How much experience do I need for this course?

You'll need relevant experience in music production, either through a degree or professional work. We welcome applications from people with industry experience as well as academic qualifications. In addition to the academic entry requirements of the course which can be found at the bottom of this page we are also looking for: Skills & Experience Experience with Digital Audio Workstations and music production fundamentals Desire to learn new skills and explore diverse income streams Strong work ethic Strong sense of autonomy Excellent time management skills Experience of research or a strong willingness to develop research skills quickly Have created a number of finished music productions Desirable Skills & Experience Fundamental mixing and mastering skills A basic knowledge of Mac OSX

How much time will I need to commit?

Full-time students should expect to commit around 40 hours per week, with approximately 6-8 hours of taught sessions and the remainder as self-directed study. Part-time students should expect to commit around 20 hours per week, with approximately 3-4 hours of taught sessions and the remainder as self-directed study.

Do I need my own equipment?

Yes, you'll need your own production setup to study online. This should include: A computer capable of running a professional DAW An audio interface Studio monitors or high-quality headphones A microphone for recording A MIDI controller/keyboard Most modern DAWs will be suitable for the course. You'll receive detailed equipment specifications when you enroll. Our team can advise on recommended setups to suit your budget.

Can I access campus facilities as an online student?

Access to our campus facilities in Bristol, Manchester and Plymouth depends on your UK residential status. If you have the right to study in the UK, you can use our studios, library resources and study spaces. Contact our admissions team to check your eligibility.

What kind of support is available?

You'll receive regular tutorials, technical support, and career guidance throughout your studies. Our industry-active tutors provide ongoing feedback on your work.

Develop advanced music production skills and prepare for a professional career in the audio industry. This music production master's degree combines technical expertise, creative development, and industry-focused learning to help you succeed as a music producer.

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Key Information

Where can I study?
Online
Start Date
September 2025
Study Modes
Full-Time / Part-Time
Course Length
1 Year (FT) / 2 Years (PT)
UK/Home Fees (Per Year)
£8500 (FT) / £4250 (PT)

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Course Overview

Advance your career as a professional music producer through intensive studio work, professional development, and industry-focused learning. Our MA Music Production combines advanced music production techniques with essential business knowledge, preparing you for success in today's music industry.

You will learn how to enhance your music production skills, carefully refining your approaches to become more productive, and gain a highly sophisticated understanding of the mixing and mastering process. You will have opportunities to explore new or established areas of your creative practice, pushing boundaries and achieving innovative results. You will also focus on your development as a professional music producer, focusing on exploiting opportunities and planning your career, leading on to a large scale creative project in which you will choose a specialist focus.

Why choose this course?

Study Flexibly: Balance your studies alongside your current work or studio projects. Access expert teaching, industry masterclasses and comprehensive resources wherever you're based, with live and on-demand sessions.
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Professional Production Skills: Develop advanced techniques, with expert guidance on both creative and technical aspects of production
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Specialist Focus: Shape your studies around your career goals through flexible modules and a self-directed final project
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Industry Integration: Connect with active professionals through our guest lecture program, featuring insights from successful producers, engineers, and music industry experts
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Business Ready: Build essential knowledge in project management, client relationships, and marketing strategies for a sustainable career
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Creative Community: Work alongside fellow producers and audio professionals through our online community.

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In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from industry experts through regular guest lectures and have access to our video archive of past guest speakers.

This course is also available to study on campus for UK Home Based students.

View online course details.

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Register your interest

This course is delivered at dBs Institute. Taught and awarded by Access Creative College

This course is taught by the dBs Institute and awarded by Falmouth University

Course Details

You’ll study a total of 5 modules including a final major project, over three trimesters (Full-time) / six trimesters (Part-time). Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes.

A student works on a project using a multi screen setup

Year Overview

Year 1

Module Breakdown

Our MA Music production course combines production expertise with professional development across five focused modules. Starting with advanced production, mixing and mastering skills, you'll move on to explore your specialist interests and build business knowledge before completing a major project in your chosen area.

Module Details

Unit Overview

Music Production

This module will challenge you to apply self-reflective strategies to examine your approach to producing and engineering music. You’ll cover advanced concepts and professional strategies that enhance workflow and increase output, ensuring you can respond to the varied and ever-increasing demands of producing music to a commercial standard. Steer the module in a direction that suits you by focusing on your own music as an artist, or producing music for clients or production companies.

Mixing & Mastering

Explore the concepts and processes surrounding the art of mixing and mastering. This module can be used to enhance the quality of your own music or to prepare you for a role as a professional mixing and mastering engineer by working on music and audio recorded by others. You will discover advanced technical processes as well as the conceptual and professional considerations essential to understanding the intricacies of finalising and preparing audio material for distribution and commercial consumption.

