Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 4 Modules

Level 5 Modules

Level 6 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Visiting Speakers
The course has a diverse range of professionals from industry supporting the teaching of full-time members of staff. This format is invaluable at all levels of study, benefitting from specialist discipline input. In addition to this, the faculty regularly invite speakers from a wide scope of disciplines in the creative industries covering Music Production, Industry and Entrepreneurship as well as speakers from Television, Film and Media. Students are encouraged to also attend cross faculty events where speakers from other specialist areas share their expertise. This encourages building networks within their specialist discipline, the creative industries in general and beyond.

Fieldwork
Site visits are an integral part of project work where students survey, document and analyse a building or space, usually along with the client or project representative. This is a valuable chance for discussing and questioning other individuals outside of the university network.

Fieldtrips
Visiting specific places of interest for projects, industry events, as well as international trips presents a good opportunity for the students to show initiative to engage in intellectual discussion with individuals who are there to discuss subjects relative to these spaces.

Work Placements
There is ample opportunity presented in the course to prompt work shadowing and experience, as well as formal placements. This is facilitated through externally set briefs, industry guided project work, portfolio reviews and mentor support in year three. We also encourage the students to seek out their own opportunities either through their own contacts or at the networking events organised for them. Where appropriate, we also advise students when positions are available.

Work-based Learning
The course includes numerous live briefs, so students will encounter industry contact over the three years of the degree. Design briefs are set relative to live projects working with real organisations and clients to reflect industry processes. Often, these projects work to prompt initial concept ideas for projects to be procured in the future by the client with sometimes further input from students. Students may also pursue additional work-based learning.

Employer Forums
Due to the format of the course, we can maintain a continuous and proactive dialogue with industry partners, professional mentors and placement employers. We also engage in wider industry specific events that are at the forefront of the discipline.

Means of Assessment

• Project Output
• Research Plan/Proposal/Project/Log
• Case Study
• Production Podcast (Audio / music)
• Practical Assessment
• Essay
• Performance
• Written Assignment
• Set Exercise – Not Time Constrained
• Self-Reflective Assessment
• Online Portfolio
• Portfolio
• Production (Audio visual)
• Presentation
• Field Coursework

Learning Support

Induction
The induction week is predominantly a chance to settle in and get to know the other students on the course and within the school, as well as the teaching staff. There is an introduction to the course generally and 1st year more specifically ensuring the new students understand what to expect. The key thing at induction is to make sure that students feel comfortable with what is ahead and that they have all the required information about the course and module format, the timetable and an overview of the content. Usually, there is one formal session to do this, with the rest of the week all about activities to settle in and get to know the staff, their peers, the faculty, Cardiff and South Wales. For previous induction events activities have included quizzes, gigs, ice-breaker sessions and networking events.

Personal Academic Coach
Every student is allocated a Personal Academic Coach (PAC) from within the music and sound department, who is there to discuss any issues relative to their academic progress. These sessions are set out as required in the faculty PAC system relative to updates in the scheme also working with the learner analytics support. This tutor will also advise on how to seek support for any personal matters arising that is affecting their studies.

Office hours
Generally, there is usually at least one member of staff in the recording studio or staff offices. The students will also be informed of when set office hours are available for drop-in sessions and tutorials for specific coursework. Currently, the majority of student tutorials take place online.

Tutorials
The course specialism and its desired outcomes for assessment requires regular tutorial input. This encourages independent development guided by 1 to 1 tutorials and small group discussions where appropriate. Due to the nature of the production process, the format of the tutorials is flexible and extremely proactive and tailored to work with each individual’s needs.

Seminars
Seminars as regular group discussions are effective in allowing the students to share their progress and opinions, as well as learn from others’ input. It also encourages involvement from all students, so that they can build confidence in presenting their ideas and working progress.

Formative Assessment
Some assignments and modules will allow for formative assessments at key stages in the project development at proposal and concept stages for example. This allows us to provide valuable feedforward input.

