Master the Art of Audio Engineering
Dive into the world of professional audio engineering and elevate your skills to the next level. Develop the art of production, mixing, and mastering for music, film, and animation. Discover the power of sound effects and dialogue to enhance visual content. Our expert tutors and comprehensive resources will equip you with the knowledge and tools to build a career in sound. Join our community of talented audio engineers and unlock your full potential.
Futureworks is fully equipped with state-of-the-art studios, resources, and facilities so whether you’re into rock, electronic, or experimental sound, we’ve got the perfect setup for your creative needs and the technical expertise to ensure you’ll make the best use of these facilities.
- Recording and producing music
- Mixing
- Sound design
- Digital Audio Workstations
- Mixing for film
- Music Mastering
- Professional Portfolio development
Year 1
Recording 1 (40 credits) – This module provides a hands-on approach to studio recording, focusing on developing your ability to capture high-quality sound for a range of projects. From planning your recording sessions to mastering the technical skills of microphone placement and signal processing, you’ll develop the ability to create professional-level recordings.
Mixing Music (20 credits) – This module focuses on the core principles of music mixing, equipping you with the technical and creative skills essential for a modern mix engineer. You’ll learn how to construct mixes, develop your technical and creative abilities while exploring the role mix engineers play in the music industry.
Digital Tools (20 credits) – This module combines practical skill development with a deep dive into the underlying concepts of modern audio production. You’ll learn to efficiently record, edit, mix, and process audio using non-linear and non-destructive methods. This module not only introduces you to the industry leading Avid Pro Tools, but also sets the stage for advanced practical work in all your future modules.
Introducing Research (20 credits) – This module introduces you to academic research and writing. You’ll work to investigate the impact of technological change across the audio industry, learn to interpret data and share your discoveries. This experience will provide you with valuable industry insight and the ability to apply your research skills to real-world contexts within your chosen field of study.
Portfolio Development (20 credits) – This module builds essential skills in career planning within a competitive audio industry and is designed to nurture your independence and professional growth, developing the foundations of a compelling online portfolio to showcase your abilities and enhance your employability.
Year 2
Recording 2 (20 credits) – This module provides access to more advanced studio facilities, contributing to your development and critical understanding of established audio engineering practices, building essential skills to plan and execute professional-level production work.
Mixing for Picture (40 credits) – This module equips you with essential skills for audio post-production, from sound design, dialogue editing and mixing to mastering industry-standard delivery formats. You’ll gain practical experience working as part of a team, managing a project, simulating real-world scenarios, preparing you for the demands of the film audio industry.
Mixing Techniques (40 credits) – This module takes your mixing experience to the next level, developing the ability to apply and adapt more advanced techniques and workflow. Building skills in creative editing, manipulating sound, adapting arrangements and advanced processing techniques all of which contribute to producing commercially viable, stronger sounding mixes.
Research Project (20 credits) – This module promotes an independent, student-led approach to learning, where you’ll design and execute a research project on a negotiated topic. You’ll enhance your research and academic writing skills, under the guidance and support of your tutors, to produce a final submission that reflects your unique interests and strengthens your academic portfolio.
Year 3
Major Project (40 credits) – This module provides a platform for you to specialise, to showcase your best work focused on your chosen career path, and in turn your readiness for employment or further study. You will engage in tutorial discussions to support you as an individual, in developing content, consolidating skills and knowledge gained throughout the programme.
Recording 3 (40 credits) – This module provides a comprehensive professional development experience in our most advanced studios, exploring contemporary production techniques to enhance your creative and technical abilities, building strong problem-solving skills, preparing you for a successful career in the audio industry.
Music Mastering (20 credits) – Through this module you will explore the role of the Mastering Engineer, developing the skills to balance creative integrity with technical precision. In our dedicated mastering studio, the combination of modern digital tools, classic analogue hardware and bespoke monitoring enable you to create and submit, professional sounding, release ready music.
Portfolio Management (20 credits) – Designed to support career growth, this module provides a platform to refine and present your professional portfolio, showcasing work as part of a strategic plan to maximise networking and attract future employment opportunities.
Ready to apply? No need to wait for UCAS – you can apply directly to Futureworks now!
