Media & Communication courses

About Bachelor Of Audio Production in Southern Institute of Technology

SIT's Bachelor of Audio Production is the most established audio production degree in Australasia. Graduates have the professional technical skills to succeed in the industry and the programme offers unparalleled opportunities for hands-on learning, including an internship for third year students for 12 weeks at the School of Audio Engineering’s Byron Bay campus in Australia.

Areas of study include: sound, microphones, studio recording, live set-ups, film sound, TV sound, radio sound, sound acoustics, electronics and audiology.

SIT has well over a million dollars worth of audio equipment, including an SSL AWS 900SE+ console, industry-standard microphones (including Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser, Shure, Rode, Audio-technica), Avid D-Command ES (Post production surround mixing console for home theatre, film, or music), Toft ATB24 analogue recording console, Mackie 32-8 analogue console, Yamaha 01V 96 digital console, ProTools in every studio, and a Mac lab.

We have five purpose-built recording studios and a large recording auditorium (which can fit a full orchestra/brass band) plus a 300 seat performance auditorium with JBL VRX series 3-way front of house monitors, QSC power amps, 6 RCF powered foldbacks, Allen & Heath GL2400 analogue and Presonus digital front of house mixing consoles, foldback mixing console, in-ear monitoring, signal processing - Lexicon, DBX, and Shure microphones.

SIT also offers students the opportunity to complete a double degree in the Bachelor of Audio Production and the Bachelor of Contemporary Music after four years' full-time study. Graduates from this pathway of study will be well rounded musicians and sound engineers. They will be well versed in high quality studio recording and live sound work as well as having skills to pursue a career as a performer, composer or specialised instrumental teacher.

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

• NO tuition fees
• Direct material costs of $543 (Y1), $4483 (Y2) & $6077 (Y3), over three years you will pay around $11,103.00 (GST inclusive) (this includes the cost of a 12-week internship at SAE, Byron Bay, Australia!)
• Saving you a massive $18,786* - all while gaining a high quality education and internationally recognised degree.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be skilled in high quality studio recording and live sound work.  They will have skills in business management and career options include: audio work in radio, television, film or the theatre. Further options include acoustic consulting, sound system installation, DJ work, record production, music publishing or work in a record company. Specialist audio training provides our graduates with the ability to work in more specialist fields.  Graduates from this programme may also choose to enter the audio education industry.

Satisfactory Completion

In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Audio Production, the student will have been credited with all required papers, including the research project, as specified in the degree schedule. The student completing the Bachelor of Audio Production will normally be expected to complete the three year programme (full time equivalent) within five years.

The Head of Faculty with the approval and recommendation of the Board of Studies, may allow a student a longer period to complete the programme.

Qualification Pathways

SIT also offers students the opportunity to complete a double degree in the Bachelor of Audio Production and the Bachelor of Contemporary Music after four years full time study. Graduates from this pathway of study will be well rounded musicians and sound engineers, well versed in high quality studio recording and live sound work as well as having skills to pursue a career as a performer, composer or specialised instrumental teacher.

School Leavers

University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 

• Three subjects – at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each, in three NZQA University Entrance approved subjects, and
• Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and
• Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards through a range of subjects, or package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)

Mature Applicants
Mature entry applicants will be the age of 20 by March 1 of the first year of enrolment in the programme, and have provided evidence of relevant prior learning and experience.

However, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry e.g. Certificate in Audio Production.

Completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications, will also be considered subject to approval by the head of faculty.

Special Admission

An applicant who does not meet academic criteria may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.

Additional Criteria

Applicants are required to provide two confidential references from people who are able to affirm that the applicant is of good character and reputation.

Language Requirements

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate of at least 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following 

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or

Successful completion of a Bachelors’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the preceding two years:

1. IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
2. TOEFL Paper-based test (pBT) – Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
3. TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) – Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
4. Cambridge English Examinations – FCE or FCE for schools with a score of 169 No less than 162 in each skill.  OET at Grade C in all sub-tests.
5. NZCEL3 – Level 4 with the Academic endorsement
6. Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PToE (Academic) score of 50
7. City and Guilds IESOL – B2 Communicator with a score of 66
8. Language Cert – C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS

An NZQA approved English Language proficiency test, where the student has achieved an outcome that is equivalent or better than those scores listed for Internationally recognised English language proficiency tests above in relation to the level of intended programme of stud, or

Completion of all primary education and at least three years’ secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction, or

Completion of five years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction.  

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate below 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English must provide evidence that they:

1. Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements, or
2. Have successfully completed a Bachelors’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
3. Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA, or
4. Have achieved the required score and with all scores achieved in a single test in one of the internationally recognised English Proficiency tests (specified above) within the preceding two years.

Southern Institute of Technology Highlights

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.

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