2024/25 entry Applications also open for 2025/26
MSc Audio Forensics and Restoration
About this course
This programme prepares students from varied backgrounds for work in the fields of forensic audio and audio restoration utilising state-of-the-art methods and technology.
- Whether you want to use your experience and skills to help fight crime in the digital age or preserve our media heritage for the future, this is the course for you
- The course will help you convert and apply your Audio/Science skills, qualifications and experience to enhance your employability in the new emerging industries of Audio Forensics and Media Restoration
- The course has been designed specifically to meet the needs of exacting standards of each industry
- On completion of the course you will emerge well prepared to develop a career in both areas of study
- The Audio Forensics and Restoration Masters is ideal for those who have a strong interest in: Audio archiving, Sound preservation and Restoration, Modern CSI techniques, Audio forensics with expert witness disciplines, Evidence analysis, Audio processing
The processes and techniques taught across the course are fully integrated and complementary. They are designed specifically to help you convert your current related qualifications and skills into high value specialisms that can serve the many industries requiring qualified, informed audio expertise.
The Audio Forensics modules will equip you for a career working with or for the police, supporting investigations as a modern digital forensic provider. Further skills gained from the Expert Witness module will open up additional opportunities in the emerging professional private investigative services. The ability to authenticate, analyse and enhance audio evidence to the exacting standards required by law is now one of the most sought after technical skills in the crime detection portfolio.
The restoration modules are designed specifically to build and broaden audio skills. They will equip you with the knowledge to confidently operate and support the exciting new areas in commercial media that are making 20th Century media accessible to a 21st Century audience. Preparing classic film soundtracks for re-release, preserving archive musical performances and restoring analogue recording for modern streaming distribution are just some of the exciting new careers emerging thanks to the digital tools you will be using on this course.
After completion of this course you will not only be suitably equipped to operate within the proposed ISO frameworks of Modern Digital Forensic Services but fully prepared to utilise your skills for enhanced employability in specialist areas of the modern media industry.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
Employability
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
Graduates might choose to pursue career as one of the following:
- Audio Forensic Specialist
- Audio Restoration Specialist
- Multimedia Restoration Specialist
- Digital CSI technician
- Academic research and education
- Private Audio forensic expert witness
- Corporate archivist
The student experience
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Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
Core modules
Audio Forensics Theory and Practice
30 credits
This module will provide students with a thorough understanding of the relevant skills, processes and procedures pertinent to their potential role as an Audio Forensic Specialist. The focus will be on many common audio forensic real life situations although there may be scope to specialise in specific areas of the industry.
Audio Restoration Theory and Practice
30 credits
This module will provide students with a thorough understanding of the relevant skills, processes and procedures pertinent to their potential role as an Audio Restoration Specialist. The focus will be on many common audio legacy formats although there may be scope to specialise in specific areas of the industry.
Enterprise and the Commercial Context
20 credits
This module complements the technical and practical competencies of the other modules by creating an awareness of the current commercial, legal and regulatory environment of the industry and the agencies which comprise it. It is a vehicle for the exploration, debate and formulation of relevant principles and practice.
Legacy Media Formats
10 credits
This module will explore various methods of storing and reproducing representations of media in a variety of legacy formats.
Law and Court Room Skills
20 credits
This module discusses the criminal justice systems under which a Forensic Scientist may work and examines expert witness testimony. Aspects of regulation and quality assurance are touched upon.
Research Skills
10 credits
The module will help prepare you to undertake your own research project and deliver the required skill set for successful completion of your investigations.
MSc Dissertation
60 credits
This project module provides you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to drive your own deep/thorough investigation, undertake high quality academic research and demonstrate critical evaluation of your results.
Teaching
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
Classroom contact is approximately 13 hours per week in Semester 1, and 11 hours per week in Semester 2. Self-study would bring the total study time to 60 hours per week.
Teaching methods
Teaching within modules normally involves delivering lectures to students in order to deliver core knowledge and underpinning theory which is reinforced by the use of tutorials and practice sessions. During the practice sessions a student-centred approach is normally taken, aimed at encouraging students to “learn by doing”.
Applied learning
Learning is heavily focused on applied learning related to audio restoration/forensics. The assessment philosophy is 'learn by doing'.
Assessment
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
Assessment is through practical activities and coursework.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Colin Robinson
Programme Leader
Colin Robinson brings decades of professional audio and related media expertise, with 12 years hands-on teaching of Broadcasting, Acoustics, Audio Restoration and Audio and Video Forensics to his role as programme leader to this new one of a kind MSc. Always looking for new and exciting ways to develop materials and methods to enhance the learning process, he has built an impressive portfolio of student focused education initiatives, counting Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ken Robinson, Steve Backshall and The BBC Listening Project amongst his high-profile collaborators. He now devotes his time to research and educating with the new exciting digital tools and disciplines that support forensic investigations.
The opportunity to work with people who will be using their training with us to make such a positive impact on our lives is always an exciting prospect. But knowing that the skills and disciplines being taught here will be helping support efficient and effective crime fighting is priceless.
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Lecturer/Senior Lecturer -
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer
School facilities
What you can expect from your School
The specialist rooms include:
- Broadcast Studio (TV & Radio) (534)
- Studio Gallery (532)
- Media Computing Suite MAC computers (5.29a)
- Radio Room (5.29b)
- Recording Studio (5.29c)
- Sound Booth (512)
The department has a range of subject specific software for audio and video editing & production, including:
- Amped5
- Amped Authenticate
- Izotope RX
- Adobe Suite
- ProTools Premiere
- Pro Logic
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
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- A 2.2 Honours degree or above in Audio Production, Audio Technology, Sound Technology, or a related audio discipline
or
- A 2.2 Honours degree or above in Forensic Science, Mathematics or a physical science, together with experience in a relevant field,
or
- A degree with industrial experience or relevant postgraduate experience,
or
- Other qualifications or relevant experience within the audio industry deemed to be equivalent to the above. In particular, mature students must provide evidence of adequate educational and/or industrial experience to assure a reasonable chance of success on the award programme. These applications will be considered by the Programme Leader and the Subject Head.
GCSEs and equivalents
GCSE Grade C or Grade 4 in English Language
GCSE Grade C or Grade 4 in Mathematics
International requirements
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IELTS
- IELTS English language requirement: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.