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Foundation Year

The foundation for your music career

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Overview

If you don’t quite qualify for one of our online degree courses then don’t worry, you’re in the right place!

If you are interested in enrolling on our online BA (Hons) Online Music Production & Sound Engineering degree and pursuing a career in the music industry, Point Blank’s online Foundation Year is your route to success. During your studies, 1-2-1 Tutorials, weekly Masterclasses and Studio Lab Time all featuring highly interactive teaching will be available to help you reach your full potential—you can view all of our exclusive features here. If you can demonstrate the potential to achieve and determination to succeed, within 12 months, you’ll be ready for our online degree.


This online course will enable you to develop confidence in your abilities whilst acquiring a strong knowledge and skill set needed to complete your chosen degree. Our online Foundation Year has been designed to help you explore the key areas of the music industry, support you in discovering your interests, and help you make informed choices in your career ambitions.

If you need any help or assistance in making the right choice, then please contact us here and we'll be happy to guide you through the process.

You can also study our Foundation Year on campus.

Key Info

Duration 1 Year
Available start dates 2023
  • 2 October
Download Undergraduate Prospectus
Have questions? Check the FAQ's for quick answers.

Modules

Learn more about studying online at Point Blank

Track breakdown of 'Feel the Love' with Rudimental

Take a tour of our Online Courses with our Course Advisor Luc Bennette

Hear from our students about studying online at Point Blank

Your Online Learning Experience

As part of your course you will get access to a range of Online Learning features to help you in your studies. We've enhanced our exclusive 1-2-1 sessions in order to provide you with individual time to speak to your lecturers and share your projects. You’ll get advice on your 1-2-1 tutorial exercises, course materials, recap key techniques, gain industry tips, and be able to ask any questions you want. You'll also benefit from our purpose-built Virtual Learning Environment, which allows you to connect with the wider Point Blank community, and study at the time and place that suits you. 

Learn music production from the comfort of your own home with our online courses

Take a tour of our Online Courses with our Course Advisor Luc Bennette, as he covers some key questions about studying online

Learn more about our 1-2-1 private tutorials with lecturers via Zoom

Teaching & Learning

On our higher education programmes you will be taught through a variety of masterclasses and regular 1-2-1 sessions. When not attending these sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently. Independent learning is about taking control of your work and deciding what you need to know and deciding how you are going to study.


During this time you can take advantage of:

  • Our award winning Virtual Learning Environment with custom resources and video content.
  • Studio Lab Time - personal support from our Studio Lab Assistants on your work.
  • Value added workshops with academics and industry professionals.

Each academic level consists of 120 credits, and we expect students to study approximately 10 hours per credit. Modules on this programme are worth either 10 or 20 credits, so students are expected to study the following number of hours per module:

  • 20 credit modules: 20 hours per week (4 hours of lecture time plus 16 hours of independent learning).
  • 10 credit modules: 10 hours per week (2 hours of lecture time plus 8 hours of independent learning).

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of learning and you may hear it referred to as formative or summative:


  • Formative assessment (exercise) is designed to give you feedback on your performance and how it can be improved as you study at Point Blank. Formative assessment is an important part of the learning process and has been shown to help students improve both their grades and their learning style.
  • Summative assessment is designed to measure the extent to which you have achieved the learning outcomes of a module and therefore the grade you will be awarded. Learning outcomes are the specific skills and knowledge that you are expected to demonstrate as a result of taking a module.

Most students show themselves to be stronger in some assessment types than others. To make it possible for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to the best of their abilities, a wide range of assessment types is offered. Students will be asked to produce work in a wide variety of formats including: compositions, creative projects, written work, report, performances, presentations, 1-2-1 discussions, recordings and timed composition briefs. The assessment breakdown for this programme is approximately:

  • 35% practical work
  • 20% presentations
  •  
  •  35% written work 
  •  
  • 5% performance
  • 5% exams

Expert Lecturers

Linton Bennett Music Composition

Linton aka Stepz composes/produces for Dido, Warren G, All Saints, Jamelia & Imogen Heap to name a few. He’s been active in the music industry for 3 decades and signed to Motown in the US.

Venetia Tzanni Personal Development for Higher Education

Venetia is a passionate teacher of English for academia, having a M.Ed. in Teaching English and a B.A. in English Language and Literature. She has taught English to students of various levels in the UK and abroad.

Lindsay Wesker Music Industry

Active in the music industry since the 80's with extensive A&R, DJ and broadcast experience with Kiss FM and MTV. Self-published novel about the industry and presents a weekly show on mi-soul.com.

Ali Jamieson Sound Design & Music Composition

Has worked for leading sound design agencies Replay Heaven and Sample Magic on numerous hit records. Released and produced under various guises and teaches music technology theory across the world.

Danny De Matos Music Production

Signed to Arista & Universal, Danny wrote, produced and remixed for artists like Republica & Limp Bizkit. His music’s been in movies, TV Ads and worldwide video games 'Half Life 2' & 'Left 4 Dead'.

Stavros Potamitis Sound Design

Stavros has multiple sample pack number 1s and his music has featured on HBO, BBC & other platforms. Runs Inside Out Records.

Richard Boal Music Production

Worked with Judge Jules, Sonique, Spiller, Marco V & Sophie Ellis Bextor. Remixed Freddie Mercury, Kylie Minogue & Tom Jones. Makes audio for Dreamworks, Reebok, Sony & Premier League.

Nigel Hosten DJing

Aka Mr Dex. DJ'd with Ghostface & Raekwon (Wu-Tang), Omar, Estelle, Sway, Scratch Perverts and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Hosts The DeX Files weekly on itch.fm/live. Member of ‘A Bunch of Deckheads’ DJ agency.

Michael Bailey Radio

Resident DJ for Goldie's Metalheadz label, presenter at 1Xtra, Radio 1 & Ministry of Sound. Recorded/remixed for Goldie, Roni Size, Guy Called Gerald, Trey Songz, Chipmunk, Nas & Damian Marley.

John Farley (J-Fresh) Radio

J-Fresh is a BBC Radio 1Xtra mix resident, Ministry of Sound music curator, DJ, Broadcaster and Producer with support from BBC Radio 1, Mixmag, GRM Daily & Spotify Editorials.

Career Opportunities

  • Music Producer 
  • Recording Engineer 
  • Mix Engineer 
  • Sound Designer
  • Sound Editor
  • Music Arranger 
  • Film Music Composer 
  • Music Programmer 
  • Remixer 
  • Game Music Composer
  • Singer/Songwriter 
  • Solo Artist 
  • Music Performer 
  • A&R Manager
  • Record Label Owner

Entry Requirements

Where conditional offers are made, typical offers will be set from:

  • A Level:  DD
  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma:  PPP

If you are interested in enrolling on one of our degree programmes but do not meet the entry requirements, the Foundation Year course could be for you. This course aims to build your confidence and provide you with the necessary transferable skills you need to progress onto one of our undergraduate degrees.

If you don't have formal qualifications, don't worry, applicants without formal qualifications may still be considered on the strength of relevant prior learning and experience.

We will initially assess your personal statement which should detail any previous study or relevant experience in music. Then the Admissions Team will look at the merits of each application by taking the following evidence into consideration: predicted or previously attained grades, examples of work and relevant work experience. Applicants who do not meet the typical entry requirements may also be asked to attend an interview. 

Click here for more information on our entry requirements, international qualifications and how to apply.

Global Alumni

Aluna Francis

Aluna Francis is half of AlunaGeorge. She studied production at PB before taking off to chart success with 'You Know You Like It' & No.1 hit 'White Noise' with Disclosure. Check out her awesome video.

Claude VonStroke

Dirtybird boss Claude says: "I took a class with Point Blank in Ableton Live. It was awesome learning bass production!" The bass don was recently voted the No.1 DJ in USA! Watch him review PB above.

Leona Lewis

Everyone knows Leona from X Factor. Before she won it, Leona wowed her fellow students on our Singing Course. "Her talent was obvious" said her instructor, "and her success thoroughly deserved."

Pete Tong

Godfather of Dance Music and long-time friend of Point Blank Pete Tong, founder of BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix and worldwide DJ superstar, learned Native Instruments Maschine with the team here in London.

Goldie

We taught Goldie something he didn't know already - Ableton Live! The legend drops in from time to time & recently invited PB students to a VIP drum recording session at Assault & Battery studios.

Patrick Topping

'The World's Biggest Tech House Producer!' Secured three Beatport #1s: ‘Get Beasty’, ‘Forget’ & ‘Voicemail’. Also owns two DJ Awards & DJ Mag’s ‘Best Tune’. Championed by Pete Tong & Annie Mac.

Madam X

DJ, label head, club impresario. Mixing grime, techno, bass, garage, Madam X is adept at playing huge crowds or 100-cap basements. Hosts shows on Radio 1, Rinse & NTS. She is multi-faceted and unique.

Arjun

With 1,500,000 Facebook followers, Sri-Lankan born Arjun is a South Asian pop superstar. His single ‘I’ll Be Waiting” charted at #1 on iTunes India and spent 30 weeks on the BBC Asian Download Chart.

Spoony

Spoony is a legend in UK dance music having brought garage to the masses in 2000 as part of the Dreem Team. He's since gone on to become a staple on Five Live but proved he's always learning by enrolling at PB!

Fees & Funding

Fees
£6,000 per year
£2,000 per term
See details during the enrolment process.

Being an undergraduate student involves two main expenses: tuition fees and living costs. Students can either choose to pay for their course privately, or alternatively, all of our higher education programmes are eligible for Student Finance loans. Eligible students may be able to apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the total tuition fee (please note that Student Finance maintenance funding is not normally available for distance learning courses). For students wishing to pay privately, we have a number of payment plans available, including annual and termly instalments. Click here for more information on fees and funding options available. 

Free with Course

Point Blank students in this program enjoy a range of free software and exclusive discounts including but not limited to:

  • Free copy of Ableton Live 11 Suite worth £539
  • 50% off Native Instruments Komplete 13
  •  
  • 70% off Eventide plugins
  • Over 50% off Roland Cloud
  • 35% off Waves
  • 30% off Spitfire Audio
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