Bachelor of Music Production

This is a three-year bachelor degree in music production, taught at Collarts in Melbourne. It sits in the film and television subject area, which tells you something about where the course points: music written and produced to picture, not just standalone tracks. Expect to spend your time in studios and labs rather than lecture theatres. You'll learn how sound and music work together on screen, scoring, sound design, dialogue and mix, and you'll build a portfolio of work across the degree.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees run three years full time and sit at level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework. Most institutions divide the year into two semesters or three trimesters, and you enrol in units of study that carry credit points. You need a set number of credit points to graduate, usually 144 for a three-year degree, made up of core units, electives and a final project. Collarts uses a trimester calendar, so you can often choose how many units to take each study period. The final year typically includes a capstone project where you produce a substantial piece of work, a score, a soundtrack, a sound design reel, and present it to a panel. Confirm the exact unit list, credit point totals and trimester dates on the official course page.

What you actually study

You'll work with digital audio workstations, recording consoles, microphones and outboard gear. There's music theory and composition, arranging for different ensembles, and the technical side of recording and mixing. Because the course sits in film and television, much of the assessment is done to picture: writing cues to a brief, cutting sound effects to a scene, mixing to broadcast standards. You'll also cover the business side, licensing, royalties, contracts, working with directors and producers, because most graduates end up freelancing. Group projects are common. You'll collaborate with film students, animators and game designers, which is how the industry actually works.

Who it suits

This degree suits someone who already makes music or plays an instrument and wants to turn that into a career behind the screen. You don't need to be a virtuoso, but you do need to be comfortable in a studio and willing to spend long hours on a mix. It's a good fit if you like the idea of working on films, TV series, ads, games or online content, and you're happy to build a showreel rather than sit exams. If you're an international student, you'll need to meet Collarts' English requirement, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying, a student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 104505K. Check the official page for current fees, intake dates and unit details.

• Music producer or composer for film, television and streaming productions
• Sound designer or sound editor in post-production houses
• Dialogue editor, foley artist or re-recording mixer
• Studio engineer or assistant engineer in recording studios
• Music supervisor or licensing coordinator for production companies and agencies
• Game audio designer for interactive media studios
• Podcast and online content producer
• Live sound engineer for venues, festivals and touring acts

Australia's screen sector is concentrated in Melbourne and Sydney, with production companies, post houses, advertising agencies and game studios hiring across the country. Many graduates work freelance, so the ability to manage clients and deadlines matters as much as the technical skills.