Take an interdisciplinary approach to exploring and experimenting with the relationship between sound and narrative.
On the School of Digital Arts' (SODA) MA Sound Design course, you will create sound for environments and contexts that are immersive, interactive and responsive.
Taught by a team of specialist researcher-practitioners, you will explore themes that will include sound for linear and non-linear narrative, interactive media and virtual realities.
You will be based in a school that is purpose-built for today’s fast-moving creative and digital sectors - equipped with the latest cutting-edge technologies to enable you to develop industry-standard skills for creating and researching sound content across a wide range of digital platforms. SODA also offers opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning and to collaborate within our dynamic creative community of photographers, filmmaker...
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years
This course adopts an interdisciplinary approach for exploring and experimenting with the relationship between sound and narrative, within a range of professional contexts.
Semester 1 focuses on capturing, manipulating, and crafting soundscapes for film, TV, radio, games, VR/AR, and sound installations. The course covers field recording techniques, soundscape architecture, immersive audio, audio-visual theory, and industry practices. Through a mix of practical workshops, screenings, and theory sessions, students learn to capture, manipulate and create sounds, conceptualise and design immersive soundscapes, and critically evaluate sound works. Students work on an individual project collaborating with their peers, applying skills learnt on the course and their own personal interests.
Semester 2 builds on the knowledge gained in Interdisciplinary Practice 1. You'll produce project outcomes that interrogate sound as an applied medium. You'll also learn the essential tools to interrogate your practice through research. You'll consider how creative audio is integrated into environments that are dynamic, immersive and adaptive, including practical approaches to game audio. You'll also produce independent creative practical outcomes related to your specialist area of sound design.
On the course you'll be supported by a team of research-active professionals with strong connections in the industry.
Dr Neil Bruce is a lecturer in sound design (soundscapes), his practice-based research is based on soundscapes, field recording, immersive audio, perception and soundscape simulation. His work is featured in film, VR and AR experiences and installation, with recent academic projects including Our Dee Estuary and Project DeStress; building sound worlds for the investigation of the effects on restorativeness of green space in urban environments.
Dr Chris Whiter is a media composer and sound designer. In the world of video games, credits include the full original soundtracks for Transformers BattleGrounds and Dreamworks Dragons Legends of the Nine Realms (How To Train Your Dragon Franchise), as well as working on the award-winning title Get Packed, Astronimo and the critically acclaimed Jurassic World Aftermath (Oculus Quest). His portfolio also includes international projects with the Metropol, Seattle Symphony and FAMES orchestras, as well as with Academy Award Winner, A R Rahman. As an arranger he has collaborated with the world-renowned Metropole Orchestra, led by the highly respected conductor Vince Mendoza, arranging for Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter and Dee Dee Bridgewater (2017 NEA Jazz Master).
The programme leader for this course is Jamie Birkett.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
You should have at least a 2:2 undergraduate UK honours degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. creative/digital arts, management, education, science etc).
Equivalent EU/international qualifications are also accepted.
Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Other professional qualifications will be considered on merit and/or with relevant professional experience.
Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English language qualification.
Full-time fee: £12,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £2000 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
Full-time fee: £22,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £3667 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
All students have access to computing equipment and subject specific equipment and resources. Software relevant to their study is available on campus and is regularly updated. In addition to desktop machines, students are also able to access the university laptop loan service. Students working off campus may wish to purchase their own sound equipment or instruments, computer and licensed software.
All students are strongly advised to purchase a portable hard drive to continually back-up their work (£50-100). In cases where students need to print their work, additional costs may be incurred which will be determined by the nature of the work.
There are opportunities throughout the course to attend local, national and international study trips and festivals which will incur costs. These costs are proportional to the distance and length of the activity. Students are encouraged to market their work in forums relevant to their study which may mean paying for materials or a digital service provider.
All essential reading material and learning resources related to their course of study is available in the library, however, students may wish to purchase their own books, subscribe to relevant online journals or pay for access to online resources or memberships.
Graduates of the course will be well rounded twenty-first century media creatives able to adopt a variety of professional roles across a range of contexts including: media content creation, location sound recording, film and animation post-production, game audio, sound and music for interactive media, Foley editing, music supervision, music editing, and sound design.
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may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
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