Creative Exploration

A self-directed and highly creative module that allows you to explore a specialist area of your choice. Dive into the world of immersive audio or modular synthesis, develop live performance techniques, experiment with advanced recording or sound design, or explore approaches to programming and beyond. This is an opportunity to align your skills with your individual interests and explore new territories in preparation for the final Project Realisation module.

Professional Development

In this module, you focus on a specific area of your specialist practice that will support your career as a professional music producer. Develop a deep understanding of the factors involved in setting up your own professional enterprise or create a skills development plan that can elevate your confidence, ensuring longevity, growth and success in your endeavours. With these skills, you will become a master of running your own career, capable of capitalising on emerging industry opportunities and different income streams. You will also develop valuable postgraduate research skills preparing you for your Project Realisation module.

Project Realisation

In this double module, you will create a substantial and original major project focused on a self-selected area of music production. You will develop your research and project-management skills as you negotiate a professional proposal, develop an effective framework before delivering a final project that can lead you into the industry or further postgraduate study.

Year 2

Module Details

Year 3

Module Details

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How You'll Learn

How you’ll learn

‍Through weekly live sessions and structured online learning, you'll develop professional music production techniques with support from our experienced tutors. Working remotely, you'll enhance your skills through practical tasks while building the business knowledge needed for your career.

Your online learning experience includes:

Weekly live webinars and tutorials
Digital learning materials released weekly
Interactive activities and practical tasks
Live-streamed masterclasses and guest lectures
One-to-one tutorial support
Virtual group discussions and community spaces
Comprehensive online resources including videos, lectures and readings
Access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
In some instances you may be able to access studio facilities, library resources and study spaces in Bristol, Manchester and Plymouth, this is dependent on your UK Settlement status.

How you’ll be assessed

‍Assessment is 100% coursework, submitted electronically and designed to reflect professional practice. Your work will demonstrate both technical ability and professional development.

On average you should allow for between 40 hours per week for your studies of which approximately 15% will be taught (c.6-8 hours) and 85% will be self-study.

How to Apply

Applying for this course is easy! Simply click the "Apply" button below to submit your application directly through our website.
A member of our Admissions Team will then be in touch to discuss your suitability for the course, your interests and to arrange an interview.

Apply

Entry Requirements

Fees & Funding

A full guide to fees, eligibility and funding can be found in our guide to fees and funding.

UK & Home Fee Status Students

Tuition fees for 24-25 are TBC. Below are the course costs for 23-24 for reference.

Access to HE courses, 1 year, on campus

£4,835

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International Students

At this time, we are currently unable to accept international students on our on-campus Access to HE diploma courses.

EU students who hold settled or pre-settled status may qualify for the Advanced Learner Loan if:

‍You have settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
You are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland
You are a British national living in the EU/EEA or Switzerland

If none of these exceptions apply, you'll be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to study on-campus at dBs Institute.

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Advanced Learner Loan

To help with the costs of your course you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. This is a loan provided by the UK Government through Student Finance England.

Head to the GOV.UK website to find out about Advanced Learner Loans and how to apply.

To apply for the Advanced Learner Loan you must be 19 or older on the first day of your course.

Eligibility for the Advanced Learner Loan is also determined by your nationality and residency status, please head to the eligibility page on the GOV.UK website for more information.

Please be aware that the Advanced Learner Loan will only cover your course fees, not your living costs.

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Repayment

How much you repay depends on your income. You will pay a percentage of your income over the threshold for your loan. The threshold and amount you repay is determined by when you take out your loan. For example:

If you receive an advanced learner loan for 2024/25 your yearly threshold will be £27,295. You will be required to repay 9% of your income over the threshold.

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Advanced Learner Loan ‘Write Off’

Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a Higher Education course. This means you do not have to repay it.

Year 3

Applications for undergraduate degrees are made through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). You can apply online through the UCAS website.

The equal consideration deadline for September 2025 entry applications is  29th January 2025.

Full how to apply guide

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential.

As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.

We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities. If you do not hold the minimum entry requirements but can demonstrate aptitude, enthusiasm and motivation you will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants who do not meet our typical offer guidelines may be invited to interview, where you will have the opportunity to discuss your experience and suitability for the course.

For applicants whose first language is not English, we accept a variety of English language tests and they are listed on Falmouth University's International Entry Requirements page.

If you don’t yet meet our undergraduate degree entry requirements, our Access to HE Diplomas offer a flexible and tailored route to prepare you for higher education.

