BSc (Hons) Audio Technology (Full Time)

Taught by staff with wide-ranging professional experience, this course provides all the skills you will need to join the fast-expanding, dynamic entertainment industry.

Course overview  

This respected degree equips you with the knowledge and skills required for a career in film, radio and television broadcasting or a live sound environment.

The functionality of media equipment and systems-level electronic engineering are strong themes on this highly practical course. Using our well-equipped specialist facilities, you'll gain a solid grounding in electrical principles, technology mathematics and engineering physics.

The engineering sector of the media and entertainment business is expanding fast, and this degree aims to address industry needs by producing top-quality, technically competent graduates. We are committed to contributing able production engineers with the skill set to operate and maintain equipment under control.

Year 3 subjects include the specialist unit Audio Systems Design, which addresses the installation of sound reproduction systems in auditoria and for outdoor events. The choice of option units enables you to direct your career towards film sound, radio and television broadcasting, or a live sound environment. There is also a year-long electronic engineering project of choice that reflects hardware or software used within the reproduced sound industries.

This course offers flexibility too. With common units shared with students from other Entertainment Technology courses, you’ll have the option to transfer to another pathway if your career aspirations change. 

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Industrial focus

This course is part of Solent's well-established Entertainment Technology programme which has a proven track record of preparing students for a successful technological career in the audio visual and entertainment industries. 

Course content

Year 1

Six core units:

• Video Production
• Audio Studio Recording
• Light and Sound
• Audio and Video Technology
• Media Electronics
• Digital Audio.

Year 2

Six core units:

• Sound Design
• Audio Systems
• Video Systems
• Electronic Applications
• Media Formats
• Media Computing. 

Year 3

Three core units and two option units:

• Audio Systems Design
• Transmission and Networking Technologies
• Project (double unit). 

Options:

• Film and Video Technology
• Broadcast Systems Engineering
• Outside Broadcasting
• Audio Post Production
• Curriculum Plus.

Why choose this course?

• Share ideas and projects with students from across the media technology programme.
• The industry standard ProTools|HD and Pyramix digital audio studio workstations are used for audio production tasks in music, film and broadcast.
• A separate audio laboratory enables the investigation of professional and consumer audio equipment, along with loudspeaker design.
• Industrial visits, for example to Dolby Laboratories and Odeon Cinemas.

Assessment

Fully in-course assessed through a mixture of written assignments, presentations, production portfolios and short tests.

Key career skills

IT, project management, communication, problem solving and working to deadlines. 

Projects/work experience

Students work on the technical production of local and national events such as the coverage of University graduation and fashion shows and recording at the Glastonbury and Glade music festivals. 

Graduate profile

Natalie Chuter

Natalie Chuter is a systems engineer at TANDBERG Television based in Hedge End, Southampton. TANDBERG Television is a global company specialising in digital video technology for the delivery of TV and on-demand content.

"Without my degree in Audio Technology I would not have had the opportunity to work with TANDBERG Television. The media technology programme provided me with a solid understanding of the broadcasting industry and its diversity. I found the course neither too technical nor too creative, but more practically based.

“The teaching methods used worked well for the subjects covered. Southampton Solent University not only provided the essential theory and practical elements needed for my career, it also gave me the necessary interpersonal and self management skills required to begin a successful career in an advanced high technology environment.

“I now work with head end compression systems deployed throughout the world for clients including Sky, Channel 4 and DirecTV. I am also working closely with projects which utilise new technologies such as MPEG4 and Window Media 9. I chose to work with TANDBERG Television in order to begin my career working with and developing cutting edge technology."