Overview
The Music & Sound Design for Visual Media BA is a hands-on, interdisciplinary course for creatives who want to shape stories through sound. This course gives dedicated makers the tools, techniques and space to explore ideas in depth, focusing on areas such as composition for film, designing sound for games, scoring installations and experimenting with new media.
You’ll work with both traditional and experimental methods, combining sound with visual media to create rich, emotionally engaging experiences. You’ll learn by doing – building your skills through real-world projects that reflect the needs and challenges of today’s fast-evolving media landscape.
You can study this programme either as a full three-year BA degree or the first year only as a one-year HE Certificate.
Key skills you’ll gain
Throughout this course, you’ll build a powerful toolkit of creative, technical and collaborative skills that prepare you to work confidently across visual media industries and beyond.
- Confidence responding to briefs, presenting your practice and positioning yourself for opportunities in film, games, immersive media and beyond
- Ability to work with others built through collaboration with tutors, peers and industry partners across disciplines.
- World-building & storytelling strategies that combe sound and image into distinctive, cohesive worlds that resonate with context, audience and purpose.
- Feeling comfortable across multiple mediums and industries, from film and TV to games, art and new media
Your own creative signature — developed through tailored feedback, critical reflection and the confidence to pursue projects independently.
Your technological playground
Get hands-on access to industry-standard facilities and tons of bookable gear
“I was eager to find a place that can help me to find my creative identity and find myself in the music”
– Chi Hsuan Lo, student
Course structure
Year 1 (HE Certificate)
In your first year, you’ll explore the core principles of sound design, composition, post-production and arrangement, gaining a strong foundation in creative sound for visual media. You’ll work on diverse projects ranging from film and TV scoring to sound walks, gaming libraries and immersive installations. The focus is on developing your artistic identity while understanding industry standards and workflows. This year also offers the option to exit with an HE Certificate, equivalent to the first year of the BA.
Learning Outcomes
Year 2 (BA)
In your second year, you’ll deepen the knowledge gained in Year 1 and refine your creative voice across advanced sound and music practices. You’ll experiment with game audio, studio production, linear and non-linear composition, and spatial sound, while tackling complex, interdisciplinary briefs. This year pushes you to take creative risks, strengthen your professional profile, and situate your work within broader artistic and industry contexts.
Learning Outcomes
Year 3 (BA)
In your final year, you’ll consolidate your skills and artistic voice by designing and executing your own creative project from concept to public release. You’ll define your production vision, explore professional opportunities, and prepare to launch your career. Through mentorship and collaboration, you’ll set your own brief, refine your workflow, and shape your creative practice into a clear, purposeful direction.
Learning Outcomes
Is Music & Sound Design for Visual Media for me?
This course is for you if:
- You’re drawn to how music and sound can tell stories and shape emotion on screen.
- You want to compose or produce using a DAW and develop strong creative workflows.
- You’re curious about how audio is made for visual media – from scoring to spatial sound.
- You enjoy creative challenges and working across disciplines.
- You see yourself in the film, music, media or gaming industries, but want to find your path.
- You’re looking for an international, collaborative space where you can grow creatively and professionally.
Progression & careers
Graduates can move into careers such as:
- Composer or sound designer for film, TV and games
- Audio artist for installations, galleries and festivals
- Post-production sound editor or Foley artist
- Interactive or immersive media sound specialist
The programme also sets you up to pursue independent practice or postgraduate study, combining sound with visual or performance work to expand their creative scope.
A future-proof creative toolkit
Alongside your technical training in composition, sound design and production workflows, you’ll cultivate skills that transcend any one medium, including:
- Critical and conceptual thinking
- Flexibility to work across industries
- Collaboration with non-audio creatives
- Creative leadership and communication
This balance of hard and soft skills means you’ll be prepared for both today’s media industries and the unknown opportunities of tomorrow.
Student Work
Our Music & Sound Design for Visual Media students have created their own website to showcase the incredible projects they’ve produced. Go explore their work and get inspired. We’ve featured one standout project below as a preview of what’s waiting for you
Admissions
Entry requirements
All applicants will be asked to provide: personal and educational information, documentation of their education experience, a portfolio, and a personal introduction (which can be submitted as a written statement of motivation or a video/audio clip). Visit our How To Apply page for more detail.
Minimum entry requirements
- Standard entry: graduation from high school at a level which would normally permit entry to university in the country where it was gained. This would be A-Levels in the UK and the Abitur in Germany, for example.
- Non-standard entry: We recognise that not all education happens in the classroom and it may be possible to admit you through a non-standard access route. If you do not possess the required formal qualification, but have acquired relevant professional or life experience, please contact our Admissions team.
- Language: The language of instruction in all our courses is English and applicants must demonstrate a level equal to IELTS 6. We do not ask for official exam results, but we will assess the standard of English in your application and support materials.
For more information, please contact our Admissions team and we’d be happy to discuss your opportunities to come study with us.
Course dates and application deadlines
Course start: Mid-September 2026
Applications open: Mid-October 2025
Application deadlines
Visa-required applicants
Applicants from countries requiring a visa before entering Germany:
- Priority deadline: 28 February 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus and visa support)
- General deadline: 30 April 2026 (subject to visa processing time)
EU/visa-exempt or post-arrival applicants:
Applicants from EU/EEA, Switzerland, or countries allowing visa-free entry (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea):
- Priority deadline: 31 March 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus & guaranteed spot)
- General deadline: 5 June 2026
- Late applications: Until 28 August 2026 (subject to availability)
Priority deadlines & early enrolment bonus
Apply by the priority deadline to secure your place and receive a €3,000 discount on your total tuition.
Early enrolment gives you early access to our visa support service and allows us to plan group sizes and resources in advance.
What does “visa” or “visa-exempt” mean?
- Visa-required: If you require a visa before entering Germany (e.g. citizens of India, Brazil, Mexico, China, Turkey), you must apply at a German embassy before arrival. Our Visa Support Service (included in the enrolment fee) supports you with paperwork, appointments and timelines. Visa processing can take 3–6 months, so early application is essential.
- Post-arrival visa: If you're from a country that allows visa-free entry (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea), you can enter Germany without a visa and apply for your student residence permit after arrival.
- Visa-exempt (EU/EEA/Switzerland): If you're a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you don't need a visa or residence permit to study in Germany.
You can check your visa requirements here.
Tuition fees - from €5,528 per semestre
Payment options*
- Per semester: €5,528
- Annual payment: €10,723 per year (3% discount)
- Flexible plans: Monthly and extended payment options available
- Upfront discount: Save 8% on total tuition when paying in full
*Enrolment fee: €895 per study year (non-refundable, due before each academic year begins). Visa support is included as part of the enrolment fee.
Scholarships & financial support
- Eligible for BAföG and other national funding schemes you can check here
- €6,000 scholarships available – applied across all three years (€2,000/year)
- With scholarships and extended payment plans, tuition can be reduced to as low as €670/month, spread across four years (including one year post-graduation)
Early enrolment bonus - apply early to save €3,000 off your total tuition
Early enrolment secures your place, helps us plan group sizes and facilities, and gives you more time to prepare for your move to Berlin. You’ll benefit from a €1,000 tuition reduction each year.
- Visa-required students: Apply by 28 February 2026
- EU & visa-exempt students: Apply by 31 March 2026
Note: early enrolment bonuses cannot be combined with scholarships.
Multiple-course bonus:
If you decide to enrol in both a 4-week Summer Short Course and a degree course with us in within two years, you will receive a discount of 500€ on the total tuition.
Funding opportunities
As an officially accredited higher education institute based in Berlin, Catalyst offers access to a range of national funding opportunities for eligible students, such as BAföG.
Visit our funding guide to explore the most common options available to our students, both in Germany and across Europe.
Open days, Q&As and taster workshops
Get a feel for Catalyst and our courses at a range of both online and in-person events. Join us at a Virtual Open Day or an Open Day at our campus in Berlin, chat to our programme leads at Meet The Tutor, or try a taster workshop.
Funding opportunities & Scholarships
As an officially accredited higher education institute based in Berlin, Catalyst offers access to a range of national funding opportunities for eligible students, including BAföG and other public financial aid schemes available across Germany and the EU.
In addition to public funding, Catalyst offers a variety of scholarships designed to support diversity, equity, and access in the creative arts. These include:
- General and school-specific scholarships across all Bachelor's and Master's programmes
- Up to €6,000 in tuition support for Bachelor’s students (spread over three years)
- Relocation support scholarships for international students moving to Berlin
To learn more about these opportunities and how to apply, visit our full Funding Your Studies guide.
Ways to connect
Whether in person or online, we can't wait to meet you!
Tutors
Our tutors are industry-acclaimed directors, editors, cinematographers and producers who bring real-world insight into the classroom.
Tune in
Stories from our creative community