Noida, India — India’s music industry is changing fast. Streaming platforms, OTT productions, independent artists, gaming studios and digital content creators are all generating demand for trained sound designers, music producers and audio engineers at a pace the industry has not seen before.
AAFT Noida has announced that 2026 admissions are now open for the B.Sc in Sound Design, a three-year undergraduate degree, and the Diploma in Music Production, a one-year intensive. Both are built for the production side of the industry the people who record, design, mix and master the sound everyone else hears.
Both programmes run at AAFT Noida’s campus at Marwah Studios, Noida Film City, under the mentorship of Grammy Award winner Nikkhil Beri, Industry Dean of the School of Music. Alongside them, the School of Music also offers the B.A in Vocal and the MA in Vocal Music for students whose focus is performance rather than production.
Led by a Grammy Award Winner
The Industry Dean of the School of Music at AAFT Noida is Nikkhil Beri, a Grammy Award winner and a renowned name in the global music industry as a composer, producer and sound engineer. He began his professional journey in sound engineering and has since collaborated with artists across folk, spiritual, pop and acoustic genres. His work includes global tours, film projects, and mixing assignments for Grammy-winning and independent artists alike.
For students on both programmes, his involvement means 50+ hours of in-person learning, 10 masterclasses, portfolio review from Nikkhil Beri and his team, and access to internship and placement pathways. Under his leadership, the School of Music is built around one idea: every student who graduates here should know exactly how the professional music and audio industry works, from inside a recording studio to the stage of a live performance.
What Will You Learn in AAFT Noida’s B.Sc in Sound Design?
The B.Sc in Sound Design is a three-year undergraduate degree for students who want to understand, create and innovate within the evolving world of sound and audio production. It introduces sound theory, acoustics, synthesizers and MIDI technology, and builds a technical foundation in contemporary sound design tools and practices.
The curriculum is multidisciplinary and aligned to demand across film, television, gaming and music production. Students progress through the complete sound design process conceptual development and sonic exploration through to hands-on studio practice and professional application and are trained to work effectively alongside filmmakers, game developers and musicians.
The structure moves deliberately. The first year covers Studio Workstation Gear and Equipment, the recording process and microphones, Music Theory, and instrumental and stage performance, before moving into Digital Music Technology and production exercises. The second year advances into Music Technology and MIDI, and Mixing Audio.
The third year covers Creative Audio Production, World Music, Sound Design, and a dissertation, with EDGE Professional Practice building industry readiness and the CARE Online Program supporting career preparation.
The programme carries a 100% industry-centric curriculum, 100+ industry workshops and masterclasses, an industry partnership with Unreal Engine, an NEP-aligned outcome-based curriculum, 100% placement assistance and a dedicated Career Resource Cell. Students work in AAFT Noida’s music production lab, dubbing studio and instrument facilities, and collaborate with students from the vocal and music production programmes real experience of a multi-disciplinary audio environment that mirrors how studios and production teams actually operate.
Tools students train on include Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, FL Studio, Ableton Live, BandLab, Audacity and Melodyne for studio and recording work, alongside Finale, MuseScore, MusicNotes, SmartMusic, EarMaster and iReal Pro for theory, harmony and notation.
What Career Opportunities Are Available After a B.Sc in Sound Design?
| Career Role | Where They Work |
| Sound Designer | Film studios, OTT platforms, gaming companies |
| Audio Engineer | Recording studios, production houses, broadcast |
| Game Audio Designer | Gaming studios, app developers, XR projects |
| Foley Artist | Film and OTT post-production houses |
| Acoustic Consultant | Studio design, architecture, venue and broadcast projects |
| Live Sound Engineer | Event companies, concert production, broadcast |
| Podcast Producer | Digital audio platforms, media companies, independent studios |
| Post-Production Sound Mixer | Film production houses, OTT platforms, advertising |
Graduates work across studios, production houses, gaming companies, OTT platforms and advertising agencies. The programme also supports progression into postgraduate study or independent creative practice in the music and media industry.
Why Choose AAFT Noida’s Diploma in Music Production?
The Diploma in Music Production is a one-year programme for aspiring music producers who want to master the art and science of creating, recording, mixing and mastering music. It builds technical proficiency in digital audio workstations, audio engineering and sound design, while developing a foundation in music theory, composition and the evolving landscape of contemporary music production.
The skills it delivers are specific: DAWs including Ableton, Logic Pro and FL Studio; audio recording and editing techniques; mixing and mastering; studio setups and acoustics; live sound and stage production; and music theory and composition.
Semester 1 covers the fundamentals of music production concepts of music production, music theory and its principles, basic instrument skills, and production techniques. Semester 2 moves into vocal and stage performance alongside applied production work. Students complete two full production projects across the year: one classical music piece and one western music piece, so they graduate with finished work rather than coursework.
The programme follows a 70:30 assessment structure, with 70% on practical sessions and 30% on written assessment, music theory and critical appreciation. Students work across 16-channel mixers, a music production studio, a recording studio, and sound and audio studios, and the year includes guest lectures, on-campus masterclasses and professional studio visits. The diploma also serves as a foundation for students who want to progress into the Bachelor of Performing Arts for deeper training across three years.
What Jobs Can You Get After a Diploma in Music Production?
- Music Producer
- Sound Engineer
- Mixing and Mastering Engineer
- Audio Editor for Film and TV
- Podcast Producer
- Live Sound Technician
- Record Producer
- Sound Designer
- Sound Mixer
- Recording Studio Manager
- Digital Audio Editor
- Radio Broadcast Engineer
Eligibility requires 10+2 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). Admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Test (GET) followed by a personal interview.
