Arts

Why Art

The historic nineteenth-century Clockhouse now serves as Keele University’s creative hub, where six specialized zones support everything from audio recording to music software development. Students access photo studios, design labs, and Apple Macintosh-equipped classrooms throughout their studies. The programme ranks in England’s top 10 for Film Studies and Media according to National Student Survey 2023, while the Apple MacBook Loan Scheme ensures everyone can work with professional software whenever they need it.

Music Production and Sound Design

Music Production and Sound Design balances studio engineering and sampling techniques with cultural context—exploring how music shapes society while students build their portfolios on professional equipment. The programme’s flexibility lets them choose modules that align with career goals, whether that’s producing, audio engineering, or broadcasting. Partnership projects and festival collaborations provide industry experience before graduation, complemented by optional placement modules.

Film Studies Bachelor’s

Keele University’s active film community gives students hands-on access to professional equipment across campus, where tutors bring real experience from filmmaking, screenwriting, and criticism into academic discussions. The Film Studies programme examines how cinema intersects with cultural, political, and economic forces globally. Purpose-built editing suites and equipment rental support independent projects, while production placements alternate with theoretical modules to build portfolios that creative industries actually want.

Digital Media and Music Production

Digital Media and Music Production focuses on content creation for social platforms, teaching students how audiences and channels work while they develop recording and mixing skills in professional studios. The curriculum includes multimedia storytelling and self-directed projects that reflect personal interests. Optional modules range from video sound design to climate change in media, plus a US summer school. Career-focused assignments and placements help build portfolios with professional software—essential for breaking into digital media.

Music at Keele University

Music PhD/MPhil programmes at Keele University concentrate on Music Technology and Musicology. The Music Technology research group—among Britain’s largest for creative tech applications—works with digital media, algorithmic composition, and software development. Musicologists specialize in post-1900 repertoire across French, Polish, and German traditions. Postgraduates share workspace with IT equipment and conference funding, accessing electronic studios, the chapel organ, and Lindsay Studio Theatre’s two concert grands and Golble Dulcken harpsichord. Major libraries in Manchester and London sit within easy reach.

Film Studies Doctorate

Film Studies PhD and MPhil programmes build on undergraduate and master’s courses, with faculty maintaining regional and national partnerships across the country. The research institute creates a dynamic environment where candidates present at seminars and academic events beyond campus. Researchers draw on regional library resources—Manchester’s John Rylands Library, the Gladstone Library, Birmingham and Oxford collections—while London’s BFI and research facilities lie under two hours away, opening extensive film archives for investigation.