Mike Verzosa
8 October 2026: Musicians now have a direct pathway from the recording studio to a university degree through a partnership between the University of Canberra and The Grove Studios Academy to deliver a new Bachelor of Creative Industries (Contemporary Music Practice).
The three-year degree will be delivered at The Grove Studio’s Central Coast campus – Australia’s industry-leading recording facility – and combines hands-on training in music production, audio technology, songwriting, live sound and performance with the full breadth of a University of Canberra degree.
The Grove Studios is one of Australia’s most iconic recording studios, with a client list including some of the country’s biggest music acts: Silverchair, Vera Blue, Birds of Tokyo, Ocean Alley, DMA’s and Julia Jacklin, to name a few.
The partnership with the Academy marks an important step in the University's approach to working with specialist education and industry partners, and reflects a shared commitment from both organisations to ensure a bright future for Australia’s creative industries, at a time when access to industry-level training and formal qualifications can prove complex to combine.
Professor Julian Knowles, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design , said the agreement represented an exciting new model for collaboration and gives students greater career flexibility.
“Combining studio experience with higher education will equip students to take on roles across the wider creative arts industries backed by the skills to be artists and producers, and UC’s research and scholarship,” he said.
Professor the Honourable Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University, said the partnership aligns with the University’s wider strategy of pairing with industry to strengthen its course offerings and meet the needs of students.
“This partnership will deliver a new and unique pathway into the music industry for aspiring artists and directly reflects the University’s ambition to ensure that our students are ready to enter the workforce and make their mark in the places they aspire to work in,” he said.
“It is a testament to our commitment to industry and student success, that a UC education equips graduates with the skills and experience needed to thrive in their chosen field of work. By recognising prior learning for those with VET [vocational education and training] qualifications, we are making it easier, faster and more affordable for our students to gain a UC qualification and accelerate their career aspirations.”
Scott Horscroft, CEO of The Grove Studios Academy, and an executive A&R consultant who has been producer and studio engineer for artists like Silverchair, DMA'S, The Presets, Empire of the Sun and Birds of Tokyo, said the partnership marks a significant step forward for music education in the Central Coast and surrounding regions.
“We are very excited about the future of our partnership between The Grove Studios Academy and the University of Canberra,” Mr Horscroft said.
“It's about building a genuine pathway for students in our region to move from the classroom into the industry – developing real creative and entrepreneurial skills, while learning in The Grove Studios, the same studio facility where professional, groundbreaking records have been made for over 25 years.”
“Together, we're building something that hasn't existed here before, and I think it's going to change what's possible for musicians and producers coming up across the Central Coast, Hunter, Sydney and Greater NSW region.”
The Bachelor of Creative Industries (Contemporary Music Practice) at The Grove Studios Academy will be offered from Semester One 2027.More information is available here; The Grove Studios Academy will also be hosting an Open Day on its Central Coast campus on 14 November. for any interested parties.
UC image by Tyler Cherry, studio image supplied by The Grove Studios.
