Music Production BA (Hons) (with Foundation Year)
 Music Production (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: MP02|Duration: 4 years|Full Time|Creative Campus
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Music Production gives you the opportunity to explore the creative, technical, and theoretical aspects of one of the most rapidly changing creative landscapes. Liverpool Hope University is a core hub for studying Music Production. Located in a world-renowned city of music, the course is part of the active and growing music scenes in the city.
Music Production will prepare you to navigate the current musical landscape. You will study: audio recording, editing and mixing; live sound reinforcement; live performance with technology; contemporary music creation; essential music skills; music production cultures; and the music industry. The single honours programme allows for an even deeper focus on these areas, including topics such as: audio for multimedia and broadcast; algorithms and interactivity; and additional artist development. Music Production provides you with the opportunity to develop lasting, transferable skill sets and a resilient and sustainable approach to practice.
Our programme features:
1. A forward-looking programme that values new practices as well as traditional topics.
2. An integrated approach that covers the fundamentals of the topic without leaving gaps in knowledge.
3. A team that works professionally in diverse aspects of music production beyond the university setting.
4. A creative approach to music production that considers technology to be a means to artistic ends.
You will have the opportunity to work in both traditional and more modern, flexible and customisable studio spaces. Our students have had opportunities to gain professional experience with a variety of professional organisations, including Liverpool Sound City and Ditto Music. The Liverpool Hope X Carhartt lecture series has hosted professionals from exciting organisations in the industry, such as XL Records and forward-looking digital audio workstation "Bronze". Join our dynamic creative community of music production to facilitate the next steps in your creative and professional journey.
Course structure
The Music Production programme is open to all music genres and is informed by a strongly-focused approach to employability.
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, seminars and tutorials. You have the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor on a regular basis.
Studying Music Production as a combined major, in your first year of study there are approximately 6 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 5 teaching hours in your second and third years.
For Music Production single honours, there are approximately 14 teaching hours a week in your first year of study, which reduces to approximately 12 hours in the second year and 11 hours in the third year.
On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend approximately 30 hours studying independently each week, as well as group study to prepare for any group assessments you may have.
As part of the enhanced performance programme, you will have the opportunity to take part in the extensive extra-curricular music making opportunities at Hope. These include the Electronic Ensemble, Choir, Big Band and various smaller, student led, ensembles.
Students are also encouraged to attend the myriad of concerts and events on campus. These are intended to illustrate the musical genres studied in other areas of the course, and to add additional enhancement.
Assessment and feedback
Assessments on this course will consist of:
- creative and technical portfolios – such as recording, live music or programming projects
- practical, technical examinations on areas of relevant software and hardware and programming environments
- reflective reports, and essays.
Curriculum overview
Our Music Production curriculum is delivered across three main areas: Studio Recording; Live Sound Engineering and Performance; and Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Composition. At Level C, these areas are supplemented by a fourth area: Essential Music Skills for Producers. At Level H, they are supplemented by Music Business.
Single honours provision includes an additional four areas: Audio, Editing and Music Skills; Music Production and the Music Industry; Music Production and Culture; and Focused Artist Development.
Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.
Year One
In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of Music Production. Your studies will focus on fundamental areas, including:
- Studio recording, which will give you the opportunity to explore the foundations of audio capture
- Live sound engineering and performance, in which you will investigate the essential topics and technologies that support contemporary live music performance
- Digital audio workstation (DAW) composition, in which you will develop your skills as a creative practitioner in music production
- Essential music skills, which will introduce you to fundamental musical concepts and theories, framed in the context of music production
In the Single Honours Music Production programme, students engage in further study to complement the modules listed above. Single Honours students have further tuition in:
- Audio, editing and music skills, giving you the opportunity to explore the fundamental abilities that enable complex creative work as a practitioner in music production
- Music production and the music industry, a topic that will develop your understanding of the contemporary music industry
- Music production and culture, which will introduce you to study of the living and breathing contexts in which music is produced
- Focused artist development, in which you will focus on the aspects of your creative practice that make you stand out as a unique creative in a community of producers.
Year Two
In the second year, you will continue to develop the skills attained in the first year, including further study in:
- Studio recording, in which you will build upon existing knowledge of contemporary recording contexts to reach a higher level of proficiency.
- Live sound engineering and performance, which will give you the opportunity to further develop your technical and artistic skills in live music.
- DAW composition, in which your personal journey in the creation of music continues.
This year of study has a particular focus on positioning students as community-oriented creative practitioners.
In the single honours Music Production programme, students engage in further study to complement the modules listed above. Single honours students have further tuition in:
- Audio, editing and music skills, providing you with the opportunities to refine your foundational abilities.
- Music production and the music industry, in which you will engage with the contemporary contexts of the local and international music industry.
- Music production and culture, which will give you the opportunity to interact with cultural spaces associated with the production of music, both locally and internationally.
- Focused artist development, in which your development as a unique practitioner will be cultivated through interactions with your tutor and peers.
Year Three
In your third year of Music Production, you will be encouraged to further hone your skills. This will include further study in:
- Studio recording, which will give you the opportunity to utilise your proficiency in recording environments creatively.
- Live sound engineering and performance, in which your technical and artistic skills in the area of live music performance will be put to use in advanced settings.
- DAW composition, in which your distinctive approaches to music creation will be utilised for advanced projects.
- Music business, which will provide you with the opportunity to engage with the music industry, locally and internationally.
In the single honour Music programme, students engage in further study to complement the modules listed above. Single honours students receive further tuition in:
- Audio, editing and music skills, providing you with the opportunity to develop your abilities to meet the standards of the music industry.
- Music production and the music industry, in which you will contribute to the contemporary contexts of the local and international music industry.
- Music production and culture, which will equip you to intervene in, and support, cultural spaces associated with the production of music.
- Focused artist development, in which your unique style will be developed towards the level required of a professional artist.
In your third year, you will also be expected to carry out a large creative research project/dissertation based on your scholarly music interests. You will receive group and individual support for your project from faculty supervisors. In the past, students have used these projects as a stepping stone into their next professional endeavours as creative music practitioners!
Entry requirements
There may be some flexibility for mature students offering non-tariff qualifications and students meeting particular widening participation criteria.
Careers
Potential career prospects after completing this course include Recording engineer, Recording Producer, Sound Designer, Sound Programming, Live Sound Engineer.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
Work placement opportunities include music studios and festivals, gaming companies, etc. This is most likely to take place in the final year of study and will enhance the employability of all students.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Additional costs
On top of your tuition fees, you will need approximately £100 per year for recording consumables.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2025/26 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available with Foundation Year as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: