Sound Production HNC
Course code 316W
What is special about this course?
Influence the music and sounds we listen to on a daily basis by pursuing a career in sound production. Choose to pursue paths in studio recording and production, live sound and design, or multimedia application, including digital media, gaming, and web sounds.
Learn audio skills, digital audio workstations, sound production, recording and mixing, skills for business, sound for live events, and creative music re-mixing. This course forms the first year of our BA (Hons) Audio Engineering.
Special features
- You can study full time or part time to suit your personal and professional circumstances
- You will study at UHI North, West and Hebrides in Alness, or UHI Perth
- You will gain a basic understanding of sound engineering practice and theory
- On successful completion of this course you may be able to progress to the BSc (Hons) Audio Engineering at UHI Perth
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- 1 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, OR
- 1 A level at grade D or above
- Preferably including Music, Physics, Maths or English
- You may also be required to attend an interview
- Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply
Access routes
- NC Music
- NC Sound Engineering
Year 1 - HNC
Mandatory units are:
- Audio skills
- Digital audio workstations
- Recording and mixing
- Skills for business
- Sound for live event
- Sound production graded unit 1
Options may include:
- Acoustics (Perth)
- Audio electronics (Perth)
- Audio for multimedia (Perth)
- Audio for visual art/images (Perth)
- Creative music re-mixing (North, West and Hebrides and Perth)
- Creative project (North, West and Hebrides)
- Game audio (Perth)
- Music history: genres, record labels and artists (North, West and Hebrides)
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will study by way of face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom and practical sessions in the studio
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: 2 years
Where can I study my course?
- North, West and Hebrides - Alness campus
- Perth
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £1,285 | £1,285 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £86 | £86 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £7,110 | £7,440 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £474 | £496 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £8,775 | £8,925 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £585 | £595 |
Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Funding
Through the Cadman Award (Perth), there is a memorial scholarship fund of £500 available for one student applicant, available upon review of the submission of a scholarship application proposal.
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
- You may be required to purchase a pair of quality closed-back headphones as well as USB drives for storage of projects
- There may also be travel costs involved for practical experiences during your course
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you successfully complete this course you can engineer and produce music and design sound for television, film and radio; engineer conferences, concerts and other live events; or pursue multimedia careers in web design, animation, gaming and other digital media.
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to the BSc (Hons) Audio Engineering course at UHI Perth. You may also be able to progress to our BA (Hons) Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands, or our BA (Hons) Applied Music.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I didn’t consider anywhere else- I'd heard that UHI was one of the best places to study music. My lecturers were all extremely supportive, and my placements on the course were amazing- they developed my skills and opened my eyes to all of the opportunities in the music industry.
The campus is an excellent place to study music- there are lots of rehearsal spaces and the recording studios and production room are great. I really enjoyed going to the café on campus for study breaks as well! I’ve had a great experience studying at UHI. I’ve made great friends, have had so much fun and feel well prepared for a career in the music industry.
Kirsty studied the BA (Hons) Popular Music at UHI Perth.
Apply for Sound Production HNC
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.