BSc (Hons) Computing and Digital Sound
- UCAS code: GJ4Y
- Mode of study: Full time or sandwich with work placement
- Duration: 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A levels, or equivalent.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 4475
Email: create.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Creative Technologies (CT)
Course overview
Digital and digitised sound represent one of the crucial ways in which computing exerts an increasingly significant influence on the modern sound-bite society, an invisible but ever-present cue that shapes our reactions and perceptions of the world around us.
This course will offer you the opportunity to acquire a broad range of computing skills, as well as specialist skills in programming and manipulating digital sound through industry-standard software and cutting-edge sound technology. You will study the creation, manipulation and delivery of digital sound and have the opportunity to acquire the skills associated with the entertainment and multimedia industries such as the use of sound software, programming and experimental musical technology.
Our staff also maintain close links with the world of work, both locally and further afield. Many also have practical industrial experience with the application of these technologies. This ensures that our courses always reflect the current and future needs of commerce and industry.
You do not need to have studied computing in the past to join this course, but you will need to have enthusiasm for using computers and an interest in digital sound. Although some options may be available to students with suitable musical backgrounds, there is no requirement for musical proficiency.
Your academic potential, willingness to take responsibility for your own learning and aptitude to engage fully with the subject matter are more important to us than your previous choice of study. If you have the ability to think logically, systematically and creatively you have the ideal attributes for this course.
Course content
You will study core computing topics such as programming, analysis and design, and computer architecture, alongside digital sound and sound technology specialisms such as sound theory, the analysis and use of musical software and the creation of digital soundscapes. The final year of the course includes a major individual project and a major group project, which draw together many different aspects of your studies.
Year one
In the first year you will study a range of core units that introduce the fundamental concepts of computing and digital sound creation and manipulation. This will give you the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills including IT development (through experience of software and hardware systems), problem solving, accessing and referencing of sources and report writing. You will also have the opportunity to experience practical lab sessions, including the use of specialist facilities for digital editing.
Year two
In the second year you will further develop your ability to analyse and evaluate across a broad range of computing and digital sound production skills, including web programming, project management, electro-acoustic music and creative digital sound. You will be able to choose from a range of options, allowing you to explore appropriate aspects of the computing discipline in greater depths. Options include designing interfaces for web and desktop applications, and producing and managing multimedia developments.
Optional year in industry
You have the option to undertake a placement year in industry and we provide a range of services to support you in researching and applying for placement opportunities. During the placement year you will also continue to be supported through academic visits. Successful completion of the placement provides a wealth of valuable experience of life after university that many students find invaluable, both during the final year of their course and after graduation.
Final year
In the final year you are encouraged to carry out independent research and develop your skills of critical analysis and personal reflection. You will aim to acquire a thorough and critical appreciation of IT systems development and the wider application of digital sound technologies. Core units will continue to develop your breadth of knowledge in information systems, software engineering and sound manipulation.
You will also consolidate your experiences on the course through two substantive projects, one in a group environment and a second as an individual engineering project. You will also have the opportunity to choose from a range of options, allowing you to extend your specialist skills in a range of appropriate areas.
Teaching and assessment
By coming to the University of Portsmouth you will experience a lively and modern learning environment with lectures, tutorials and web-based learning sessions. Teaching on this course also has a strong practical and creative basis. You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and project work.
Lecture classes can be large and in the first year you will have about six hours of this type of contact every week. A further six to eight hours will be used for small group seminars and tutorials. Small group work gives you plenty of opportunity to get individual help in those areas in which you would like to know more or are perhaps experiencing some difficulty. Some course material will also be provided via the internet, so that you can work at your own pace and from any location.
You will also be allocated a Personal Tutor during induction week, who will provide you with support and advice on a range of issues throughout your university experience.
Assessment is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills. It takes many forms, from examinations, multiple choice tests, essays and portfolio work to mini-projects, seminars, presentations, case studies or extended review articles.
Career prospects
The range of possible career opportunities open to graduates in this area is extensive. Digital sound impacts directly on a wide range of fields, from multimedia and website development, cinema and television production, to emerging medical technologies. Improvements in the available technologies suggest there will be an expanding range of opportunities in other areas such as crime prevention and audio surveillance among many others.Facilities and features
This course aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work within a technical environment. You will therefore have access to modern computing laboratories that are continually updated with the latest hardware and software, including multimedia applications. Knowledgeable staff are always on hand and all students have full access to email and the web.
Maths Café
The Maths Café is a daily drop-in facility, where ANY student of the University can receive help on any maths or statistics problem they encounter in their studies. We operate in a friendly, informal location which we hope will encourage students to visit us. Handouts on key topics are available to take away. Students can be shown how to use computer aided learning packages, which can be accessed from any computer attached to the University's computer network.