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United Kingdom

University of the Arts London

MA Sound Arts

University degrees: Postgraduate

Course length: 1 year 3 months full time (45 weeks across a four-term model)

Intensive and specialised, MA Sound Arts at LCC is designed to further the development of your conceptual and contextual understanding of sound arts practice and its discourse.

Intensive and specialised, this programme is designed to further the development of students’ conceptual and contextual understanding of Sound Arts practice and its discourse. Students are encouraged to adopt a personal and distinctive approach to their work and research.

The course includes a strong taught component combined with ample opportunities for practical work.

You will be able to extend your portfolio within an academic context, engage in theoretical and practical research, develop your creative and critical skills, explore personal areas of interest in sound arts and engage in practice-based research.

What can you expect?

The aim of the course is to facilitate individual practice and guide you towards a professional career as a sound artist or into research.

The course culminates in a curated show and a public symposium where you will get the opportunity to present your work and research to an audience.

An advantage of studying at LCC are the opportunities for collaboration with students from other disciplines, such as film students, both inside and outside the college.

All staff delivering the course are active practitioners and researcher, their specialist areas of interest include the following:

  • Composition
  • Sound recording and mixing
  • Phonography
  • Field recording and acoustic ecology
  • Interactive work
  • Sound installations
  • Live performance
  • Radiophonic practices
  • Sound for film
  • A variety of cross-platform work

There is also an extensive programme of visiting speakers and performers and both undergraduate and postgraduate students are extremely active in promoting their work both inside and outside the college.

The sound arts department is constantly developing new links with other institutions and other disciplines and is committed to extending the boundaries of this developing discipline.

The course is designed for students who have a substantial background in producing sound-based work within the context of contemporary arts and media practice. You may have studied some aspect of sound arts – such as sound design, music technology and sonic art – at an undergraduate level.

You may come from other disciplines, such as fine art, digital arts, or time-based or performance art. Or you may have no formal qualifications but have significant experience of producing creative work with sound and wish to develop this work in an academic context.

The main characteristic of a successful applicant is that they will already have achieved a distinctive and enquiring approach to and an understanding of the aspects of sound arts that they wish to develop further in a creative and experimental academic environment.

Find out more information about Creative Research into Sound Arts Practice (CRISAP).

Mode of Study

MA Sound Arts is in Full Time mode which runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.

Contact us

To register your interest and receive information and updates about studying at UAL, please complete this form.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for or to ask a question, please contact us.

Course units

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves six units, totalling 180 credits.

Autumn, Term 1

Practice-Based Research (40 credits)
Contemporary Themes in Sound Arts Practice (20 credits)

In Term 1 you will gain a practical understanding of contemporary themes in sound arts practice and explore how they relate to and situate your own practice.

At the same time you will begin to develop a critical understanding of the relationship between research and practice in relation to your own work and carry out an applied research project in response to an external organisation or institution.

Spring, Term 2

Practice-Based Research (continued)
Contemporary Themes in Sound Arts Practice (continued)
Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Summer, Term 3

Project Development (20 credits)
Curatorial Contexts for Sound Art (20 credits)
Major Project (60 credits)

In Term 3 the taught programme will help you to explore issues around the curation, exhibition and perception of sound art in a contemporary context and you will begin work on your Major Project.

Autumn, Term 4

Major Project (continued)

Term 4 is devoted to the completion and presentation of the Major project in the context of a curated show and symposium.

If you are unable to continue or decide to exit the course, there are two possible exit awards. A Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the first 60 credits and a Postgraduate Diploma will be awarded on successful completion of the first 120 credits.

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 183.8 KB)

Course dates

Autumn, Term 1

28 September 2020 – 4 December 2020

Spring, Term 2

4 January 2021 – 12 March 2021

Summer, Term 3

12 April 2021 – 23 July 2021

Autumn, Term 4

4 October 2021 – 10 December 2021

Learning and teaching methods

  • Individual and Group Tutorials
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Symposium

Assessment methods

  • Critical reflection reports
  • Self-evaluation
  • Written reports
  • Audio visual presentations

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