Music & Media Technologies

Course Overview
In recognition of a shared interest in Information Technology and a growing awareness of its relevance for music, Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Music initiated a Masters programme in Music and Media Technologies in 1996.

A particular feature of this programme is a balanced approach to musical and technological topics. Musically, a strong emphasis is placed on the development of adaptable compositional skills, while technological topics are addressed from both a hands-on workstation / studio exposure and a fundamental mathematical and scientific basis, which focuses on musically relevant issues.

The overall objective of the MMT programme is to provide a thorough grasp of the principles and applications of computer, audio and video technologies in combination with significant exposure to media related topics such as music, visual music, and interactive installations. Artistic creativity is stimulated and developed over the year of the programme through a combination of exam and assignment-based work and culminating in a final thesis which features a significant and original contribution of a technological and/or artistic nature.

Is This Course For Me?
The breadth of coverage is a characteristic and unique feature of the programme, and this allows students to specialise in the areas they find most interesting. Students emerge from the programme with a strong grounding in the scientific and technological principles behind digital audio, video and computation, and with a well-developed artistic sensibility. While formal music training is desirable but is not essential, those without a music degree may wish to take independent music theory classes prior to commencing the programme as it is required for certain elective modules.

Course Structure
The MMT programme is a full-time, one-year course (or part-time over two years). The Postgraduate Diploma, worth 60 ECTS, is divided into two 30-ECTS semesters. To be awarded an M.Phil. in Music and Media Technologies, students must complete a third semester worth 30 ECTS, which requires the completion of a research project and written thesis, for a total of 90 ECTS.

The programme covers a range of subjects within the general field of music technology and provides students with a professional qualification.

The first two semesters form a self-contained Postgraduate Diploma course which provides the necessary musical and technological skills to allow creative individuals to engage in computer-assisted composition and production, apply software tools for the music and New Media industries and/or enter the arena of music-on-screen: production for New Media products.

In Semester 1, students take one core module, Research Methods, and choose five electives out of the following six: Electroacoustic Composition 1, Sonic Arts - Semester 1, Creative Coding, Visual Music 1, Audio Engineering, and Introduction to Max.

In Semester 2, students take one core module, Psychoacoustics, and choose five electives from these eight (or 4 out of 8 if Motion Picture Engineering is taken): Electroacoustic Composition 2, Sonic Practice - Semester 2, Visual Music 2; Programming Interactive Systems; Audio Production Techniques; Spatial Audio; Introduction to XR Technologies; Motion Picture Engineering.

The third (summer) semester of study, leading to the award of the M.Phil.degree, is open to those who passed both the first and second semesters and has a greater research orientation. It requires the completion of a research project and written thesis, which can be of a musical or technological nature.

Admission Requirements
Acceptance for the course is based on an overall assessment, which takes into account:

Musical/compositional/artistic and/or technological ability as evidenced by a portfolio submission.
Academic and/or professional references.
A personal statement addressing why you would like to do the course and why you think you are suitable.

Closing Date: 31st July 2024

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Next Intake: September 2024

Career Opportunities
Graduates have pursued careers in the arts as composers, musicians and performers in a wide and diverse range of styles and genres, as well as careers in education and academic research; digital signal processing; software and hardware development; audio engineering; sound design for gaming, film, theatre, and virtual reality; acoustics; video editing; TV and film production; and web design.