ThinkSpace Education > Degree Courses
Applications
Here you will find everything you need to know about applying for one of our postgraduate degree programs. If you’re interested in applying, we would love to hear from you first.
Each of our courses are designed to prepare you for a variety of career paths, and all require different skills. Please read through all the information below carefully and if you have any questions. or would like to discuss which course may suit you best, feel free to ask.
Each of our courses are designed to prepare you for a variety of career paths, and all require different skills. Please read through all the information below carefully and if you have any questions. or would like to discuss which course may suit you best, feel free to ask.
If you are interested in applying, you should initially register an interest by contacting us directly.
Have a look at the program details and make sure you meet all the academic, personal, financial and technical requirements. I am sure you will have plenty of questions so please get in touch and we can discuss whether the course is right for you. We are happy to listen to your portfolio and give you an informal opinion as to whether you are working at the right level for entry to our postgraduate programs.
Please note that this is only an informal guide, and does not guarantee entry.
Have a look at the program details and make sure you meet all the academic, personal, financial and technical requirements. I am sure you will have plenty of questions so please get in touch and we can discuss whether the course is right for you. We are happy to listen to your portfolio and give you an informal opinion as to whether you are working at the right level for entry to our postgraduate programs.
Please note that this is only an informal guide, and does not guarantee entry.
Technical Resources
There are minimum computer specifications and software requirements for each course. These are published on the individual course pages, and you can contact us to discuss your particular workflow and whether the current technical resources you have are suitable. Whilst we are not needlessly biased about your choice of software, there are sometimes features which will be required of which the potential student may not be aware. An example is support for a wide range of timecode standards including 23.98fps, frequently required in the film/tv industry and not always supported on all software.
If you realise that your technical resources are not up to the job, but plan to upgrade, then that is perfectly acceptable. Many students will need funding before they can make a major purchase. They might want to wait to qualify for an educational discount before purchasing costly software. While we give them advice, ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have sufficient technical resources to complete the course.
If you realise that your technical resources are not up to the job, but plan to upgrade, then that is perfectly acceptable. Many students will need funding before they can make a major purchase. They might want to wait to qualify for an educational discount before purchasing costly software. While we give them advice, ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have sufficient technical resources to complete the course.
Creative Potential
We want to hear some evidence of the foundational musical or sound design creative skills upon which careers are built. A competent demo is key, showing good evidence of your ability to compose, create sound effects, or produce whether that be electronically, orchestrally or in any other style. We are also listening for evidence of significant obstacles like the inability to hear problems with the harmonic coherence of your music for example, and poor production or technical skills. We do not expect you to have top of the range sample libraries but we are listening for evidence that you have the basic equipment to produce music.
With our orchestration courses, we are looking for evidence of a high level of music theory. On all the other courses, this is not as important. A great sound designer or electronic musician with very little music theory could do equally well in the profession and so we would welcome them onto our other media courses or our Songwriting/Production courses.
With our orchestration courses, we are looking for evidence of a high level of music theory. On all the other courses, this is not as important. A great sound designer or electronic musician with very little music theory could do equally well in the profession and so we would welcome them onto our other media courses or our Songwriting/Production courses.
Technical Ability
Strong skills in a DAW (and a score editor if on an orchestration course) is key. This is often demonstrated in your portfolio. A certain level of competence in key technologies needs to be demonstrated so we can be reasonably sure students will not fall behind.
Commercial Music
Critical Thinking
This is relevant for MA International Music Business, MA Songwriting and Music Production, and MFA Songwriting, Production and Music Business. We want to make sure you are going to be able to complete your degree and you will need to be well organised, well motivated and have good critical thinking skills. We do not expect knowledge or experience directly related to either the music industry or management and business. MA International Music Business applicants may support their application with creative material where relevant.
For more information on how we access this, look at the Personal Statements (or Application Tasks) for these courses.
For more information on how we access this, look at the Personal Statements (or Application Tasks) for these courses.
All Postgraduate Degrees
Academic Ability
Applicants are required to have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any subject. A limited number of places are available for non-degree holders (see the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ section). We assume that completion of an undergraduate degree shows the applicant has the required level of academic ability to complete the course. Where applicants have been out of education for some time or come from a very different discipline, we can provide additional support through one to one tutorials during their course.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) takes into account other forms of education and learning, for those who do not have an undergraduate degree. There are two types of RPL.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process for recognising learning that has come from previous formal, non-formal, and informal learning. This could include knowledge gained within school, college, and university.
The Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) takes into account real-world experiences, such as work experience, professional projects, or even through a hobby. RPEL applicants must provide evidence of professional practice and experience. Further to this we would like to know how you have learned from those professional experiences and how it helped to inform future practice.
It is also worth noting that we can only take a certain percentage of RPL applicants, so competition is extremely high. Unfortunately, we have had to turn away many perfectly capable musicians for this reason. It is still an option we encourage and is well worth pursuing if you feel that you can demonstrate the above.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process for recognising learning that has come from previous formal, non-formal, and informal learning. This could include knowledge gained within school, college, and university.
The Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) takes into account real-world experiences, such as work experience, professional projects, or even through a hobby. RPEL applicants must provide evidence of professional practice and experience. Further to this we would like to know how you have learned from those professional experiences and how it helped to inform future practice.
It is also worth noting that we can only take a certain percentage of RPL applicants, so competition is extremely high. Unfortunately, we have had to turn away many perfectly capable musicians for this reason. It is still an option we encourage and is well worth pursuing if you feel that you can demonstrate the above.
