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UndergraduatePostgraduate

How to apply

Apply for a postgraduate course

Apply through UCAS by Wednesday 13 January 2027 for equal consideration.

Apply directly through Falmouth University, our validating partner.

Apply through UCASFind your postgraduate courseBook an Open Day

How it works

Stuck on anything? Contact our Admissions Team, we'd be happy to talk it through with you.

  1. 1

    Apply

    Send your application through UCAS using our institution code, D16, and the relevant course code from the course page.

  2. 2

    We tell you what we need

    We will confirm we have your application, and Falmouth University, our validating partner, will contact you about the Falmouth Applicant Portal. If your course needs a portfolio, audition piece or interview, we'll let you know as soon as possible and give you a deadline.

  3. 3

    We decide

    Once we have everything we need, we aim to give you a decision as quickly as we can.

  4. 4

    You hear from us

    We will update you by email and in your UCAS account. If you have an offer, you then choose your firm and insurance choices.

When you have an offer

Firm

Your first choice.

Insurance

Your back-up choice, in case you miss the conditions for your firm.

Decline

Say no to any other offers.

Your reply date is personal to you. Check your UCAS account. If you miss it, UCAS declines the offer for you. If that was a mistake, contact Admissions and UCAS as soon as you can.

Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirement is 96 to 112 UCAS Tariff points.

We accept points from many Level 3 qualifications including but not limited to:

  • A Levels
  • BTECs
  • UAL Diplomas
  • Access to HE
  • Other recognised Level 3

Don't have the UCAS points?

We still want to hear from you. We assess potential as well as qualifications, and we consider each application on its individual merits.

We welcome applicants who can show creative potential, technical ability, motivation and readiness to succeed in higher education. Speak to the Admissions team for more details.

Your UCAS application

Everything you add to UCAS helps us get to know you. You can save your progress and come back any time.

Qualifications

List every qualification you have, including the ones you are still working towards. UCAS turns them into Tariff points. The points calculator shows yours.

Personal statement

Tell us why you want this course and what experience you bring to it. Our guide to writing a personal statement helps you get started.

Reference

A teacher or adviser usually writes this. If you are not in education, an employer or mentor can. It cannot come from family, friends or partners.

Your choices

Choose up to five courses. Add ours with the institution code D16 and the course code in the table below.

Document uploads

If you have already achieved your qualifications, you can provide evidence of them when you apply. See how uploading documents works on UCAS.

The UCAS fee

The UCAS application fee for the 2027 cycle is £34.50 for up to five choices. See the UCAS fee details. Your application is not visible to us until you have paid and submitted it.

Free school meals in the last six years? If you received UK government-funded free school meals at any point in the last six years, up to the end of your final year at school or college, you may be eligible to have your UCAS application fee waived. From the 2027 UCAS cycle, UCAS is extending the waiver to eligible care leavers. Check the UCAS fee waiver rules

UCAS codes

You need the course code and campus code to add a course on UCAS. Codes are for 2027 entry.

Campus codes

Campus
Code
Bristol
D
Manchester
J
Plymouth
E

Course codes

Course
Bristol
Manchester
Plymouth
BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production
BristolW470
ManchesterW471
PlymouthW472
BA (Hons) Live Sound
BristolW481
ManchesterW482
BA (Hons) Live Sound & Event Management
BristolW479
ManchesterW480
BA (Hons) Music & Sound for Film & Game
BristolW475
ManchesterW476
BA (Hons) Music Performance & Production
BristolW463
ManchesterW464
BA (Hons) Music Production & Event Management
BristolW477
ManchesterW478
BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering
BristolW460
ManchesterW461
PlymouthW462
BA (Hons) Songwriting & Music Production
BristolW468
ManchesterW469
BA (Hons) Vocal Artistry & Music Production
BristolW466
ManchesterW467

Auditions, interviews & portfolios

We may ask for additional information to support your application. Find your course group below for details on what we ask for. Your Admissions Adviser can answer any questions you might have.

  • BA (Hons) Music Performance & Production
  • BA (Hons) Vocal Artistry & Music Production
  • BA (Hons) Songwriting & Music Production

Audition requirements

All applicants to these courses will be invited to submit an audition piece. We use auditions to understand your musical ability, creativity and potential for development.

Course
What to present
BA (Hons) Music Performance & Production
One performance demonstrating your main instrument or voice
BA (Hons) Vocal Artistry & Music Production
One vocal performance
BA (Hons) Songwriting & Music Production
One original song performance or one original produced track. Original work is required for Songwriting applicants.

Audition options

Choose whichever option works best for you.

Recorded audition

Submit a video recording online.

Live audition

Attend online or on campus with our academic team.

Interviews

In some cases we may also invite you to interview with a member of the academic team. It is a chance to share your ambitions, explore your creative potential and learn more about studying with dBs Institute of Music.

  • BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering
  • BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production
  • BA (Hons) Music & Sound for Film & Game
  • BA (Hons) Music Production & Event Management

Portfolio requirements

Not all applicants are asked for a portfolio. In many cases we decide on your application alone. If we ask, your portfolio shows us your creativity, technical skills and potential.

What we look for

Creativity. Your ideas and artistic approach.

Technical understanding. Production tools and techniques.

Potential. Your ability to develop and grow.

Motivation. Your enthusiasm for creating and learning.

