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University of Glasgow: Sound Design and Audiovisual Practice
| Institution | University of Glasgow View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | College of Arts and Humanities |
| Web | glasgow.ac.uk |
| iain.findlay-walsh@glasgow.ac.uk | |
| Study type | Taught |
Summary
The Masters provides advanced training in creative practice with sound and audiovisual technologies. The programme offers topics relevant to practicing musicians, artists, and the creative industries, such as sound shaping and design, audiovisual composition, field recording, creative and experimental approaches to technology, live performance, interdisciplinary perspectives on sound, and sonic aesthetics. You then develop an individual portfolio of sonic and audiovisual artwork based on your particular skills and interests.
WHY THIS PROGRAMME
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We are Scotland’s leading research centre in Music, with a mutually supportive community of scholars and practitioners.
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You will benefit from studying in the city of Glasgow, the UK’s first UNESCO city of music, with its vibrant and exciting music scene. Festivals abound, such as Sonica, Counterflows, and Tectonics, as does grass-roots sonic activity such as the Lights Out Listening Group, and a huge range of venues for creative sound work, including the Old Hairdressers, Tramway, Mono, SWG3, and City Halls, all of which have hosted our students’ work. The presence of ensembles such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, RSNO, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ensemble, and experimental music ensembles such as the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra provides a rich context for your studies.
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We work with the city’s cultural programme (Glasgow Life), and in collaboration with local arts houses and organisations such as Cryptic, to bring leading sonic artists to Glasgow, with associated workshops and collaborative opportunities for our students.
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Your work can be showcased in our annual postgraduate event Sound Thought, which takes place at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA).
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Your work can also be showcased at the Glasgow Electronic and Audiovisual Media (GLEAM) Festival.
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You can experiment with building devices for making and controlling sound, enhanced by the presence of prototyping facilities in Glasgow such as Maklab, through our Creating with Technology unit.
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You will benefit from access to our facilities including an audio lab, three studios, the University’s Concert Hall with Genelec and D&B sound diffusion system, seminar and practice rooms.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The programme aims to: - provide artistic and technical experience in working with sound as a culturally significant medium
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enable you to build your knowledge of tools and methods for manipulating sonic and audiovisual media
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enable you to design, repurpose and reconfigure technologies for creative compositional ends
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enhance your creative practice through taking an exploratory and critical approach to sonic design and composition
The MSc comprises 180 credits as follows:
Semester 1 Compulsory Courses (60 credits): SOUND SHAPING AND DESIGN CREATING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Semester 2 Compulsory Courses (40 credits): FIELD RECORDING, SOUND AND PLACE AUDIOVISUAL COMPOSITION
Semester 2 Option (one 20 credit course chosen from): SONIC ART PERFORMANCE SONIC ART AESTHETICS & CRITICISM
Other level 5 course from those available within the College of Arts.
Additionally you will produce an individual creative portfolio over the summer (60 credits).
Teaching methods include small group tutorials, seminars and workshops, lab and studio sessions, and individual guidance meetings.
MSc
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (e.g GPA of 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject. |
| Location | Gilmorehill (Main) Campus University Of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ |
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (e.g GPA of 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject. |
| Location | Gilmorehill (Main) Campus University Of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ |
The University of Glasgow is one of the UK’s most prestigious seats of learning, and the fourth oldest university in the English speaking world. Established in 1451 and recognised for its world-changing research and teaching, our people have always been at the forefront of innovation, including eight Nobel Laureates, two UK Prime Ministers, three First Ministers of Scotland, 10 Fellows of the Royal Society and 11 Fellows of the British Academy. Our past achievements inspire our current world changers.
Rankings
The University:
- is ranked 79th in the world: QS World University Rankings 2025
- is …
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