English Language Test (IELTS)
For applicants whose first language is not English, we will need you to provide an English language test certificate.
There are several English language tests, including IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE. We require you to have an overall score of IELTS 6.5 or higher to participate in the programme, with no element less than a score of 6. This equates to a TOEFL score of 79 and a CAE score of 176.
The test must be taken before your course start date. Applications may be accepted provisionally pending test results.
If you have completed your undergraduate degree, or any other postgraduate degree that was taught in English, you will not need to take an English Language test regardless of whether English is your first language or not.
There are several English language tests, including IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE. We require you to have an overall score of IELTS 6.5 or higher to participate in the programme, with no element less than a score of 6. This equates to a TOEFL score of 79 and a CAE score of 176.
The test must be taken before your course start date. Applications may be accepted provisionally pending test results.
If you have completed your undergraduate degree, or any other postgraduate degree that was taught in English, you will not need to take an English Language test regardless of whether English is your first language or not.
That’s how most of our future students start: an informal conversation about where you are and where you want to be. No pressure, just getting to know you and how we might be able to help.
Get in touch with Tim Johnson the course manager (and film composer).
postgraduate@thinkspaceeducation.com
All students will be subject to the University of Chichester’s academic regulations, discipline, complaints and appeals policy which can be found here.
ThinkSpace Education’s terms and conditions and relevant policies can be found here.
ThinkSpace Education’s terms and conditions and relevant policies can be found here.
ThinkSpace Education is committed to a fair, transparent and open admissions policy that encourages applicants from the widest possible range of backgrounds.
Initial Contact:
The majority of applicants will have come along to an Open Day or taken part in Taster Week and so have a good idea of what to expect and how our courses work. If you have not attended an Open Day then you can watch a video recording of the most recent open day online. Keep in mind all information in the open day recording was accurate at the time of recording although some details may have changed since.
You may also have been invited to have a video chat with one of the team who would review some of your work and talk about your goals and how we can help you to achieve them.
Step 1: Download the free Postgraduate Application Pack
This is where you can find all the detailed information about what we need from you as part of your application.
In this pack, you will find information about what to submit for:
- Your portfolio (where applicable)
- Your covering letter
- Application Tasks
- Supporting evidence and academic documents
Step 2: Application Fee - Degree Application and Taster Week
To submit your application, there is an application fee. You can find this in the 'Postgraduate Application Pack' by going to 'Submitting your Application' chapter under the relevant course (all Application Fee links are the same for each course). This only needs to be paid once, and is valid for an application for any intake and for any Taster Week. You can even attend multiple Taster Weeks if you decide applying for you is not right at the time. If you are unsuccessful with your application, and would like to reapply at a later date, you will not need to pay the application fee again.
Once this is done, you will need to fill in the official application form. This provides us with all the essential information about you and your application, including financial and personal information. It is important that this is completed in full before we can assess your application. Make sure you have read all the relevant terms and conditions before making your application. The application form can be found in the 'Degree Application and Taster Week' course you receive after paying the application fee. In this course you will also find the Bursary Application Form, if you would like to submit a request for additional financial aid. Read below for more information.
Step 3: Submitting Your Application
Once you have collected all of your documents, portfolio materials, applications tasks, and supporting documents, you will need to submit your application through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The 'Degree Application and Taster Week' course as an 'Assignments' section that will enable you to send us your files. Please read the submission instructions carefully, to make sure you have included everything and that we receive your files correctly. The Application Form itself is an online form, and will not be included with your application files. We receive this independently from your submission.
You don’t need all the certificates and English Language Test to start your application. These can follow later if necessary and we can make a conditional offer without them. As a minimum however, we need the application form, covering letter and your portfolio to be able to consider your application.
What Happens Next
Your application will be reviewed by two senior members of staff. We review applications on a rolling basis and you should hear back from us within four weeks of making your application.
There are several possible outcomes:
- We offer you a place on your chosen course
- We are not able to offer you a place
- We require further information before we can make a decision
- We recommend a different course from the one you have chosen
ThinkSpace Education postgraduate courses provide exceptional value and are priced realistically given the high quality of the courses and the professional standing of the teaching staff. As such we offer a very limited number of bursaries and scholarships. In assessing an application for financial support, we will consider a number of factors, including their personal and financial circumstances, the ability of the applicant, and whether or not they come from one or more under-represented groups within the profession.
You can find more information here:
You can find more information here:
Find out more
The music/sound design in you portfolio must be all your own work.
Where you have used construction kits, loops, SFX libraries or any other pre-recorded audio that is not your own work you will need to make that clear. You do not need to tell us if you have used drum or percussion loops, but anything else needs to be declared in the covering letter.
Sound design applicants are permitted to use sound libraries in their submissions, however it would be useful to make it clear to us what sounds are from library and what was originally recorded by you.
Your covering letter is particularly important, especially for those without an undergraduate degree (RPL). Your letter should include:
- Your name and email address.
- Why you feel this course is suitable for you.
- Further details of your relevant prior experience.
- The technical resources at your disposal, your DAW, your main sound libraries so we can take this into account.
- You can include any other information you feel may be relevant when we listen to your music.
Follow the instructions on the application page to upload your completed application and supporting materials.
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*To submit an application, there will be an application fee
For more information please visit the Student Finance and Study With ThinkSpace and Course Overview pages.