Mark Thursby
Senior Lecturer in Music
level:UG;top_up:true;international:true;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:true;part_time:true;start_month:September;location:Development Hub (Waterside)
Music Production (Top-Up) BA (Hons)
Key Facts
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UCAS Code
W376
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Duration
Full Time: 1 year
Part Time: 2 years
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Full Time: £9,535
Part Time: £1,585 (per 20 credits) -
Full Time: £17,000
Updated 10/11/2025
Updated 10/11/2025
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Overview
Our BA Music Production Top-Up degree is intended to prepare you for a growing, and ever-evolving industry which contributed £4.5 billion to the economy in 2018. The course is specifically designed to ready you for a range of potential avenues of music creation, for example working in the video game industry or in the world of live music, or working as an educator. We aim to provide you with the broad range of transferrable skills required to be a self-producing Artist. You will develop a breadth of skills within the digital domain, the studio environment, and – perhaps most importantly – academically.
Accreditation
Our top up Music Production course is Industry Accredited by JAMES representing APRS, MPG and associate industry bodies. Accreditation of a course by relevant industry bodies provides assurance to students and employers of its potential and value.
Highlights
- Accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES)
- Opportunities to work in real-world situations across Northampton
- Extra-curricular masterclasses in music production
- Interaction with partner degree in Popular Music
- Industry expertise from published and researching music team
- Contemporary specialisms in many areas of EDM
- Cutting-edge software: Native Instruments, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, SoundToys, Mac OS X
- Field Trips to events such as BBC Music Introducing Live, and visits to professional recording studios.
- Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
Three students working at a large audio mixing console in a recording studio, adjusting controls and handling cables
Close-up of a person’s hands playing a Steinway & Sons piano, with the keys and the glossy surface of the instrument in focus.
Two students seated at a professional audio mixing console in a recording studio, facing a large monitor displaying digital audio editing software with multiple tracks and waveforms. The setup includes speakers on both sides and two small lamps in the background.
Two students kneeling on the floor in a recording studio, adjusting microphones and cables in front of a large Marshall amplifier stack. Both are focused on setting up the audio equipment, with wooden acoustic panels in the background.
Two students working at a professional audio mixing console in a recording studio, adjusting controls and monitoring equipment
Top-down view of two students operating an audio mixing desk, with one person adjusting multiple knobs and sliders while the other points to illuminated buttons on a digital control panel. The console is covered with colourful controls, cables, and a computer keyboard.
Entry Requirements
A typical offer would be:
- A pass at HND level on a Music Production or equivalent course
Applications from applicants with no formal qualifications will be considered on merit (i.e. significant industry experience and a convincing academic ability – assessed during interview).
Applicants for this Music Production degree should be able to evidence:
- Skills in musicianship in at least one instrument (including the voice) or via technology (i.e. beat mixing). These may be demonstrated through recordings provided or through performance as part of the interview process as well as the personal statement and reference parts of the application.
- Commitment and motivation to develop themselves intellectually, creatively and professionally. This may be demonstrated through the personal statement and the interview process.
University of Northampton admissions policies apply.
Applicants are selected for offer or invited to interview on the basis of information provided in the application form, the personal statement and academic reference.
The following criteria are taken into account:
- Formal qualifications and experience
- Evidence of written English
- Predicted grades
- Commitment and enthusiasm for engagement with music through live performance, production and recording and or composition.
For more information on how to make an application for the top up Music Production BA degree, please visit our How to Apply page.
If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.
The Admissions Policy for the Top-Up BA Music Production degree is in accordance with the University’s Admissions; and Equality and Diversity policies; and seeks to recruit to the programme students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who have the ability to benefit from and motivation to complete the programme. The programme welcomes applications from those with a wide variety of educational qualifications, and will consider on merit/experience applicants with no formal qualifications.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level.
