Music UAL Level 2 Diploma (SCQF L5)

Course overview

Upon completion of the course, students will achieve the internationally recognised and highly regarded UAL Level 2 Diploma in Music Performance and Production – following a specialised Music pathway.

Offered at our specialist music building ‘The Music Box’ at the Sighthill campus, the one-year UAL Level 2 Diploma Music course is designed to introduce students to full-time music study and prepare them to progress to our UAL Level 3 Diploma in Music. In turn, the Level 3 course can lead to studying at Higher Education level.

Working in a highly supportive environment, students take their first steps in studying music at the college level. The classes and activities are designed to help build confidence as well as practical skills. Students also establish a knowledge of theory which acts as a foundation for future study.

Applicants will have some experience on their instrument or voice, to around Grade 3 level, but do not necessarily need to have studied music at school.

Music at Edinburgh College

We welcome applicants from all musical backgrounds and disciplines, including classical, popular, traditional and jazz.

Rehearsal and performance are at the heart of what we offer: students work regularly in supervised groups such as bands, instrumental ensembles, choirs and orchestras as appropriate.

Students perform in our excellent in-house spaces, as well as in many of Edinburgh's best venues including the Jazz Bar, Voodoo Rooms, the Mash House, Old St. Paul's, and Canongate Kirk.

Every music student is offered regular instrumental or vocal tuition. 

Students may study music at Edinburgh College for anything between one and five years. We offer a comprehensive programme culminating in a BA Music Honours degree offered in partnership with Kingston University London.

Our music courses are based in The Music Box (Sighthill) and CRE:8 (Milton Road): both purpose-built venues boast state-of-the-art facilities, including practice booths, classrooms, midi suites, rehearsal rooms, recording studios and auditoriums.

• Introduction to music performance
• Introduction to music production
• Listening skills
• Exploring music composition
• Contextual research for music performance and production
• Music performance skills and practice
• Music production skills and practice
• Music performance and production – project

How the course is assessed

• As a project-based course, to best reflect industry practice, the course is mainly assessed through the completion of several integrated projects (rather than tests and exams)
• Projects will be completed at various points of the year and submitted using relevant mixed-media portfolios, performances, and creative products such as recordings, videos and session files
• In addition to ongoing continuous assessment of project work, formative assessment forms a large part of the course with regular tutorial and feedback sessions 

Number of days per week

• 2.5 days per week with an additional time allocated for self-directed study

Entry requirements

• English and Maths at SQCF level 4
• Level 4 qualification in a related subject area
• Instrumental or vocal experience to approximately Grade 3 level

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

At the beginning of your personal statement, please:

• specify your first study instrument (or voice) and your second study instrument (or voice)
• state whether you wish to focus on classical OR popular music

Once we have reviewed your application, we will contact you offering you a time and place for a live audition. Your audition will involve:

• an informal interview
• a short performance of two contrasting pieces of your choice
• participation in a group work session with other auditionees, supervised by a member of staff (popular music applicants only)
• a short evaluation of the group work session (popular music applicants only)

Please bring backing tracks or sheet music accompaniments as required for your two contrasting pieces. If you have backing tracks on your phone and have a non-standard headphone output, it would be helpful if you can bring an adaptor so the tracks can be played through an amplifier.

For sheet music accompaniments, we will provide an accompanist. You may also bring your own accompanist if you would prefer.

Once auditions have taken place we will be aim to be in touch within two weeks.

Please note that you may be offered a place on a course of a different level than the one you applied for. The staff team will place you on the course that they believe will best suit your needs and allow you to develop and progress within the department and beyond.

Privacy Notice Music Applicant Selection

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• UAL Level 3 Diploma in Music Performance and Production 

Career options

• Performing musician
• Composer
• Songwriter
• Classroom teacher
• Instrumental or vocal teacher
• Community musician