Program Overview

International Foundation Year in Engineering, Computing and Science

The International Foundation Year in Engineering, Computing & Science will prepare you to study one of more than fifty degrees at the University of Huddersfield, in fields such as computer science, most engineering disciplines, forensic science, music technology and pharmaceutical science.

You will study core modules, which are general skills subjects, and specialised modules tailored to your chosen area of study, all of which are important for your academic development.

Why study Engineering, Computing & Science?

• Our flexible entry requirements mean that you can use this route to prepare for an engineering degree – even if you have no background in the subject
• This route offers a strong foundation to succeed in a vast majority of degrees at Huddersfield
• Benefit from our CareerAhead activities to develop the skills you need to become a highly-employable graduate
• Prepare for your future industry work placements, including support with the NHS interview for clinical practice
• Access a range of excellent facilities on a modern campus, such as the Centre for Precision Technologies.

Once you have succesfully completed International Foundation Year in Engineering, Computing & Science, and achieving the required grades, you will join the first year of your undergraduate degree at the University of Huddersfield.

Leading to: Sound Engineering & Music Production BSc (Hons)

If you are planning a career in sound engineering and music production, this course has been designed to help you develop the essential practical skills, knowledge and abilities to give you the edge. The course has a clear focus on music production and combines a broad mix of modules ranging from the technical to the creative, it covers a wide range of topics including:

• Advanced music production
• Mixing techniques in stereo and immersive formats
• Game audio
• Critical listening and production analysis
• Sound for film and media
• Live sound production
• Radio and online streaming production
• Mastering techniques

During your time on the course, we will help you explore the music industry and prepare you for exciting and rewarding careers in areas such as studio engineering, live sound production, audio and sound design for games and post-production for film and television as well as music mastering.

You will have access to our industry-standard studios, helping you to work with equipment that you will encounter in the real world of work. You will gain hands-on experience of using professional software and equipment including five fully equipped Pro Tools recording studios, SSL and large format Audient mixing consoles, industry standard outboard compressors and equalizers, a range of plugins from UAD and Waves, six production studios, live sound facilities, including Avid and Midas consoles featuring Dante audio networking and more.

During your studies, you will be supported by tutors, many of whom are experienced industry professionals. You can book the studios seven days a week for use outside teaching time to develop your sound engineering skills and production style even further.

Our course also has an active research basis which is an essential element of higher education. Many of the academic staff are members of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and are researching into areas such as perceptual audio, automated mixing techniques, music production, new interfaces for music and other related disciplines. Core members of the teaching team are part of the Music and Audio Production (MAP) research group, whose membership includes high profile music producers and academics from other areas of the world.

We supplement our teaching with guest lectures and master classes from professional music producers, equipment designers and media producers, to make sure you are learning from a wide range of people. In recent years we have had guest lectures from producer Tony Platt (AC/CD, Bob Marley, Iron Maiden, Paul McCartney) and live sound engineer Jon Burton (The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead) among many others.

Graduates from our music production courses have gone on to work in studios such as Angel Studios, The Chairworks, engineered the front of house live mix for rock bands such as Deaf Havana and been nominated for Grammy awards for their work on productions by pop stars such as Adele.