Create the soundtrack of the future. Compose for film, video games, stage and platform.
Music is no longer just heard: it is experienced on screens, consoles, stages and immersive experiences. This degree trains you as a professional composer for contemporary creative industries, with technology, storytelling and a direct connection to the sector.
In collaboration with:
All fields are required
This degree programme has been developed in partnership with Live Nation, the global leader in live entertainment. Its aim is to train composers capable of creating music for contemporary creative industries: film, video games, the performing arts, music production, concert music and live entertainment.
The programme combines composition, arrangement, orchestration and musical storytelling with proficiency in production technologies and digital tools applied to projects involving visuals, performance and interactive media. Throughout the course, you will work on real-world projects and develop skills in entrepreneurship, project development and personal branding, preparing you to build a sustainable professional career in the music industry.
Furthermore, through the UAX Skills School, you will be able to obtain professional certificates from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, a real asset on your CV.
The partnership with Live Nation brings you closer to the professional reality of the sector: masterclasses with its senior management, exclusive workshops on negotiation, applied creativity and the wellbeing of professional musicians, and a network of contacts that makes all the difference. Furthermore, the degree includes work placements with companies in the sector and experiences such as the UAX Goya Cycle, where you’ll learn directly from nominees and winners of the Goya Awards.
The teaching staff brings together leading figures in contemporary creative arts: award-winning composers such as Alicia Díaz de la Fuente (2022 National Music Prize), specialists in film music such as Joseba Beristain (Goya Award for Best Animated Film) and Nerea Alberdi (orchestrator of over 50 feature films), alongside executives from Live Nation, Ticketmaster and Superstruct Entertainment.
| FIRST COURSE | |||
| Semester | Subject | ECTS | Character |
| 1 | Auditory training I | 6 | FB |
| 1 | Composition I | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Harmony and Harmonic Languages I | 6 | FB |
| 1 | History and Analysis of Music I | 6 | FB |
| 1 | Communication in Foreign Language (English) | 6 | FB |
| 2 | Composition II | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Orchestration and Arrangements I | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Music History and Analysis II | 6 | FB |
| 2 | Musical Genres and Forms | 6 | FB |
| 2 | Digital Score Notation and Editing | 6 | OB |
| SECOND COURSE | |||
| Semester | Subject | ECTS | Character |
| 1 | Auditory training II | 6 | FB |
| 1 | Composition III | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Harmony and Harmonic Languages II | 6 | FB |
| 1 | Music History and Analysis III | 6 | FB |
| 1 | Professional Communication Techniques | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Polyphonic Writing Techniques | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Orchestration and Arrangements II | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Music History and Analysis IV | 6 | FB |
| 2 | Aesthetics | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Computer Science and Music Technology I | 6 | OB |
| THIRD COURSE | |||
| Semester | Subject | ECTS | Character |
| 1 | Composition IV | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Creative Projects I | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Philosophy of Music and Musical Thought | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Music Creation Applied to the Performing Arts | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Music Production I | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Orchestration and Arrangements III | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Computer and Music Technology II | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Music Creation Applied to Audiovisual Media | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Music Production II | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Elective I | 6 | OP |
| FOURTH COURSE | |||
| Semester | Subject | ECTS | Character |
| 1 | Applied Contemporary Compositional Techniques | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Creative Projects II | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Composition with Electroacoustic Media | 6 | OB |
| 1 | Intellectual Property and Personal Branding | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Music Creation Applied to Interactive Media and Videogames | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Creative Projects III | 6 | OB |
| 2 | Elective II | 6 | OP |
| 2 | Elective III | 6 | OP |
| Annual | Final Degree Project | 12 | OB |
| OPTIONAL | COURSE |
| Music Creation Applied to Installations, Performance and Video Art | 3 |
| Design and Soundscapes | 3 |
| Harmony and Harmonic Languages I | 3 |
| Choral Composition Techniques | 3 |
| Songwriting | 4 |
| Advanced Writing for Orchestra | 4 |
| AI, Live Coding and Algorithmic Composition | 4 |
| Advanced Writing for Contemporary Ensemble | 4 |
| Arranging and Production for Modern Ensemble and Big Band | 4 |
| Applied Music Creation and Music Production | 4 |
| External Academic Internships | 4 |
Alicia Díaz de la Fuente
Composer, winner of the National Music Prize 2022, Doctor of Philosophy and Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. Her work, renowned for its refined timbre and expressive depth, has been performed in leading institutions such as the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España, consolidating her as one of the most outstanding figures of contemporary creation in Spain. She combines a solid compositional career with an intense research and teaching activity in 20th and 21st century music, providing a high-level artistic and analytical vision that connects creation, thought and advanced musical practice.