Portfolio options

  • Submit one or two produced tracks.
  • Accepted formats: MP3 and WAV.
  • Original, remix and cover material are all welcome. Work in progress is welcome too.
  • For Music & Sound for Film & Game, you can submit soundtrack, sound design and audio-for-visual work.

Interviews

In some cases we may also invite you to interview with a member of the academic team. It is a chance to share your ambitions, explore your creative potential and learn more about studying with dBs Institute of Music.

  • BA (Hons) Live Sound
  • BA (Hons) Live Sound & Event Management

Interview requirements

All applicants are invited to interview. This is an informal conversation with a member of our academic team.

What we look for

Interests. Your enthusiasm for live sound, events and venue technology.

Experience. Any school, community, gig or self-taught technical background.

Ambitions. Where you want to take your career in live audio and event production.

Readiness. Your commitment and preparation to study at higher education level.

Interview process

It is a two-way conversation to explore your creative potential and help you learn more about studying at dBs Institute. We will talk about your interests, your experience, your ambitions and your readiness for study.

Experience comes in many forms, from running sound for a friend's band to volunteering at a venue or helping to put on a night. All of it is worth talking about.

Choose to meet us online or in person at a campus. We contact you to arrange a time that suits you. If you cannot make your interview date, email Admissions and we will arrange another option.

Key dates for 2027 entry

Wednesday 13 January 2027

UCAS equal consideration deadline. All applications received by the deadline are considered equally.

You can still apply after this date, however places may be limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

February and April 2027

All applicants will be invited to attend one of our Applicant Days. These are held in February and April.

Open Days

Haven't been for a visit yet? Check out our upcoming events and book your place on our Open Days page.

dBs student ambassadors at a campus open day

Applicant Days

Applicant Days run in February and April. We email you an invitation once you have applied.

Help along the way

1:1 with a course leader

Talk to the person who will teach you. Ask your Admissions adviser to book it. It is always available.

Feedback before you submit

Share your portfolio or audition piece with us first and get feedback. Ask your Admissions adviser to arrange it. It is always available.

Book a call with Admissions

Questions we hear a lot

Our standard entry requirement is 96 to 112 UCAS Tariff points. You can reach it with A Levels, BTECs, UAL Diplomas, Access to HE, or other recognised Level 3 qualifications. The UCAS Tariff points calculator can help you work out how many points you have.

We still encourage you to apply. We assess potential as well as qualifications, and we consider each application on its individual merits. Speak to Admissions about your circumstances and we will talk it through with you.

Yes. If you can show relevant experience, Admissions can guide you through our APEL process (accreditation of prior experiential learning). You still apply through UCAS, and a member of the team contacts you after you apply to support you at each stage.

It depends on your course. Applicants to our Music Performance, Vocal Artistry and Songwriting courses are asked for an audition. Music Production applicants may be asked for a portfolio. Live Sound applicants are invited to an interview. The Auditions, interviews and portfolios section has the details for each course.

Yes. We welcome direct entry applications into Year 2 or Year 3. Get in touch with Admissions to talk through your options.

Up to five. Each provider sees only its own choices, so we cannot see where else you applied.

Yes. You have up to five choices on your UCAS application, and they can all be dBs courses if you want.

The equal consideration deadline is Wednesday 13 January 2027. You can apply after that date, although places on some courses may be limited.

Yes, we allow deferrals. Contact Admissions to talk through your options.

UCAS Extra lets you add more courses if you have no offers, or you have declined all of them. It is free, and you need to have heard back from all five of your original choices.

Your Personal ID is a 10-digit number you get when you start your application. You can find it on your application form.

Other ways in

Studying with Access Creative College?

As a student at our sister college, you may be eligible to apply direct. Our Admissions Team or your tutor will be able to advise you.

Applying from outside the UK?

While we encourage students from anywhere in the world to explore our courses, it is important to note that certain restrictions and eligibility criteria apply. Please visit our International Students page for further information.

Looking for Year 2 or Year 3 entry?

Want to join us in Year 2 or Year 3? Our transferring to dBs page explains how.

How to apply for a postgraduate course

  1. 1

    Prepare your application

    Write a personal statement about why you want to study at postgraduate level. Gather a scanned copy of your ID (such as a passport) and scans of your transcripts and previous qualifications. Choose two referees: one academic and one professional.

  2. 2

    Submit your application

    Applications are made direct via Falmouth University, our validating partner. To access the application link, go to your course page, choose your study options and apply. Apply links are unique to the course, campus and study mode, so start from the course you want. Alternatively our Admissions Team can send you the link.

  3. 3

    Track your application and interview

    You will receive confirmation of your application from dBs Institute and Falmouth University. The dBs Admissions team will then be in touch to invite you to an interview. Interviews are available online or in person at a campus.

  4. 4

    Your offer

    Once we have everything we need, we aim to decide as quickly as we can. We update you through the Applicant Portal and by email, and you accept your offer in the portal.

Quick links

dBs Institute of Music wall signage in a studio corridor

Accommodation

Students working at a music production keyboard and computer setup

Fees & Funding

dBs student ambassadors at a campus open day

Book an Open Day

A group of dBs students together in a communal space

Student Support

Talk to Admissions

Questions about your course, entry requirements or how to apply? Email or call and we will help.

admissions@dbsinstitute.ac.uk+44 161 552 6467
Apply through UCASFind your postgraduate course