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
What You'll Learn
While studying for your Music Production Top-Up degree at the University of Northampton, you’ll build on the fundamental principles you have acquired in your previous practice/ study so far (in areas including sequencing in the DAW, audio and MIDI, acoustics and psychoacoustics, studio engineering, hardware implementation, synthesis, critical listening skills, and reasoning, writing and debating).
On this Music Production University degree, you will have the opportunity to specialise within the music production domain; choosing from a range of areas, including music production, composition, live sound and sound for media and gaming industry, sound design, and music education.
Our modules are informed by staff actively researching, composing, performing and publishing in their specialist areas within the music industry. These modules introduce you to music principles and techniques which will help you develop the necessary analytical and creative skills, to aid you when evaluating and implementing real-life practice.
Compulsory Modules
Optional Modules
Innovation in Music Production enables higher education music production practitioners to develop new ways of thinking about, creating and producing through an object-based programming approach.
Live Sound
20 Credits
Code: MUS3142
20 Credits
Production Project
40 Credits
Code: MUS4130
40 Credits
This module is designed to develop skills in audio production and sound designThrough lectures, seminars and workshops, students will gain an understanding of the context of sound design in media applications including location based media, film and computer games.
The Music Education module has been designed to bridge between undergraduate study and post-compulsory teaching qualificationsMuch of the content is drawn from PGCE level accompanied by a placementThis module prepares students for teaching by providing information about a wide range of teaching and learning methodologies, theories and practice.
The purpose of this module is to deliver a series of projects typical of those presented to sound designers and media composers in industryStudents will develop material for a wide range of text-based mediums, for example: podcasts, radio programmes, games, software applications and the moving image.
The module will enable students to develop their recording and production skills to an advanced level in order to produce recordings which are ready for commercial release on our NN1_Records labelProjects will be achieved by working at the University studio and through working with external partners.
The module will enable students to ensure their recording and production skills are to an advanced level by producing recordings which are ready for commercial release on our NN1_Records labelProjects will be achieved by working at the University studio and through working with external partners.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your Music Production Degree, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
- UK Full Time: £9,535
- UK Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
- International Full Time: £17,000
Fees quoted for the top up degree in Music Production relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted for the top up degree in Music Production relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK – Full Time: £9,250
- UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
- International – Full Time: £16,500
Staff
Stace Constantinou
Senior Lecturer in Music
Tony Platt
Associate Lecturer (Music)
Facilities
Specialist facilities for the top up degree in Music Production include:
- Three fully kitted specialised soundproofed rehearsal booths plus break-out space.
- Small group sessions for most practical sessions.
- Live PA equipment and technician support for assessed gigs.
- Two recording studios: running Pro Tools and Audient 8024 mixing console, Neve 1073LB preamps, SSL VHD preamps, Apollo 8P, Apollo Satellite Octo, Rupert Neve Designs 5043, SoundToys bundle, Arturia V studio, Universal Audio Ultimate, Spitfire Audio Hybrid, Steven Slate Drums.
- Two Mac Suites: running Logic Pro X, Ableton 10, Native Instruments Komplete 12, Pro Tools, iZotope, FabFilter.
- Microphones: U87 condensers, AKG414s, Telefunken FET M60s, AKG 451s, Radial DI boxes, Radial SGI and re-amp boxes, and a full range of other industry mics.
- Hardware synthesisers: Arturia DrumBrute, Novation Circuits, Roland TB303, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland Juno DS, Novation Bass Stations, Ableton controllers – Launchkey 49s, Launcontrol XLs, Launchpad Mark 1 and Mark 2.
- Live performance hardware: Vox amps, Marshall MG 4×12 amps, Orange Crush Pro amps, Peavey Amps, Ampeg PF500 Bass amplifiers, Yamaha Stage Custom kits, Gretsch Drum Kit, Studio AAX, full PA, three rehearsal rooms.
- Two grand pianos: Steinway Studio B, Bechstein Boudoir Grand; two Yamaha upright pianos.
