Sound Engineer
Up to £80,000 /year
Sound engineers combine their technical knowledge with creative thinking and an excellent ear to produce high-quality recorded or live sound for music, film, TV and events.
Admissions
Entry Requirements
What You'll Need
- A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4 (or A-C) including English and Maths*, OR a Level 2 Electronic Music and Sound Production
- A genuine interest in electronic music production and the music industry
- Successful interview with our team
*If you haven't yet achieved Grade 4 in Maths or English, you'll keep working towards them alongside your course, built into your timetable.
Explore Related Courses
Other courses you might be interested in:
Level 2 UAL Level 2 Electronic Music and Sound Production – Music Performance & Production Diploma
View all Electronic Music and Sound Production courses →
What You'll Learn
Deeper Production. Real Industry Knowledge.
At Level 3 you go further into making electronic music in professional studios with Logic Pro 11: building tracks, designing sound, recording vocals and instruments with professional microphones, and mixing with effects and signal processors as a proper recording and mix engineer. You’ll also learn how the music industry actually works, from record labels, publishers and managers to how an artist makes money from royalties.
You’ll build a portfolio of music that shows what you can do, ready for university or record-label interest. On the two-year Extended Diploma you go further still: collaborating with other producers on the course, creating EDM for our dance students, and completing a final major project of your own. It’s practical and studio-led, but it takes real graft to earn, and it’s the first step on the journey to uni, work, or a career in music.
What You'll Do
- Create your own electronic music tracks
- Build and customise loops, beats and samples
- Use Logic Pro 11 to record, edit, arrange and mix music
- Record vocals and instruments using professional microphones
- Experiment with effects, synths and digital sounds
Skills You'll Develop
- Electronic music production, beat-making and sound design
- Recording and editing audio
- Mixing with effects and signal processors
- Music industry knowledge (labels, publishing, royalties)
- Creating a portfolio of music
- (Extended Diploma) Collaboration with other producers, and creating EDM for dance students
How You're Assessed
Assessment Methods
Coursework
Written assignments, research projects, and case studies that let you explore topics in depth.
Practical Assessment
Hands-on tasks and practical demonstrations in realistic working environments.
Portfolio
Build a portfolio of evidence showcasing your skills and achievements throughout the course.
Career Destinations
Where This Course Takes You
Signed Electronic Music Artist
Up to £1,000,000 /year
A signed electronic music artist is a music producer or DJ who has inked a formal contract with a record label to distribute, market, and monetize their music. This career involves producing music, touring your music, marketing your music and working closely with an Indie or Major Record Label.
Sound Designer
Up to £90,000 /year
A career in sound design involves creating, manipulating, and engineering the auditory elements for various media, including films, video games, television, theatre, and podcasts. Sound designers act as acoustic storytellers, blending technical expertise with creative artistry to build the entire "sonic world" of a production
Product Specialist
Up to £85,000 /year
A Product Specialist in music technology acts as the primary bridge between a music tech brand's engineering team, its sales force, and the end-user musicians or producers. They are the ultimate in-house experts on specific gear or software.
Your Progression Pathway
- Level 3 UAL Level 3 Electronic Music and Sound Production – Music Performance & Production Diploma
- Extended Diploma or University
- University or Work in the Industry
Life on the Course
See What It's Really Like
Our Facilities
Your Studio, Your Sound
Most of your time is spent in the studios making music, not sat in a classroom. The kit is a big part of the draw, and it's yours to work on.
Professional studios and kit
Recording studios and mixing suites, professional microphones, and Logic Pro 11. The equipment is a big part of the draw, and it’s yours to work on.
A recording studio trip
head to a professional recording studio to record your latest music.
Produce for live
Collaborate with performance students to produce/record/mix in the recording studio.
Expert-led tuition
learn from a tutor with over 30 years of industry experience, plus partnerships with Cafe Indie in Scunthorpe and 2Fly Recording Studios in Sheffield
Pro Studios · Logic Pro 11 · Studio Trip · 30+ Years' Industry Tutor
Student Voice
“
I started out here in the studios at North Lindsey. Now signed to a major label, I've had music played on BBC Radio 1, racked up over 40 million plays on Spotify, and had more than 3 million monthly listeners. What you start here at NLC can go a very long way.
For Parents & Carers
Supporting Your Child's Journey
Tutors With Real Experience
Our tutors bring real industry experience into the classroom. They teach what's actually used in the world of work, and students consistently say this is what makes the course work.
More than a Hobby
This is a practical course. There's real theory and real craft to learn, and students have to work to earn the qualification. It's about turning a genuine interest into a real skill set that hones their craft and gives them great work-ready transferable skills.
Real Career Prospects
These qualifications lead to real jobs. Our courses are built around the skills that employers are actually hiring for — locally and nationally.
For Careers Advisers
Quick Reference Guide
Level
Level 3
Duration
1 or 2 years
Study Mode
Full-Time
Awarding Body
UAL
Location
North Lindsey College
Entry
5 GCSEs Grade 9-4 incl. English and Maths, or a Level 2 qualification
Assessment
Coursework + Practical Assessment + Portfolio
Age
16+
Progression Routes
Route A: L3 Diploma in Electronic Music and Sound Production → L3 Extended Diploma in Electronic Music and Sound Production → University (UCAS points), record-label interest, or music employment
Ready to Make Tracks?
Applications for September 2026 are open. Apply online in 10 minutes.
Questions? Call free 01724 281 111 or email customer.services.team@dncolleges.ac.uk