Why Choose The Audio Engineering and Production Degree at Futureworks?
You will love our facilities – our recording studios are among the best in the country. We have 12 music, mastering and post-production studios, featuring top of the range consoles such as Neve, Avid S6, SSL and Icon, with stunning monitoring and classic microphones to match. You can see more about our incredible facilities elsewhere on the site, but our main claim is that all the studios contain the hardware and software you will be expected to work on in the real world of audio engineering.
This course will enable you to progress through every studio, starting with the simplest, working up to the biggest and most advanced facilities. By the time you leave us, you will be confident working in virtually any studio environment.
What sets Futureworks apart is our tutor team. Our experienced and professional tutors are industry active, feeding current techniques from live briefs and high-profile projects into your programme of study. They bring energy and industry expertise.
In addition, Futureworks Music is our multi-genre, in-house record label that has commercially released our student, graduate, and staff music productions since 2011. Whilst studying with us, the label team will take you through getting your music onto the world’s leading streaming and broadcast platforms; access and guidance continue even after you’ve finished studying with us.
This course is validated by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
Your Audio Engineering and Production Degree Career Opportunities
Our Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programmes are a blend of technology and creativity, designed to target a wide range of career opportunities.
There are many roles and career paths that fit under the broad umbrella of “sound”: Sound Engineer, Music Producer, Mix Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Dialogue Editor, Sound Effects Editor, Dubbing Mixer, Sound Supervisor, Game Audio Designer, Live Sound, Acoustics, Noise Control, Studio Design, Location Sound, Forensic Audio, Audiology…
Many of our students progress on to postgraduate study – MSc and MA programmes in Sound & Music Production, Sound Design, Acoustics and Noise Control, Audiology, Public Policy and Human Development – to name but a few.
Location & Teaching
Your primary location of study will be at our Riverside Campus, which is located on New Bailey Street in Manchester.
Teaching takes place in our fully equipped labs and studios. Flexible access to studio and practical facilities allow you to establish, practice and develop your work using professional-level hardware and software. Relevant hardware and software training will be provided during studio, workshop and lecture sessions to support work at all levels.
We believe it’s essential that your teaching team are part of the industry. This ensures the knowledge they pass on is both relevant and current. It also means they have excellent industry contacts that you can tap into for real-world projects. You will have the opportunity to acquire professional credits during your time at Futureworks, while building up an enviable list of your own contacts at the start of a new career.
Applying to this Course
To be considered for this course, you will require 104-120 UCAS points.
This could be gained via a number of qualifications, for example:
- BCC or above at A2 Level
- DMM or above at Extended Diploma Level
- M or above at UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma Level
- A proven interest in this area
You can apply for this course by applying directly to Futureworks. Alternatively, you can apply via the UCAS system. The UCAS codes for this course are as follows:-
UCAS Code: J9W3
Institution Code: F98
If you have any questions about applying for a degree course please call us on 0161 214 4602, email [email protected] or look at our Admissions page.
There are no interviews for this course. Successful applications will receive an offer directly from Futureworks (or via your UCAS application if you applied through UCAS).
All of our courses start in September and are full time, 3 year courses. More information on relevant dates can be found on the Term Dates page.
International Students
Futureworks is able to accept any applications from applicants who require a Student Visa (formerly called Tier 4 Visa) to study in the UK. Entry criteria for International students will vary. Please see International Students for full details.
“My experience on the audio engineering course has been positive, with the field approached from many angles, suitable from an employability perspective. Expect friendly and approachable tutors with a vast experience, as well as equally kind and helpful staff. Access to studio facilities and industry standard equipment is a highlight of studying at Futureworks. Easy access to students working towards degrees in related fields, such as Film making and Post Production is a desirable bonus as well, creating an ideal medium of learning and collaboration.”
Audio Engineering & Production Student
“I enjoyed the fair and well managed access to all of the studios, the extra curricular efforts and support from all lecturers and the variety of the course. This course has given me extensive knowledge, experience and confidence that I can carry across to my career as a Drummer and Audio Engineer.”
Audio Engineering & Production Graduate
Listen to our Students' work
Validated By
