
192-207	15
208-223	15
224-239	5
>240	30

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

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

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements.

Costs

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

University Rankings

Positions of The University of Edinburgh in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of The University of Edinburgh in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

- #1
- #16
Music

CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
[Published 08 June, 2023]
- #5
- #58
Music

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

See all 40 university rankings of The University of Edinburgh

About The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is located in the Scottish city of the same name, and is one of the oldest universities in the entire United Kingdom, having opened in the year 1583. The university enjoys a strong reputation for its contributions to international research efforts, which is reflected in their inclusion in the Russell Group, Universitas 21, and Una Europa. Edinburgh offers its residents a historic yet modern city, with a lively nightlife scene, reliable public transport, and friendly locals.

List of 686 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Edinburgh - Course Catalogue

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Sound Design MSc

The University of Edinburgh

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews