Sound, Light and Live Event Engineering

One of the leading courses of its kind in the country, our course is an ideal route to technical careers in live events. You’ll learn from industry-experienced tutors in our dedicated facilities with world-class equipment. With the technology involved becoming ever more complex, there is an urgent demand for more skilled engineers and technicians in the industry.

Key features of this course


- FACILITIES: Work in a challenging, stimulating and creative learning environment – harnessing world-class equipment in our dedicated facilities


- INDUSTRY EXPERTS: Learn from inspirational tutors who have vast experience in the industry and are experts in their fields


- EXPERIENCE: Gain experience working on real live events


- EMPLOYABILITY: Look forward to excellent employment prospects: our graduates have gone on to work internationally on everything from James Bond film premières to star-studded concerts


WHAT YOU'LL COVER:
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. 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.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN:
You will have the opportunity to take an optional work placement between stages two and three. In addition, you will benefit from guest lectures, product demonstrations and venue visits. 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. You can also take part in collaborative projects, working closely with other students specialising in subjects such as music technology, music, electronics and theatre

YOUR CAREER:
Our Sound and Light graduates are highly sought-after in the events industry. The careful blend of theory and practice underpinning this degree will boost your employability and professional status. In one of many success stories, the World Premiere of the James Bond film, Spectre, saw no fewer than eight Sound, Light and Live Event Engineering graduates working on the production at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

STUDY OPTIONS:
This course is also available with a Foundation Year option.
You will have the opportunity to take a placement year between years two and three.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027