Program Overview

Explore electronic music from its beginnings to current and emerging trends on our full-time Electronic Music BA (Hons) degree in Cambridge. Experiment with music technologies, genres, styles and approaches and create a unique portfolio to launch your career as an electronic producer-artist.

• Create electronic music drawing from electronic popular music, electronic dance music and experimental electronica, combining genres and technologies in innovative productions
• Approach the course through your particular musical interests in individual and collaborative projects, and investigate new methods that will enhance your musical creativity
• Prepare for a career in an industry that grew by 2% in 2017 to contribute a record £4.5 billion to the economy – up by £100 million on 2016 (uk.music.org).
• Make full use of our industry-standard facilities and add the latest music software to your CV
• Make the most of Cambridge’s diverse music scene, from classical to UK rap, and our links to local networks such as Cambridge Arts Network and Cambridge Live
• Perform at venues on-campus and around Cambridge such as Cambridge Junction and ARU's Academy, as well as festivals including the Big Weekend and Cambridge Folk Festival
• Immerse yourself in our industrious student community - collaborate on projects such as music videos and film or computer game soundtracks

Drawing from over 100 years’ worth of insights in applying electricity to music production, our BA (Hons) Electronic Music will challenge your expectations of electronic music, allowing you to explore links and connections between different forms of electronic music practice, and will give you the scope to experiment in creating your sound and musical identity.

You’ll learn techniques that will prepare you for the world of electronic music production - a world that ranges across commercial and experimental music, from pop production through to electronic dance music, electronica, music for media and experimental music.

You’ll also explore the history of electronic music, from its early twentieth century pioneers through to krautrock, synthpop, industrial, techno and on to more recent trends in this diverse field of music making, identifying practices that you can incorporate into your own music.

Whether your interests lie in songwriting and music production emphasising electronic sound, creative experimental approaches, or exploring the genres and sub-genres of electronic dance music, this course will allow you to make the most of them. Over 3 years, you’ll study modules across four different strands, developing your knowledge and skills in production; performance; the contexts and histories of electronic music; and creative entrepreneurship for music.

You’ll also acquire electronic music production techniques using digital audio workstations (e.g. Logic X, Ableton Live and Pro Tools HD), and gain experience using a variety of analogue and digital technologies to produce your projects

Our optional modules will allow you to broaden your experience by applying these skills to music for media projects (for example, in games, films and apps).

Throughout your studies, you’ll be supported by a teaching team with wide-ranging expertise in electronic music, popular music and creative music technology. You can also join our Electronic Music Society, which hosts weekly workshops and organises live performances and club nights.