Find out more about our Diploma courses

Fees & Funding

A full guide to fees, eligibility and funding can be found in our guide to fees and funding.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. Therefore, tuition fees may rise in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Uk & Home Status Students

Tuition fees from September 2025 for new UK and home fee status students starting in the academic year 2025-26.

BA(Hons) / BSc(Hons) courses, 3 years, on campus

£9,535

Channel Island & Isle of Man Students

Tuition fees from September 2023 for new UK and home fee status students starting in the academic year 2023-24.

BA(Hons) / BSc(Hons) courses, 3 years, on campus

£9,535

International Students

At this time, we are currently unable to accept international students on our on-campus undergraduate degree programmes.

EU students who hold settled or pre-settled status may qualify for home fees if:

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You have settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
You are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland
You are a British national living in the EU/EEA or Switzerland

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If none of these exceptions apply, you'll be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to study on-campus at dBs Institute.

Important: Students who are ordinarily resident in Wales should be aware that this course is not currently designated to receive statutory student funding support from the Welsh Government.

UCAS Codes

Apply now

‍Ready to make your application? You can apply online, via Falmouth University by clicking the button below.
‍

Apply now

Have a question?

To find out more about this course, get application advice and find out what funding is available, get in touch with our Admissions Team using our online form.

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

We welcome applicants with varied qualifications, but typically you'll need an undergraduate degree in a related discipline. Our typical applicants hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or above, or equivalent experience.

We'll also welcome your application if you have formal or 'certified' learning (such as training courses not run by universities or colleges) and learning from work experience or self-study. This is called Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), and should have been gained within the last five years, and be equivalent to the learning outcomes of our minimum entry qualifications.

If English isn’t your first language, you'll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

Fees & Funding

A full guide to fees, eligibility and funding can be found in our guide to fees and funding.

Uk & Home Status Students

Tuition fees from September 2025 for new UK and home fee status students starting in the academic year 2025-26.

MA(Hons), full-time, on campus, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, on campus, 2 year

£4,250

MA(Hons), full-time, on campus, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, on campus, 2 year

£4,250

MA(Hons), full-time, online, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, online, 2 year

£4,250

Channel Island & Isle of Man Students

Tuition fees from September 2025 for new UK and home fee status students starting in the academic year 2025-26.

MA(Hons), full-time, on campus, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, on campus, 2 year

£4,250

MA(Hons), full-time, on campus, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, on campus, 2 year

£4,250

MA(Hons), full-time, online, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, online, 2 year

£4,250

International Students

At this time, we are currently able to accept international students on our online postgraduate degree programmes only.

MA(Hons), full-time, online, 1 year

£8,500

MA(Hons), part-time, online, 2 year

£4,250

EU students who hold settled or pre-settled status may qualify for Home fees if:

You have settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
You are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland
You are a British national living in the EU/EEA or Switzerland

If none of these exceptions apply, you'll be classed as an international student and will not be eligible to study on-campus at dBs Institute.

Alumni Discount for dBs Institute graduates
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We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all dBs Institute undergraduate alumni.
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Continue your studies with up to 25% discount for postgraduate courses, even if you’re switching campus or subject specialism.

Year 3

Why Choose dBs

Why Choose dBs & ACC

Here at dBs Institute, we pride ourselves on creating a learning environment that reflects the industry that you want to work in. Our state-of-the-art facilities ensure that you are working on professional-grade equipment; our course leaders have years of industry experience to draw from and we foster a community of students and staff that inspires and encourages collaboration.
Throughout your studies and beyond, we will also provide you with career support and guidance to reach your future goals.

Facilities

Equipped with industry-standard facilities, as well as ground-breaking new technologies, our campuses have been meticulously designed to mirror the industry; giving you the ultimate environment to hone your skills, collaborate with creative professionals and learn from experts in the field.

Facilities

Bristol

Our API 1608 studio

Learn more about our facilities

Why Choose an Online Degree at dBs

Our online Master's degrees offer a high-quality, immersive, and community-driven learning experience, led by industry experts who are passionate about their craft. With 24/7 access to course materials and resources, you can learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Plus, our hands-on projects will equip you with practical skills necessary for a successful career in the music industry.

Flexible study

Enjoy the freedom to fit your learning around you. For online students, course content – other than one-to-one sessions – will be available to access whenever suits you.

dBs Online tutor kris burton sits in front of our API desk at dBs

Learn from the pros

You will learn from tutors whose expertise extends across production, composition, sound design, sound engineering, label management, marketing and promotion.

You’ll also have access to our extensive guest lecture programme, giving you the chance to meet leading industry professionals – ranging from respected producers and performers to specialist technical staff from world-class audio companies.

Industry Connections

As a student of this course, you will be encouraged to apply for placements and opportunities with dBs Pro, our in-house creative audio company.

