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MSc Sound for Film and Television
Why choose Herts?
- Great Reputation: The University of Hertfordshire’s School of Creative Arts has been ranked 1st in the UK for Creative Schools (The Rookies, Global School Rankings, 2024).
- Fantastic Facilities: We have a stunning array of resources and facilities aligned to industry standards, including recording, mix and mastering studios, performance spaces, high-spec computing labs and a loan store full of free-to-access kit.
- Industry Focussed Teaching: All of our teaching staff are professional composers, sound designers, engineers and producers. We do what we teach!
About the course
Our MSc Sound for Film and Television postgraduate degree covers all the most relevant areas of film and TV sound capture, mix and delivery.
The programme has been specially created to respond to the growing demand for technical audio professionals, who play a vital role in modern film and television production.
By studying this course, you'll gain hands-on, industry-specific skills and graduate with a creative professional portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.
Why choose this course?
Based on our award-winning School of Creative Arts (The Rookies, Global School Rankings, 2024), you’ll study in the University’s top-class studios, supported by tutors who are experienced industry professionals.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to collaborate on real-world projects with students from our animation, games, and film courses.
All assessments are coursework-based, with relevant, industry-aligned skills forming the core of every module.
You’ll develop a well-rounded understanding of how to capture, edit, mix and deliver all the key components of a film’s soundtrack, through practical assignments focussing on the latest and most relevant recording, sound design and mixing techniques.
Herts is located near several major film and television industry hubs, with a strong international reputation for creative excellence. Situated close to London, with excellent industry access, our vibrant creative community offers an inspiring and supportive environment to launch your ideal career.
Whether your interests lie in location sound recording or immersive, object-based cinema sound mixing – or anywhere in between – you’ll learn the tools of the trade to help you stand out in a competitive industry.
With targeted sessions and expert guidance, you’ll build a professional showreel that showcases your creative talent in crafting impactful and engaging audio for film and TV, opening a wide range of career opportunities.
Facilities
The course is delivered in the School of Creative Arts on our College Lane Campus, primarily in the Film, Music and Media Building.
You’ll have access to industry-standard facilities, including recording studios, dubbing suites, performance and critical listening spaces, high-spec computing labs and a loan store with free-to-access equipment.
Our microphone collection includes high-quality dynamic, condenser and ribbon microphones from leading brands like Neumann, Shure, AKG, Coles, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic and Soundfield.
Our studios and labs are equipped with digital audio workstations (Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Ableton Live) and professional plug-ins (iZotope, Native Instruments, East West and Universal Audio).
Explore our facilities in more detail.
Industry links
Live projects, guest masterclasses and industry visits and talks are an important part of the way in which we link so much of the teaching to the best professional practice that is so integral to Postgraduate Music at Herts.
Recent talks include Paul Thomson (Founder/Composer – Spitfire Audio), Shutter Audio, Barry Grint (Mastering at Air Studios), James Townend (Blackmagic Design).
Other partners include UKMusic (Music Academic Partnership, MAP), The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM).
What will I study?
You’ll learn through a mix of interactive lectures, workshops, one-to-one tutorials and hands-on practical sessions.
All module content is regularly reviewed to stay current and aligned with industry needs.
In the Sound for Screen module, you’ll explore the fundamentals of filmmaking and sound, including key soundtrack elements (FX, Foley, speech and music), their interaction, location sound recording techniques, mixing workflows, and audio delivery formats.
The Post-Production Sound for Film & TV module builds your skills in large-scale soundscape design, audio editing for picture (dialogue, ADR, and corrective work), advanced digital audio workstation workflows, and immersive cinema mixing – including formats like Dolby Atmos.
You’ll also develop research and career skills, and complete a final major project in an area of your choice.
Full-time students typically attend taught sessions over two semesters (120 credits), followed by a third semester focused on a substantial self-directed project (60 credits), with ongoing tutor support.
By the end of the course, you’ll graduate with up-to-date theoretical, practical and technical knowledge, and a portfolio that meets current industry standards – ready to pursue a wide range of global career opportunities.
Who will I learn from?
Rob Wright MSc. BEd. BSc. FHEA
Head of Music, School of Creative Arts
Rob is a dual professional; both an experienced academic in higher education and an accomplished musician / composer / technologist. He has worked at the University as an Associate Dean with responsibility for Academic Quality Assurance, and since 2019 as Head of the Music Department. His interests lie in those areas where music and sound creatively interface with other media and his musical and visual works that have won compositional awards and received broadcasts.
Bruce Aisher MSc
Programme Leader for Postgraduate Music
Bruce is a music producer, songwriter, composer, remixer, sound designer and technology journalist whose work is to be found on over 100 commercially released tracks (including a US Billboard Club Chart No.1 and platinum-selling album), on TV programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix and Apple TV, multiple movies, trailers and ads, and products by Apple, BandLab, Splice and Native Instruments.
Contact Bruce: b.aisher@herts.ac.uk
John Brough MSc.
John is a freelance producer/engineer who has worked on numerous hit records. John was chief engineer at the world-renowned Metropolis studios and has worked on a long list of productions from major international artists such as Queen. John specialises in studio recording, mixing, surround sound and other immersive formats.
Dr James Stonehouse
James focuses on adaptive non-linear video game soundtracks and technical sound design systems in game engines and middleware. James is an experienced game audio practitioner with extensive industry connections and is a commentary audio designer for the Olympic Broadcast Service. (London, Rio, Tokyo and Paris). He is currently researching interactive sonic environments in game engines and has presented at Short Sounds Film Festival.
Dr Kyriacos Michael
Kyriacos is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, performer and musical director. He is a published composer (SATV, Cinephonix, Evolution Media), founder of the band Nova Neon, and has worked on projects for BoohooMan, BBC, EdgeSport and Discovery Channel. Kyriacos teaches songwriting, composition and research practice. He is an active researcher in the field of immersive music.
Further course information
| Additional information | |
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Sandwich placement or study abroad year |
n/a |
Applications open to international and EU students |
Yes |