Joseba Beristain
Composer specialising in music for film and audiovisuals, with more than two decades of experience and a solid presence in the field of animation. He has scored soundtracks for numerous projects, including feature films such as Elcano y Magallanes, recorded with the Orquesta de Euskadi and the Orfeón Donostiarra, and Unicorn Wars (Goya for Best Animated Film 2022). His music, with great stylistic versatility and a markedly narrative approach, has been recognised in awards such as the Goya Awards, Quirino Awards and Fugaz Awards. In addition to his work as a composer, he has developed an outstanding pedagogical and informative activity, teaching in specialised institutions and participating in workshops and training projects linked to the audiovisual industry.
Nerea Alberdi
Composer and orchestrator specialising in music for audiovisuals, with postgraduate training at Berklee College of Music. She has participated in more than fifty feature films as orchestrator, including titles such as La boda de Rosa, Nieva en Benidorm and Un mundo normal, and has worked on international productions such as Robot Dreams. As a composer, she has scored films such as Josefina and Las hijas, as well as TV series such as Go!azen and Irabazi arte, and stage projects such as Todas las hijas. Her profile combines solid experience in the industry with versatility between film, television and theatre, consolidating her as a professional of reference in music for image.
Ana Vázquez Silva
Composer, researcher and teacher with a solid career in concert and audiovisual music, she combines an outstanding creative activity with a strong academic projection. She has received commissions from institutions such as the Orquesta Nacional de España and the Fundación Albéniz, and her music has been performed at leading venues such as the Auditorio Nacional and the Teatro de la Zarzuela. In the audiovisual field, he has worked in advertising, short films and documentaries, developing a versatile and contemporary language. Her profile is completed with an intense research work in music for image and a wide teaching experience in prestigious centres, as well as her role as president of Musimagen, which reinforces her direct connection with the industry.
Julián Ávila
Professor of Music Technology, composer and sound artist with more than twenty years of experience, he combines a solid academic career with an outstanding creative activity in the field of electroacoustic music and technology-assisted composition. With a PhD in electroacoustic composition from the University of Manchester and trained at leading institutions such as the IRCAM in Paris, his work has been recognised with numerous national and international composition awards, and his profile integrates creation, research and technological development applied to music, providing an advanced vision of the new tools and languages of contemporary composition.
Juanjo Molina
Composer specialising in music for film and audiovisual media, with a career spanning more than two decades that includes film, television, theatre and video games. His language combines a great narrative capacity with stylistic versatility, moving between large-scale orchestral writing and a more intimate and emotional approach. He is the author of successful musicals such as Christmas Dreams, performed on Madrid's Gran Vía, and Hadas el musical, as well as the recent theatrical production La Rosa 14, which sold out before its premiere. His international profile is completed with awards such as Best Original Score at the Bridge Fest Vancouver and the FICOCC, consolidating a solid career in musical creation for audiovisual and stage narrative.
Ana Gómez de Castro
PR, CSR and Education Director of Live Nation Spain. With experience in management, production and project development in international environments, her career combines the coordination of teams and the execution of cultural initiatives with a strategic vision oriented towards the sustainability and growth of projects in the sector.
María Molina Peiró
A professional in the audiovisual sector with an international career, awarded at the Malaga Festival and with projects present in festival circuits and large cultural institutions. Her profile combines creation, production and positioning of projects in the global entertainment ecosystem, with a special focus on new formats and audiences".
The main reason why at UAX there are students like you is the possibility of making your personal, professional and academic life compatible. Our differential value is a methodology without barriers, focused on you and your desire to learn.
How is our methodology?
Our degree is official, verified by the Council of Universities and fully valid in Spain, as well as in the European Higher Education Area.
