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BEng (Hons) Music Technology Systems (with a Foundation Year)

Join the next generation of audio engineers

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

H662

Institution code

Y50

Length

4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

BBB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£28,800 per year

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Discover York

If you're returning to education, or didn't study Maths at A level, our foundation year will give you the Maths and physics knowledge you need to progress on to our BEng Music Technology Systems course.

You'll spend your first year learning maths and physics content to A level standard, and you'll begin to develop your practical skills in the electronics lab.

If you successfully complete the foundation year you'll automatically continue onto the first year of our degree in Music Technology Systems. You'll explore topics including synthesiser technology, MIDI, sampling and audio signal processing, and learn how this technology is applied in recording studios and field recording projects. You'll use your expertise to create innovative and optimised designs, addressing real-world problems.

With individual and group projects at every stage of the degree to develop practical, organisational, management and business skills, you'll graduate with the abilities and approaches you will need to operate with confidence – as a researcher, expert designer or technical manager - in this exciting field.

You can instead choose to transfer onto any of our other BEng courses within the department. In addition, if you achieve a high score in the Foundation Year exams you will have the opportunity to transfer onto one of our MEng courses.

Year in industry

All of our courses are available with a year in industry, which gives you the opportunity to gain vital experience in the workplace and find out more about your career options. The year in industry is generally taken in the year prior to your final year of study.

The School will help you to find a suitable placement. You will be fully supported by an academic member of staff who will visit you in the workplace and meet you regularly to discuss your placement work.

Accreditation

This course is fully accredited by the IET and counts towards the training requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Our courses have been continually accredited for 25 years.

As I was returning to education, the Foundation Year was brilliant, providing a solid grounding in higher level Maths and Physics, and confirming Electronic Engineering was for me. It has been enjoyable and a fantastic challenge to study at the University of York and the city is a delightful place to call home.
Richard, BEng Electronic Engineering with a Foundation Year

What our students say about us.

Flexible courses

You may be able to change course, add a year in industry or change between MEng and BEng. Just ask us for more details.

Start from scratch

You don't need any formal qualifications in maths or physics to be accepted for our foundation year.

7th for 'Overall Satisfaction'

in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, out of the Russell Group universities included in the latest National Student Survey (2022).

Course content

You'll study the principles and practicalities of electronic engineering, as well as honing essential skills in mathematics and computer programming. Alongside electronic engineering, you will study specialist music technology modules from your very first week in areas such as audio programming, recording studio techniques and acoustics.

As you progress, you'll cover topics such as electronic hardware design, software programming, signal processing and analysis, microprocessor interfacing, engineering construction and design, feedback and computer control. In your final year, advanced option modules allow you to specialise according to your own developing interests, in areas from digital communications to nanoelectronics.

Throughout your course you'll have opportunities to apply your learning in our well-equipped labs. Individual and group projects will see you design, build and test products using state-of-the-art hardware, software and fabrication facilities.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Foundation year

The foundation year is based on the A level curricula for maths and physics.

The first part of the course starts at an early secondary school level and progresses through to A level standard over the year. There is also a practical electronics element, where you'll learn about electronic circuits in a well-equipped laboratory.

Core modules

Your modules will cover topics such as:

In addition to the foundation year teaching outlined above, you'll also complete a range of activities related to Music Technology. These include:

  • regular supervision from a music technology staff member 
  • specialised laboratories in creating and processing audio
  • introduction to the Music Technology Studios and a studio pass for the whole year

You'll also receive music technology mentoring in:

  • musical and audio computing (including practical introduction to programming languages for synthesis and music making)
  • music technology discussion groups
  • contextualising the maths, physics and electronics

Year 1

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Subject Knowledge: Assess electronic engineering and audio technology designs by applying detailed knowledge of algorithms, devices and systems and by consulting relevant documentation and research.
  • Engineering Analysis: Analyse system & component performance through computational methods and modelling.
  • Engineering Design: Create designs to address real-world problems involving audio hardware and software by synthesising ideas into engineering specifications.
  • Practical Skills: Solve technical problems through employing skills in programming, CAD, construction and measurement and by using safe laboratory techniques.
  • Technical Communication: Clearly communicate and explain audio and electronic engineering issues and practice in a technically accurate manner to a variety of audiences, verbally, in writing and using multimedia.
  • Management & Personal Development: Coordinate and execute complex projects in electronics, computing and music technology, with effective time management, team working, and ethical decision-making.

Strong links with industry

We will help you to become an employment-ready, motivated graduate, with skills in the latest developments in engineering such as robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and immersive technology.

Group work to prepare you for your career

Our programme involves group work to allow you to experience the management, coordination and decision-making processes required by engineers. We structure this throughout the programme so that you develop key transferable and managerial skills.

Free membership

We offer all students free membership of the York Engineering Society (our student engineering society) and student membership of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) while you are at York.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £28,800

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

There is no compulsory purchase of equipment or books necessary for this course. Lecture notes will be provided by staff, and you will be given a generous printing allowance.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

Foundation Year Bursary

UK and EU students on this course will receive a fee waiver which will reduce the cost of studying during the Foundation Year:

Foundation year scholarships

The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology offers a number of scholarships for the best performing foundation year students, after the first semester of the course.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

Our courses are highly intensive. Your timetabled activities each week will include:

  • Lectures
  • Practical work (including projects every year)
  • Workshops and tutorials
  • Computer laboratories
  • Supervisions

You'll also be expected to spend time studying independently. As you progress through the course you'll take on more independent study, guiding your own learning and developing your project management skills.

An academic member of staff will help guide you through your final-year individual project, ensuring that you are able to combine the knowledge and skills you have learned throughout the course to successfully undertake an engineering project tailored to your interests and career goals.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures15 hours per week
Workshops2 hours per week
Practicals25 hours per term
Optional activities0-2 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Facilities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAtTsM6R1R0

You can find detailed descriptions of our facilities on our website, including laboratory space, recording studios, clean room and computing classrooms.

Teaching location

You will be based in the School of Physics, Engineering & Technology on Campus West.

Most of your contact hours will be in the School of Physics, Engineering & Technology, with some additional teaching on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Your assignments will be designed not just to test you but for you to creatively apply what you've learned, and to stretch you to supply novel solutions. We use a variety of assessment styles, including exams, coursework and practical engineering tasks. You'll encounter all of them during your course, but the exact balance will depend on the modules you choose:

  • Closed-book and open-book exams
  • Short technical reports
  • Electronic portfolios, including programming exercises, video reports or blogs
  • Presentations and demonstrations
  • Major technical reports

You'll receive written feedback on work you hand in to help you understand your grade and develop your skills. For your final-year individual project you'll produce a written report, have a viva (a presentation and question/answer session) and also show your project on our demo day, which our external advisory board attend.

There are two progression points during the foundation year: one at the end of Term 1 and another at the end of the academic year. Foundation Year students complete coursework assessments and take exams in Maths and Physics in December (last week of Term 1) which must be successfully passed in order to progress to the Spring term (Term 2). At the end of Summer Term (Term 3) progression on to one of our BEng courses depends on successful completion of the foundation year, including coursework assessments and exams. Those who complete the foundation year and achieve a score of at least 60 per cent in all the Foundation Year Mathematics examinations are also eligible to transfer directly onto one of our MEng programmes. If you would like further information about this, please get in touch.

Electronics practical
The staff are friendly and helpful, and if you put yourself out there you'll feel like part of the family. I honestly can't praise them enough regarding the support they provide me, and my university experience is one I will never forget
Pippa, BEng Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems

Read Pippa's blog post

Careers and skills

The growth of the electronics industry means demand for new engineers is always high. Our students enter a wide range of jobs, not just in electronic engineering, but in a variety of related fields such as software programming and hardware development

For those wishing to take different career paths, the transferable skills you'll develop are highly valuable. Mathematics, programming, team working and technical management are sought after in a huge range of sectors, from media to financial services. Recent employers have included Jaguar Land Rover, IBM, Qinetiq, ARM, BBC, BT and Network Rail. Find out more about our graduate destinations and graduate profiles.

Career opportunities

  • Avionic systems engineering
  • Design engineering
  • Digital consultancy
  • Software and systems engineering
  • Cyber security
  • Telecommunications design
  • Broadcast engineering
  • Automotive safety
  • Visual effects

Transferable skills

  • Analyse system and component performance through computational methods and modelling
  • Create designs to address real-world problems by synthesising ideas in engineering specifications
  • Solve technical problems through applying skills in programming, CAD, construction and measurement
  • Communicate and explain electronic engineering issues to a variety of audiences verbally, in writing, and using multimedia
  • Assess designs by applying detailed knowledge algorithms, devices and systems, and consulting relevant research
  • Coordinate and execute complex projects
  • Effective time management, teamworking and ethical decision making

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

BBB

If you already have, or are currently studying towards, A level Maths you should apply for one of our degree programmes without a foundation year.

Access to Higher Education Diploma 21 credits at Distinction and 24 credits at Merit or higher
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDM in any subject
Cambridge Pre-U M2, M2, M2. If you are studying Maths please apply for one of our degree courses without a foundation year.
International Baccalaureate 31 points. If you are studying Mathematics - Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level or Mathematics - Analysis and Approaches at Standard Level or Higher Level, please apply for one of our degree courses without a foundation year.
T levels We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Scottish Highers - BBBBB

Advanced Highers - not required for entry

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

All applicants should have GCSE Maths C/4. We consider applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and holding combinations of qualifications. Please get in touch with us for an informal discussion if you are interested in our foundation year but are unsure whether you meet our criteria.

Applicants are usually interviewed and we will look for evidence during our discussion that you are capable of dealing with the workload of the foundation year.

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ We recognise the value of this qualification although it will not be included as a condition of entry. It may be taken into consideration when you receive your results.
Core Maths If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 169, with a minimum of 162 in each component
Oxford ELLT 6, with a minimum of 5 in each component
Duolingo 105, minimum 95 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 25/50 in each component
KITE 426 Main Flight score with 396 in each component
Skills for English B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component
PTE Academic 55, with a minimum of 51 in each component
TOEFL 79 overall, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing
Trinity ISE III Pass in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

All suitable UK-based applicants will be invited to an interview; for the current application cycle the interviews will be held online.

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Admissions Enquiries - Helen Lay

Learn more

School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

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