Course description

One of the leading courses of its kind in the country, this degree prepares you for a technical career in the pulsating world of live events. With the technology involved becoming ever more complex, there is an urgent demand for more skilled engineers and technicians in the industry.

• Work in a challenging, stimulating and creative learning environment – harnessing world-class equipment in our dedicated facilities
• Learn from inspirational tutors who have vast experience in the industry and are experts in their fields
• Plan and deliver actual live events as part of your studies from festivals to fashion shows
• Take the chance to go on an optional industrial year to strengthen your practical skills further still
• Enjoy collaborative projects, working closely with other students specialising in subjects such as music technology, music, electronics and theatre
• Follow in the footsteps of our high-achieving graduates who have gone on to work internationally on everything from James Bond film premières to star-studded concerts

If you have the potential and ambition to study with us, but feel you’re not quite ready to join the BSc (Hons) Sound, Light and Live Event Engineering right now, why not consider taking this course with a foundation year?

Industry links

Our BSc (Hons) Sound, Light and Live Event Engineering is an engineering-centred but practical-based course for anyone keen to embark on a career in the events industry. It is also ideal for professionals who have experience in the sector but want a deeper understanding of the theory, along with a recognised qualification.

The degree is built on close links with industry through ongoing contact with graduates who have taken up professional roles. You’ll benefit from regular guest speakers, from Sound Engineers to Tour Managers, and will have the opportunity to go on field trips to get real-life experience.

You’ll plan and deliver actual live events throughout your degree. Previous events have included Green Man in Wales, YNot festival, Derbyshire Sausage and Cider music festival and Back 2 festival. You will also get the chance to work on formal dinners such as Challenge Derbyshire, fashion shows, charity events, album launches and corporate events such as roundtable discussions.

You’ll graduate with multi-disciplinary skills, including technology, design, project management, manufacturing, environment and health and safety knowledge, which will open the door to a wide range of job opportunities, in and out of the industry.

Real world learning

You will have the opportunity to take an optional work placement between stages two and three, greatly improving your career prospects when you graduate.

In addition, you will benefit from guest lectures, product demonstrations and venue visits. Recent guest speakers have included:

• Ian Painter, a Sound Engineer at BBC, who spoke to our students about his work at Maida Vale studio and the many live events they broadcast like One Big Weekend and Glastonbury Festival
• Lighting Designer Richard Larkum, whose clients include Bullet For My Valentine, Biffy Clyro and the Prodigy, shared helpful tips and tricks of the trade, talking over some of the designs he has produced on tours. He also used the lighting system constructed by second year students to demonstrate in a practical way how to achieve lighting ‘looks’ quicky and easily during a show
• Paul Kell who came in to talk about his career and the many roles he has had in the industry from designer to operator to crew chief. He has worked on some of the biggest world tours, from George Michael to the Foo Fighter, and his client list spans from Adele to Iron Maiden. His master class session with our students focused on how to build drama using just light
• Chris Hill gave our students some insight into what it takes to get a job with one of the largest and most prestigious sound rental companies, Wigwam. He also talked about what it was like to work with some of the largest acts in the world, from Coldplay to the Pope, and at wide-ranging venues such as Wembley Stadium to Buckingham Palace
• Liz Berry came and spoke to our students about her career journey, starting as one of the first ever ‘moving light’ technicians at Vari-Lite before becoming an operator, then a designer for some of the biggest acts in the world. She also came up with the signature lighting look for the TV programme Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Liz is now the Managing Director of Hologramica which recently designed and provided the technology for An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert Tour. Liz also shared some great stories of her years working for Robbie Williams

In 2022, leading loudspeaker company Meyer Sound partnered with the University to deliver online masterclasses and an in-person training course for our Entertainment Engineering students. As a student at Derby you'll also have access to full-length seminars on topics such as acoustics, loudspeakers, audio networking, spatial sound and audio fundamentals.

Many of our students also take on casual work with production and hire companies in the area, adding a new dimension to their real-world learning experiences.

How you are assessed

You will be assessed through laboratory and practical exercises, written reports and exams. You will also work on group projects, including venue and event evaluations, and will be assessed on the concerts and productions you manage and create.