Progress meetings
During project modules, there are regular group meetings to discuss general progress, clarify brief aims, achieved outcomes and aspirations of the coursework in process. This is an open discussion to ensure that everyone is clear on the agenda of the project and what needs achieving for the final presentation and assessment hand in. We ensure this happens also to meet the expectations of any external clients or organisations involved. We advocate these meetings both for individual outcomes as well as the group work projects.

Research Supervision
Students are guided through their research methods and activity by their tutors at levels 4 and 5 of study, which ensures diversity and input enriching the student experience and exposing the student to a variety of research practice methods. Research supervision is prevalent on the final year Major Production Project, where students are supervised on their dissertations. The contact is through email, studio discussions, meetings and drop-in sessions, apart from timetabled sessions.

Online Resources
All course resources, learning materials, course handbook and module content are available on Blackboard, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here, there are also further resource links to relevant information within each module page. There are departmental Instagram and Facebook pages that highlight activity and any information about networking events. We inform the students about the use of a number of online materials to support their studies, as well as directing them to faculty technicians responsible for supporting recording studio work. We also advise on the use of some specific online software tools and help with additional support for software tutorials.

Advice Zone
We make sure that the students are aware of the help and support that they can receive from the Student Advice Team at the Atrium with any issues, especially if this is affecting their studies. This is particularly important with matters around health and wellbeing. We also make sure that they are aware that there is valuable support in Student Development and Study Skills and advice for any student finance concerns.

Disability
The Disability Service is there to provide confidential and tailored support and guidance for students who have disabilities, both seen and unseen, as well as advice on help available for any learning difficulties.

IT/Library
In addition to the resources available at any time via the VLE, we have a great selection of reference material available in the library covering all aspects of the subject area with a fantastic collection of books and journals. Some of these are also available to access online. The course works closely with the librarian to make sure that the content is relevant and as easily accessible as possible for the students. We introduce the library resources in the first few weeks of the year to the new 1st years. Along with their online student account that gives access to Unilearn, email, printing and account activity, the students can use computers and digital equipment available for them in the studio and workshop. These all have industry standard software. They can also access the media loans to borrow any additional IT devices.

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

Industry Pathways Most Common Examples of Music Production Careers:

• Record Producer • Composer • Musician • Audio Technician / Engineer • Recording Studio Manager • Sound Designer • Sound Artist • Instrument Tech • Sound Mixer • Radio Broadcast Engineer • Digital Audio Editor • Game Audio Designer • Postproduction Sound •

The MA Songwriting and Production course is delivered in the context of a dynamic contemporary music and cultural scene in Wales. Building on the expertise and reputation we have developed in the subject of Popular Music here at the University, this innovative Songwriting and Production degree will enable you to make connections and collaborations within the world of both professional songwriting, and the wider music culture.

Designed for those interested in lyrics, music and studio production, you’ll learn a range of creative techniques, as well as the history of popular song and the world of music publishing.

MSc Music Engineering and Production

At the nexus of creativity, technology and business, the MSc Music Engineering and Production is designed for graduates who want to further develop their music engineering and production skills, to establish a career as a professional producer in the music industry or related fields. An important element of the music engineering masters is the practical application of your knowledge to generate highly creative work. Allied areas are also examined, which allows graduates to apply their skills in many other media-related fields, including film and animation. Such a strategic approach to your higher-level study engenders responsibility, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the highly creative generation of musical and visual tangibles.

MRes Music and Sound

The MRes pathway offers students the opportunity to study a Masters degree that emphasises independent study over taught instruction. It isn’t restricted to specific subject areas. Instead an MRes is awarded on any programme that focusses on a student’s own research activity.

Ph.DThe

PhD pathway is available as a full-time programme lasting three years, or a part-time programme lasting five years. It is available in all areas in which we can offer supervision, including sound engineering and production, musicology, analysis, ethnomusicology, music cognition, composition and practice-based research in performance and production.

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

The entry criteria below show the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - CDD to include a relevant art and design subject (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level with a relevant art and design subject (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass in a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical IB Offer
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including 5 or above in English at standard level
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
Portfolio
Students will be expected to provide evidence of a website or any other form of digital portfolio as part of their application.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A