This will allow you to further your experience and apply the skills you have been honing, as well as showcase your skills to clients and develop your creative own links in the industry.

What our students say

Who better to tell you about our course than students already doing the course? In this video, some of our latest cohort talk about their experience of the dBs online masters degrees.

What our
students say

Learn what makes dBs Institute so special from the people who matter most - our students!

Tutors

Community Stories

From Touring to Teaching: how a career in education helped me to ‘remix’ my career

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Meet Chris Page, dBs Institute's Postgraduate & Digital Learning Lead

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‘There's always something new’ dBs Online student Gerard on his music career in Doha

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Inside Latin America’s first female-led Dolby Atmos studio with dBs alumni Dani García

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How David used his degree to improve his production workflow

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Mark Muszynski on life as a 'portfolio artist'

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Your Own Path - Where a Master’s degree at dBs has taken our graduates

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11 ways to get the most out of studying a degree online

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Why online degrees are more respected than ever

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Online Study at dBs: Get a High-Quality Music Degree Without Breaking the Bank

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Learn your way: 5 flexible benefits of studying an online degree

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A guide to dBs' online music production degrees with Nick Lawson

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"Studying Online Is The Only Way I Could Do This"

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Opportunities

Engaging with our industry

In our 20+ year history, we’ve built a strong network of contacts across the creative industries, that include AMS Neve, Solid State Logic, Avid and many more.

Find out more

Career support

We strive to equip our students with the skills and opportunities to secure roles across the creative industries, and this goal underpins the student experience at dBs Institute.

Find out more

dBs Pro

dBs Pro is a creative audio company with a difference - it’s dedicated to providing our students with real-world experience alongside their studies.

Find out more

Your Future Prospects

Graduates of our postgraduate courses work across the music and audio industries in a broad range of roles, from independent artists and producers, to studio engineers and record label owners.

This course prepares you for both employed and freelance work through its combination of advanced production skills and business knowledge. You'll graduate with a professional portfolio, business strategy, and industry connections. Recent graduates have secured roles at established studios, launched successful freelance careers, and developed their own production companies. Others have gone on to work in music therapy, sound art, teaching, game audio, sound design, and audio post-production.

Want to know more about these roles? Explore our detailed guides to careers in:

Game Audio Implementer

Game Audio Implementers utilise creativity and logical thinking to design and manage the systems that bring sound to life and immerse the player.

Find out more

Foley Artist/Dubbing Mixer

Foley Artists and dubbing mixers bring film and television to life through the recording, editing and mixing of real world sounds, dialogue and sound effects to create an immersive viewing experience.

Find out more

Label Manager

Meet the business-savvy, big picture thinkers who guide musical releases from early planning stages into the marketplace.

Find out more

Sound Artist

Storytellers, thinkers and pioneers of social change, Sound Artists use non-conventional methods of composition to create thought-provoking art that often exists in the physical world alongside the sonic realm.

Find out more

Sound Designer

Creative problem-solvers and playful thinkers, Sound Designers use audio to bring projects to life.

Find out more

Studio Producer / Engineer

Commanders of the control room, Studio Engineers help transform musical moments into timeless masterpieces by facilitating the production of music and sound.

Find out more

More career options

Your Future Prospects

Two dBs students stand next to a flying speak stack in a festival

A string session been recored in a music hall

a female dBs tutor takes a lecture in our Dolby atmos room

A dBs student adjusting there synth sound

Learn more about our career services

Register your interest

Let's get started

Thinking about an undergraduate degree at dBs? Want to know more about our courses? We're excited to help you explore your options.

Simply fill out the form below and our dedicated admissions team will be in touch with all the information you need.

If you're ready to apply, you can also apply directly through UCAS.com

Please note that if you are an international student or require a visa to study in the UK you are only eligible to study our online courses.

Register your interest

If you’d like to find out more about our postgraduate courses, please fill in the form below. Once submitted, a member of our admissions team will be in touch to discuss our postgraduate course offerings and the next steps of the application process.

Please note, if you currently live outside of the UK and require a Tier 4 VISA to study in the United Kingdom, we are unable to accept your application for our on campus full-time or part-time postgraduate degree programmes. If this is the case, please apply for one of our online postgraduate courses instead.

Apply for our Access to HE Diploma

Let's get started

If you’re 19+ and aiming for higher education, our diplomas provide the essential qualifications and skills you need to progress confidently onto university courses. Whether it’s a career shift, skill enhancement, or pursuing a long-held passion, our

Access to HE Diplomas open doors.

To apply for our diplomas, please complete the application form below. Once we have received your information, our admissions team will contact you to arrange an interview.