Music Production MA

Study level: Postgraduate
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This course aims to develop the creative, critical, technical and culturally aware skills required to operate in the music industry as a versatile music producer and innovative interdisciplinary collaborator.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time
16-24 months (with professional experience)

Course code

AHT092

Start date

September 2025

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

This course welcomes creative music technologists keen to explore innovative and sustainable creative practice and to develop avenues of interdisciplinary and culturally aware collaborations that can challenge current approaches to music production.  

  • You should learn to operate confidently in a range of professional environments as a critically astute music producer applying established and innovative approaches.
  • Excel in working both collaboratively and independently as a creative music technologist.
  • A key aim for this course is for graduates to have developed key transferable skills that enable them to operate at the forefront of the emerging new music industries.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

To open up opportunities to explore innovative and sustainable creative practice and to develop avenues of interdisciplinary and culturally aware collaborations that can challenge current approaches to music production;

  • Access to our fantastic facilities4: several state-of-the-art recording studios (including SSL and Neve desks), iMac music suite including Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Max, Dorico, and Kyma Audio Unit; plus in the new Delia Derbyshire Building a Dolby Atmos/ambisonics studio and a VR/AR immersive studio.
  • As a graduate, you may seek employment in the composing, recording, production, games, and screen industries; as well as across wider areas of the new music and audio economy.
  • Dedicated, experienced and qualified teaching staff with a mixture of commercial, academic and research-related expertise at an international level (staff may be subject to change).
  • Strong emphasis on the course on applied practice within a contextual and critical framework.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course has been accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Steinberg Certified Training Centre

Steinberg Certified Training Centre

This course is accredited by Steinberg. Steinberg Certified Trainers and Training Centres help you get the most from Steinberg products. We use the latest Steinberg software and have extensive current product and systems knowledge.


Audio Fusion

AudioFusion

This course is accredited by AudioFusion. AudioFusion develops forward-thinking training tools for audio engineers and musicians to further their careers in the sound-related arts. The first software, Soundcheck, is an AES Student Design Winner and is now used in courses across the globe. Since launching, AudioFusion has taken its pro audio simulations to different platforms such as 3D, Virtual Reality and continues to advocate the benefits of virtual simulations in education.


Coventry Degree Show 2023

The Coventry Degree Show is an annual event to celebrate and showcase our graduating students’ work.

Explore the work of our talented students
Degree show 2023

What you'll study

Throughout this course, you should benefit from expert instruction, in addition to meaningful connectivity with research and practice-based expertise from across broader media, production and performance disciplines. You will have the opportunity to collaborate, across MA courses and/or externally, on project-oriented modules; which allow natural interdisciplinarity and promote a greater contextual understanding of your chosen specialism within the broader media and performing arts sectors.  

During your first semester on the course, you can apply for the extended route, which offers an opportunity to reflect upon and gain professional experience through three semesters of internship or placement with a host of different organisations2

Modules

With professional experience option

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester one, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability your employability.

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, which for 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2,666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

You will engage with a series of different learning activities and resources which include:

  • Group critiques
  • Artist talks and lectures (subject to availability)
  • Masterclasses/performances (subject to availability)
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Teaching contact hours

In a typical week you will have approximately eight contact hours of teaching comprising seminars, talks and lectures, as well as workshops, project support and skills training.

In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 300 hours of self-directed study each semester, e.g. working on course assignments, group project activities, independent and collaborative production-related activities, related practice and studying. You will be supported by skills sessions.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include practical projects and portfolios, artefacts and essays. The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Applicants to this master’s degree should normally possess an honours degree (2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant subject. If the degree is in an unrelated subject, applicants need to demonstrate appropriate industry knowledge and experience in their application documentation.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country-specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Applicants to this master’s degree should normally possess an honours degree (2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant subject. If the degree is in an unrelated subject, applicants need to demonstrate appropriate industry knowledge and experience in their application documentation.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. 

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience)  
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £22,600 (with prof. experience) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £22,600 (with prof. experience)  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees3 cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Coventry University is home to superb production facilities4 both within the School of Media and Performing Arts and in our Delia Derbyshire Arts and Humanities complex.

You will benefit from studying on our well-equipped, modern campus.

Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a dedicated environment4.

Music seminar room

A great space for our budding musicians, our specialist music seminar room comes with a grand piano, PA, amps, drum kit and 5.1 surround sound, all directly linked to a control room for recording.

Recording studios

You can have access to five recording studios, instrument storage, and an iMac music tech suite. We also have state-of-the-art recording studios running Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Max and Sibelius on Apple macs. You could use these facilities throughout your course.

The Media Loan Shop holds the peripheral equipment required for recording sessions, such as microphones, portable recording equipment, PA systems, etc. The two computer labs are furnished with Apple computers.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • understand the concepts of professionalism within music production (including music and audio production, recording techniques and technology, live sound, VR and immersive recording and performance), and related disciplines and their relationship to music production within a global context
  • use the skills, processes and techniques required for the creation, realisation, presentation and management of work as a music producer, working within the digital age.

Upon successful completion, you should be equipped with the skills to:

  • evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness in the application of recording and audio production techniques to produce high-quality assets
  • work creatively, sustainably, and ethically within professional situations, both individually and in a team, employing a range of strategies and techniques.
  • problem-solve complex audio and music production scenarios both systemically and creatively
  • justify and critically reflect upon the decisions made in the production of your own creative practice applying a range of methods
  • Individually and collaboratively produce a range of music and/or audio production outcomes/projects for identified and diverse audiences and contexts.

Preparing our master's graduates for onward careers is central to our approach to learning and teaching on the course. This includes developing authentic assessment, collaborative opportunities, placements, and advice and guidance for onward study on PhD programmes here and internationally (subject to availability2).

Our three collaborative modules provide opportunities to work with students in popular music. You will be able to take advantage of cross-school connections and collaborations, as well as placement and onward opportunities with the support of our Talent Team2.


How to apply

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