This programme provides you with flexible advanced training that will develop your knowledge and expertise in music and audiovisual media. It offers two pathways; one academic and one practical, which enables you to develop skills according to your own interests and specialisms.
Utilising the industry standard facilities within the Department of Music, this course allows you to specialise in areas such as composition for moving image, sound design, screen music analysis, film studies, and sound studies.
You can develop your knowledge and research skills through approaches to audiovisual media including musicology, critical theory, and textual analysis. Students present their research in essays, audiovisual essays, podcasts, soundwalks, and other audiovisual formats.
Film, television, gaming, and web-based audiovisual content creation are all expanding areas of employment for music graduates. The subject is also a burgeoning field of academic study. The MA Composition for Film, TV and Games responds to these developments by offering both practice-based and critical studies pathways.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
The programme offers two core pathways – one academic and the other practical – enabling you to tailor your studies to suit your career ambitions.
For the academic pathway, you will take MUSI567 in semester one, and MUSI554 in the second semester.
For the practical pathway, you will take MUSI569 in semester one, and MUSI552 in the second semester.
All students will take MUSI552 and the major project module (MUSI550). You will also choose three optional modules.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANALYSING SCREEN MUSIC 1 (MUSI567) | 30 |
| COMPOSING TO PICTURE 1 (MUSI569) | 30 |
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMPOSING FOR NEW MEDIA (MUSI557) | 15 |
| CREATIVE SOUND DESIGN (MUSI559) | 15 |
| SOUND AND DIGITAL CULTURES (MUSI551) | 15 |
| SOUNDSCAPES AND SCREEN MEDIA (MUSI565) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANALYSING SCREEN MUSIC 2 (MUSI554) | 30 |
| BRANDING AND COLLABORATION (MUSI552) | 30 |
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMPOSING TO PICTURE 2 (MUSI556) | 30 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| MAJOR PROJECT: MUSIC AND AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA (MUSI550) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
The MA Composition for Film, TV and Games programme is split into two pathways: research and practical. Teaching on the MA programme is delivered primarily through a combination of lectures, workshops, and seminars, as well as guest lectures and workshops with external partnerships. All teaching takes place on campus. In semester 3, students develop portfolios and research projects with guidance from a specialist supervision team. Assignments encompass a wide range of topics and can be focussed towards written or audiovisual research projects, or more practical projects involving music composition, VR environments, and/or sound design. Lectures and seminars focussing on career development and professional skills encourage students to think about and prepare for employment (or self-employment) after the course.
Students on the MA Composition for Film, TV and Games programme are assessed through a combination of formative and summative coursework, including screen music portfolios, self-reflective commentaries, essays, audiovisual essays, and musical scores.
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
As a music student at the University of Liverpool, you will be a part of a small and friendly department. With access to our extensive range of facilities including state-of-the-art recording faclilities, our auditorium and professionally maintained instruments. All while being surrounded by like-minded musicians.
Dr Amy Skjerseth, Dr Andrew Simmons and Dylan Young introduce the MA Music and Audiovisual Media.
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
Due to the course being focused on working in industry, I am finding myself to be putting a lot of consideration into career paths. On the MA, I am being given the recourses I need to get my foot through the door and progress into the industry I want to.
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Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
The MA Composition for Film, TV and Games develops key skills to those working or wishing to work in a variety of fields related to music and media. The MA programme is particularly suitable for graduates looking to pursue careers in filmmaking as, for example, music composers, orchestrators, music supervisors/editors, or sound designers. Equally, the MA is designed to prepare students for further research at PhD level, and to enable them to enter further postgraduate study, thus offering a first step towards a career in academic teaching and research.
Students from this course can pursue careers in a wide range of professions. These include:
Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning. You can access support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops. The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.
We develop our programmes with employers in mind. You will be supported to enhance your long-term employment prospects as you learn. We do this by exposing you to professionals, a variety of sectors and supporting you to work collaboratively with others to develop transferable skills. You are equipped with a clearer view of what to focus on in your area of interest, and to reflect on your studies. Our digital employability tools give you a tech-enhanced curriculum experience and make it easy for you to prepare for the world of work. You can use tools like the Handshake platform to connect with employers and message the Career Studio 24/7.
You can start building good professional networks by attending events and employability activities. Our events are designed to develop your skills and expose you to many different employers, as well as to help you make contacts in your field. We help you improve your confidence when speaking to employers and give you access to unique opportunities. Our networking events also boost your understanding of the competencies and skills that employers are looking for in their recruitment process, giving you a competitive edge.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £11,700
Part-time place, per year - £5,850
Full-time place, per year - £24,100
Part-time place, per year - £12,050
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
You can pay your tuition fees in instalments.
All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship.
International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies..
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for a fee discount of up to £4,500. You’ll need to demonstrate an active interest in global, community and environmental issues to be considered.
If you’re a UK University of Liverpool graduate joining a master’s degree with us, you could be eligible to receive £3,000 off your tuition fees. You must have graduated in the last two years and received a widening access scholarship during your undergraduate studies.
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate entry requirements | We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. This degree should be in Music, Music Technology or a closely related subject (e.g. Sound Production, Composition or Creative Media). Your personal statement should explain why you have chosen the programme and pathway, as well as what research/practical work you are interested in doing during and after the programme. Students applying to the practical pathway should provide a sample of their practical work in the form of a short showreel or one or two video clips that they have composed music for (no longer than 10 minutes). |
| International qualifications |
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this MA, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 overall, with no component below 105 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 overall, with no skill below 65 |
| PSI Skills for English | B2 Pass with Merit in all bands |
| INDIA Standard XII | National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English. |
| WAEC | C6 or above |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.5 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no more than one component below 4.5, and no component below 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.
Discover more about the city and University.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
If you have any questions about the course content please get in touch with the programme director.
Last updated 7 March 2025 / / Programme terms and conditions