What Will You Learn in AAFT Noida’s B.A in Vocal?
The B.A in Vocal is a three-year undergraduate degree for students who want systematic, performance-focused training in the voice. It covers Indian classical, semi-classical and contemporary vocal traditions across both Indian classical and Western vocal streams, so students can build depth in the tradition that fits their artistic direction. The programme develops raag knowledge, taal and rhythm, voice culture and breath control, sight-singing and notation, and stagecraft, alongside the music theory and ear training that underpin professional performance.
Training runs from foundational voice work in the early semesters through to advanced repertoire, ensemble performance and solo recitals in the final year. Because the School of Music sits inside a working production environment, B.A in Vocal students record in the same professional studios used by the sound design and music production programmes and collaborate with those students on real sessions. This professional immersion gives vocalists a direct, practical understanding of modern recording workflows, an essential foundation for playback singing, studio and session work, and live performance.
Vocal students train under Dean Kshitij Mathur, a Hindustani Classical Vocalist, composer and scholar with more than 20 years of teaching and performance experience, ensuring the curriculum balances rigorous classical grounding with contemporary industry practice.
The degree supports career pathways as a playback singer, studio and session vocalist, live and stage performer, vocal coach and music educator, and independent recording artist, across film, OTT, music labels, live events and digital platforms. Students who want to specialise further can progress into the MA in Vocal Music, a two-year postgraduate programme that goes deeper into advanced voice training and performance readiness.
What Music Courses Does AAFT Noida Offer in 2026?
| Programme | Duration | Who It Is For |
| B.Sc in Sound Design | 3 Years | Students who want to build careers in sound design, audio engineering, film and game sound, and studio production |
| Diploma in Music Production | 1 Year | Students who want to enter the music production industry quickly with real studio skills and a production portfolio |
| B.A in Vocal | 3 Years | Students who want systematic training in Indian classical, semi-classical and contemporary vocal traditions |
| MA in Vocal Music | 2 Years | Graduates who want to go deeper into advanced voice training and performance readiness |
Who Teaches the Programmes
The Dean of the School of Music is Kshitij Mathur, a Hindustani Classical Vocalist, composer, scholar and mentor with over 20 years of teaching and performance experience. He holds Sangeet Alankar and Sangeet Prabhakar, is a Graded Artist of All India Radio, composed Jai Bharat, and headed the anthem Nyay Ka Ujala for the 77th Republic Day in 2026. His recognitions include the Outlook Responsible Tourism Award 2025 and the Star Education Award 2025. He has mentored 1,000+ students globally and previously led the Music Department at T-Series Stageworks Academy.
Mohit Arora is Head of Department, a drummer, educator and Certified Trainer from Trinity College London (India) in Drumming, with an Event Management certification from FICCI Education. He has served as Event Coordinator with Trinity College London (India), has performed with Mika Singh, Euphoria and Swastik Band, and has worked in studio collaborations with Guru Randhawa.
Where Do AAFT Noida Music Graduates Work?
Recent placements from the School of Music include Prashant Chauhan at Saregama Ltd., one of India’s oldest and most respected music companies; Satyam Bharadwaj and Manish Rathore at Pocket FM; Yash Sain at Spardha School of Music; and Anand Yadav at Satmat Events. Alumni also include Sanket S., working as a music producer and mix engineer, and Riya Sharma as a vocalist.
With 2,800+ hiring partners and a dedicated Career Resource Cell, AAFT Noida has a consistent track record of placing graduates in roles that match their training. For students comparing music institutes in India or a sound engineering course in Delhi NCR based on faculty credentials, studio infrastructure and placement outcomes, AAFT Noida’s School of Music is one of the strongest options available.
In Their Own Words
Akshay Marwah, CEO, AAFT Noida, said: “Music rewards people who train properly. At AAFT Noida, we have built a School of Music that covers the full range of what a music career looks like today. Whether a student wants to design sound for films, produce tracks for streaming platforms, or build a career as a classical vocalist, we have the faculty, the studios, and the industry connections to give them the strongest possible start. The 2026 batch will train under a Grammy-winning Industry Dean. That is the standard we hold ourselves to.”
Admissions Open for 2026
Students who have completed 10+2 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) can apply for the B.Sc in Sound Design, the Diploma in Music Production, the B.A in Vocal, and the MA in Vocal Music at AAFT Noida. Admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Test (GET) followed by a personal interview. Apply at admissions.aaft.com or visit the AAFT campus in Noida Film City.
About AAFT Noida
Established in 1993, AAFT Noida carries a 33-year legacy in creative education and is ranked among the Top 10 creative institutions globally. Its network of 37,000+ alumni spans films, OTT platforms, television, journalism, advertising, fashion, animation, music and digital media across India and the world.
The institution operates from Marwah Studios, Noida Film City, one of India’s most active production facilities, with full infrastructure including recording and dubbing studios, music production labs, post-production suites and professional equipment. With 90+ career-driven courses, 2,800+ hiring partners and 20+ global academic affiliations, AAFT Noida follows a curriculum that balances creative training with real-world application and remains committed to preparing globally competitive talent for India’s growing media and entertainment economy.
For Admission and Media Inquiries, Contact:
AAFT Noida
FC-14/15, Sector-16A
Noida Film City, Uttar Pradesh, India
Phone: 08062911638 / 08062911639 / 09811014536
Email: help@aaft.com
Website: www.aaft.com
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