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 real 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

Find out more about the exciting projects being undertaken by staff and students in our Entertainment Engineering specialist subject group.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

This degree covers a broad range of subjects – from lighting technology, audio engineering, video systems, live streaming, power distribution and rigging to electronics, computer networks, acoustics, computer-aided design and simulation.

You will learn both the theory and practice relating to the underlying technologies and will develop hands-on skills by planning and delivering real live events.

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

The ideal learning environment

As this is an engineering course, you will study 'how it works' – learning about the underlying mathematics and electronics in our electronics and computing laboratories.

You will also learn ‘how to work it’ - developing professional skills in lighting design, sound engineering and event management, with practice in our dedicated production space and in venues around the city.

You'll get to grips with the latest technology, thanks to our links with AC Entertainment Technology Ltd. Our industry-standard equipment includes:

• Sound: An Allen & Heath dLive system, d&b audiotechnik Y series system with B-subs and a full max wedge monitor system
• Lighting: Three different brands of lighting console and over 30 moving lights
• Video: 270 LED video wall panels and a Roland V-8700HD video mixer
• Rigging: Litec 4 tower truss system
• Software: EASE (Enhanced Acoustic Simulator for Engineers), WYSIWYG and Capture lighting simulation systems, as well as standard free industry software such as Avolites Titan, Chamsys and d&b Array Calc

Facilities include:

• Hemi-Anechoic Chamber: Our hemi-anechoic chamber is a specialist acoustic environment. The room has ‘dead sound’; there are no echoes or acoustic reflections which makes the space excellent for acoustic experimentation. The chamber has dedicated test equipment including a dummy torso used for testing
• Auditorium: The main teaching space for students on the degree. The room includes 12 1-Ton rigging points in the ceiling. In the last few years, £174,000 has been spent on new sound and lighting equipment and our kit now includes 130 panels of video wall and controllers. You’ll have hands-on practicals where you’ll design the rig and make everything – including lighting and sound – work
• Sound Technology Lab: A space that’s used for practising mixing audio or lighting design. The room includes a digital sound desk, and technical sessions in here are where you’ll judge the performance characteristics of equipment
• Multi-purpose Lab: An experimental lab with some permanently installed tests. You’ll also be able to programme and prepare shows in here using a small loudspeakers system, digital mixing console, small lighting rig and lighting desk
• Multi-Channel Sound Lab: The lab is a Dante audio equipped room containing 32 loudspeakers used for investigating future immersive audio applications. You’ll test surround sound decoders and create immersive auditory displays. The equipment is run through software created at the University
• Multi-purpose Lab: This lab is used for small scale acoustic testing and includes a small anechoic chamber and a vintage hearing test booth. There’s also a selection of loudspeakers in different states of deconstruction

You’ll also have access to our Makerspace – a workshop where you can work on any project and turn your ideas into a prototype. Equipment includes a laser cutter, 3D printers, soldering irons and CNC machines. It’s a fantastic place to collaborate with other students across the University.

Your teaching team

The teaching team has a remarkable range of experience across the sector with some still practising in the industry around their teaching. Some are also research active with an international profile. They include:

• Kit Lane: Kit joined the University in 2006 and has been working in live events and professional theatre for over 30 years. He has previously worked as a Production Manager at Derby Playhouse (now Derby Theatre), as a video and projection designer for over 20 years, and has worked on hundreds of shows across the UK as well as the USA, Australia and Ireland
• Dr Adam Hill: Adam is an Associate Professor of Electroacoustics and works seasonally as a live sound engineer at Gand Concert Sound. His research interests span across the whole of the audio engineering area, and he uses his knowledge and experience in the industry to inform his teaching
• Jon Burton: Jon joined the University in 2019 having worked as a Sound Engineer for 35 years, primarily in concert touring. Having worked with the likes of The Prodigy, Bring Me The Horizon and Biffy Clyro, Jon is now using his experience to teach a new generation of engineers on the degree
• Dr Bruce Wiggins: Bruce completed his PhD at the University of Derby and has a research interest in audio signal processing and immersive audio. His software and algorithms have been used extensively in the industry, including for VLC, Codemasters and at Glastonbury festival. He also designed the 32 speaker Ambisonic Decoder now found in the Royal Opera House
• Mark Dring: Mark joined the University as a lecturer in 2013 having previously completed studies in Audio System Design and Acoustic Engineering. His research is focused on the reproduction and auralisation of sound in acoustically small spaces. He enjoys the diversity of experiences that teaching brings and seeks to enthuse students with their studies