Audio Design
Creative music technology and electronics in the unique environment of sonic space basel and Elektronisches Studio Basel. National and international collaborations in the context of more than 50 public performances each year guarantee innovation, artistic excellence and a high level of networking opportunities based on a modular, diverse and collaborative working structure.
Key data
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Komposition/Musiktheorie, Studienrichtung Audiodesign
- ECTS points
- 120
- Study start
- Beginning of September
- Studying mode
- Full time
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Teaching language
- German, B1 level required
- Place
- Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
- Stay abroad
- Possible, not curricular
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA) More Fees
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
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Students can choose from three focus areas
- Composition and interpretation of electroacoustic music
- Recording/production
- Audio design and software development
Why study this?
Learning outcomes
Our program offers comprehensive guidance with electronic music projects, supporting students from idea to completion with excellent production opportunities at the Electronic Studio Basel. Through a variety of tailor-made modules, we foster an environment that encourages individual expression and actively promotes innovation and authenticity in every project.
We further advance students’ development by preparing them for real-world scenarios in the arts and music industry, through direct interactions with field experts and possibilities of showing their work on and off the campus.
By enabling collaboration within the sonic space surrounding (Performance, Composition, Open Creation, Research), we aim to inspire collaborative and interdisciplinary creation and provide students with a possibility to broaden their perspective.
Holders of a FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory with an Audio Design Major should be able to carry out the following activities to the highest professional standard:
- compose, produce, perform electronic music;
- perform electronic music, in particular deliver live performances of electronic music in the context of concerts, installations etc.;
- compose and design film/video audio tracks (incl. music, sound effects, speech);
- devise, design and develop sound installations, electronic game interfaces and interactive environments;
- record and produce any genre of music in a professional recording studio;
- devise and develop music software to generate, transform and analyse sound.
Career prospects
Future fields of work are wide-ranging and include the independent arts scene, theatre (drama, dance theatre, physical theatre), radio, TV and new media (layout/advertising), hard- and software development, teaching and further education.
Target audience
The FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory with an Audio Design Major is aimed at holders of a Bachelor degree in sound design, electronic music, composition or equivalent qualification.
The FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory with an Audio Design Major offers students the possibility to specialise in one of three fields:
- electro-acoustic composition/ live performance / sound and media installation / performance of electroacoustic music
- recording/production
- audio design & software development
Studying Audio Design at Electronic Studio Basel: Jaka Arh (Alumnus)
The FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory with an Audio Design Major offers students the possibility to specialise in one of three fields:
- electro-acoustic composition/ live performance / sound and media installation / performance of electroacoustic music
- recording/production
- audio design & software development
Specials:
- Eduard Brunner Composition Award:
Every year, one of our students is awarded a composition prize worth CHF 5,000 as part of an internal sonic space basel competition. - Annual artistic collaboration with a college/university outside Switzerland
The BA and MA degree programs at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree program.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Tim Shatnyy (*2002): Fluidics (2025)
What is the sound of new compositions? What is possible? The video shows extracts of the performance-recital of Tim Shatnyy, a graduate of this study programme, during attacca-festival at Gare du Nord.
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory programme with an Audio Design Major, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Audio Design or equivalent as well as they must have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the online entrance exam by mail and online meeting.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study regulation of the Master of Arts FHNW in Composition/Music Theory.
Required skills
- Good skills in recording, producing and sound technology
- Good in handling diverse editing software (ProTools, Logic, Nuendo, Ableton Live etc.)
- Basic knowledge about an audio programming environment (PD, Max/MSP, Supercollider or Csound)
We expect students to have very good German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must present a B1 German language certificate according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the beginning of the studies.
This certificate must be complete, i.e. all modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking) have been tested separately and passed at least at level B1 overall. Only certificates that have been certified with the ALTE-Q-Mark seal of approval (e.g. the B1 certificate of the Goethe-Institut or the telc certificate) are accepted. The required certificate B1 must be submitted with the confirmation of admission but not later than Mai 31.
Exceptions will be decided upon by the head of degree programme.
Entrance exam
Hands-on training Electronic Studio Basel (ESB)
This study programme is geared as closely as possible to practice and dovetails with the production and research activities of the Electronic Studio. From a very early stage, students are involved in the activities of the Electronic Studio and are also required to initiate and carry out their own projects.
sonic space basel is a Platform of Basel Academy of Music for Audio Design (BA and MA), Composition (BA and MA and MA SP), MA SP Creative Interpretation in New Music, BA Music Theory Major, MA MP Music Theory, MA SP New Music Theory, MA SP Open Creation and Research. We consider ourselves a laboratory, a communication tool and an information hub for contemporary music.
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.
- Welcome: A brief overview
- Studying in Switzerland
- Tuition fees & Financing
- Scholarship
- Module descriptions
Contact and Info-Event
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