DJ Performance and Broadcast Techniques (MA)
Duration: 12 months (full-time); 24 months (part-time)|Creative Campus|Start month: September 2026 and January 2027
International students can apply
About the Course
Applications are now open for the September 2026 intake
Embark on an enriching academic journey with our postgraduate degree in DJ Performance and Broadcast Techniques. Cultivate professional connections and refine your creative and research skills through a flexible structure leading to Masters, Postgraduate Certificate, or Postgraduate Diploma qualifications. Engage deeply in multifaceted broadcasting, DJ practice, and electronic music performance, and develop a comprehensive understanding of professional, pedagogic, and practice-based aspects, tailored to your own communities and artistic pursuits.
As the only postgraduate course in the UK to explore DJ and broadcast practice at this level, both UK and international musicians and producers are offered a platform to delve into contemporary digital performance technologies and methodologies, and expand their professional networks by becoming immersed in Liverpool’s vibrant music industry.
Curriculum Overview
In acknowledgment of broadcasting’s transformation into an interdisciplinary domain, our curriculum delves into specialised contexts essential for a flourishing career in broadcasting and performance in 2025.
Our primary objective is to provide a tangible pathway to broadcasting and performance careers, as well as research opportunities. Benefit from tailored guidance from industry practitioners, professionals within a broadcast/performance environment, and experienced scholars of DJ culture, the DJ Performance and Broadcast Techniques course will equip you with the expertise required to excel in this dynamic field.
Modules
Envisioning Creative Practice
This is a first-term module during which students develop the ability to articulate their creative vision at the same time as developing a business plan. Students will attend music-business- focused tutorial sessions, creating a portfolio of a draft concept of their creative final project, and will work with that portfolio to generate a business plan with consideration toward potential audiences, placement, and funding opportunities for the project. Students will be supervised in the advanced aspects of their creative discipline, encouraged to identify a potential (commercial) output for their work and to look for ways to individualise their creative vision. This module brings together the development of creative practice and ideas of entrepreneurship with the support of key creative academic staff.
Assessment:
Business Plan essay – 40%
Portfolio practice-based – 60%
Creative Professional Development
During this second-term module, students will realise the vision created during the Envisioning Creative Practice Module. This core module will allow students to focus upon the business and marketing planning and implementation for a specific creative project as it is brought to completion through public dissemination (e.g. performance, tour, release, publication, exhibition). Students will study strategic management, marketing and branding planning. Students will manifest these aims in the form of a collection of material that would equate to a press pack/professional portfolio and a marketing presentation that explains the impact and originality of the project. Throughout this module, students' projects will be supervised at various stages in order to support and monitor the project success.
Assessment:
Professional Profile/Press Kit – 40%
Marketing Presentation – 60%
Practice in DJ and Digital Broadcast
The Practice in DJ and Digital Broadcast forms the fundamental basis for students to develop their creative practice. Focusing on the approach of practice and development in a digital broadcasting context with the aim of providing both creative endeavour and technical proficiency. The aim is to provide the cohort with the space and facilities to hone their performance skills, broadcast techniques and research with perspective in DJ practice that capitalises on the potential of current broadcasting formats to transcend geographical borders. The objective is to include content creation, technical skills, and cultural sensitivities towards creating material for one’s own portfolio of broadcasts with the cohort guided in both creative and technical approach to broadcasting context. This approach serves to foster expansive approach to technology in broadcast performance and lateral creative roles in broadcast practice in professional working environments and research.
Assessment:
Performance Demonstration – 60%
Creative Portfolio – 40%
Business and Professional Development
This second-term module focuses on the scope of professional development in a digital broadcasting context with the aim of providing sustained professional opportunities and employability. The key is to provide relevant engagement in existing professional environments that offer resources, placement opportunities and the use of professional industry standard technology. The objective is to nurture the learners understanding of the lateral skillset required in a digital broadcast environment with emphasis on technical skills and proficiency. The cohort is guided in both creative and technical approach to broadcasting context, explorations in performance and technical skills and cultural sensitivities towards creating material for one’s own portfolio of broadcasts. This approach serves to foster working experience, technical know-how and creative performance practice in a live and working professional environment.
The portfolio of summative assessments includes digital broadcast presentation in the form of DJ set, performance, podcast or radio presentation. The means to assess will include a selection of formats and technologies – curation of material, creative approach to digital broadcast, the overall production of broadcast output, creating a broadcast profile, technical proficiency in a professional environment and a skillset demonstrating understanding of digital broadcast media.
Assessment:
Portfolio – 70%
Performance – 30%
Research contexts in contemporary music practices
The module "Research Contexts in Contemporary Music Practices" is designed with four primary objectives:
- Introduce the concept of practice-research.
2. Familiarize students with this framework.
3. Explore the diverse approaches facilitated by practice-research.
4. Cultivate the development of students' distinctive practices.
The focus is on the contributions of the practice-research model to technologically-mediated performance and New Instruments for Musical Expression. Students engage with current and seminal discussions on research, fostering debates on cultural practices and their roles in knowledge generation. They are encouraged to challenge conventional approaches to performance by exploring cutting-edge, transdisciplinary practices and associated research methods. Scholarly literature on practice-research methodologies and relevant case studies are presented to inspire students to experiment with various forms, promoting both critical reflection and practical application.
Assessment:
Dissertation – 70%
Research Proposal – 30%
Entry Requirements
A minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a related discipline, (eg: Music, Music Production, Performing Arts) awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.
International Entry Requirements
Possess a degree from an overseas institution that is judged by the Registrar or Nominee to be equivalent to a second class honours degree from a UK University.
For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.
For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages.
*Part time study is not available for Non-EU International applicants
Teaching and Research
67% of the research of this Department is at least at an internationally recognised level. 80% of their impact is rated as internationally recognised.
Teaching staff in the Department are distinguished scholars published in their fields and bring their innovative and specialised knowledge to bear on postgraduate teaching and research.
The Department builds on established undergraduate provision in music performance and multimedia production, which include specific modules on DJ performance, live electronic music, and radio broadcast, balancing programmes of study and providing opportunities for academic and practical analysis.
UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees
2026/27
Tuition fees for Home students are £8,150
Funding
We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.
EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees
2026/27
Tuition fees for EU/Non-EU International students are £16,500
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.