It is recognised by the Education Systems of Latin America, being recognised and approved by the different Ministries of Education in Latin America:
SENESCYT, MEN (MinEducation), SEP, Mescyt, among others, automatically.
The Online Degree in Composition and Applied Music Creation is an official degree, so you can access it through any of the following options:
In addition, it will be necessary to complete the following tests:
Your first opportunity in the industry
The degree includes optional work placements with companies in the music and creative sectors such as:
The degree connects you directly with the professional sector through exclusive experiences:
The flexibility of online learning, with opportunities to connect
Take your exams online wherever you are or, if you prefer, in person at our designated centres in Spain and Latin America, subject to availability and capacity.
What’s more, as a student at UAX Online, you’ll have access to our Campus Hubs – a network of exclusive physical spaces where you can study, access libraries, work in co-working areas and connect with other students. Because studying online doesn’t mean studying alone.
Campus Hubs available in: Alcobendas, Alcorcón, Valencia San Vicente, Murcia, Barcelona, Málaga, Seville and Arganda.
Access is via your UAX student card, subject to availability and the opening hours of each centre.
Scholarships and financial support for studying at UAX
We know that studying is an investment. That’s why we want to remove financial barriers and make things easier for you. Fill in the form and let our advisers help you discover the scholarships, agreements and personalised financial support that best suit your situation.
Community of Madrid
Financial support for students with a disability of 33 per cent or more who are studying at universities or higher education institutions specialising in the arts in the Community of Madrid.
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport
Find out about the scholarships and grants offered by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport, categorised by type and level of education.
If you’ve already decided to take the plunge, enrol early and benefit from a direct grant. It’s a way of rewarding your commitment and giving you a head start in planning your future.
Students from Ibero-America
This programme is aimed at Ibero-American citizens or foreign nationals legally resident in countries within the OEI’s sphere of influence. The scholarship covers a 50% discount on the total tuition fees.
Students from Ecuador
This programme is aimed at citizens with Ecuadorian nationality and/or residence who wish to study an online master’s degree in Spain. The scholarship covers a 50% discount on the total tuition fees.
2025, 2nd Edition
Grants for students on higher-level vocational training, undergraduate, postgraduate or master’s programmes enrolled at Spanish universities with a Santander agreement. A financial supplement to support you whilst undertaking your work placements.
If you graduated from UAX and are now thinking of studying for a new degree, we want to continue supporting you. That’s why we’re offering you a 10 per cent discount on tuition fees.
If you have an immediate family member (up to the second degree of kinship) enrolled at UAX, you can benefit from a 5 per cent discount on tuition fees. Because studying as a family is even better.
Studying for two degrees at the same time is a challenge, and we want to support you. If you’re already at UAX and enrol on a second degree programme, you’ll be eligible for a grant towards your booking fee and tuition fees.
If you’d like to continue your studies with us and progress from vocational training to a bachelor’s degree, from one bachelor’s degree to another, or from a bachelor’s degree to a postgraduate degree, we’re here to support you with a grant covering up to 25 per cent of your tuition fees.
If you have a strong academic record, we would like to recognise your talent with a scholarship designed for new students. (Excludes the degree in Medicine).
If you’re a high-performance athlete, at UAX we want to help you balance your passion with your studies. We offer specific grants that can cover up to 50% of your tuition fees.
Other related qualifications
Degree in Musicology (online)
Start:
October
Length:
4 years
Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Music Performance
Start:
September
Length:
4 years
Degree in Music Performance
Start:
September
Length:
4 years
Master’s Degree in Instrumental Pedagogy (Online)
Start:
October
Length:
9 months
Master in Music for Development
In collaboration with:
Start:
October
Length:
1 year
MBA Music Business
In collaboration with:
Start:
October
Length:
9 months
Master’s Degree in Live Music Management
In collaboration with:
Start:
October
Length:
9 months
We meet real demand from our students and employees, because we believe in continuous improvement of results. Therefore, we always want to hear what you want to tell us.
Link to the complaints and suggestions mailbox.
If you already belong to UAX, through the virtual campus in the section Customer service: complaints, suggestions and congratulations, entering your username and password.
You can view the various indicators via the following links:
Employability: View
Satisfaction results: View
Rates and indicators: View
Improvement measures implemented for the degree programme during the academic year:
