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 a 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

Audition Instructions 2026 – please read carefully

INTRODUCTION

You are to record a video in which you play or sing two short contrasting pieces or songs on your first instrument or voice. This video will then be uploaded to YouTube, with the link added to your application (see below).

CHOICE OF MUSIC

You are advised to choose pieces that you have learned recently and that you enjoy playing. If you are not sure what to play, you could have a look at current grade syllabuses such as those of Trinity College London: details for their Rock and Pop selections can be found here. Backing tracks for all pieces and songs from that syllabus are widely available online.

Your first instrument/voice is the one for which you would have instrumental/vocal lessons if you are successful in your application.

‘Contrasting pieces or songs’ can mean pieces or songs in two different styles, different speeds, different feels, or different moods.

PERFORMANCE

You are encouraged to give a short, informal spoken introduction to your performance, either before or after the music. When you introduce yourself, you should

• give your name and say where you are from
• say a little bit about your musical experience (including how long you have been playing or singing, and any experience of playing with other people in bands or ensembles)
• say which if any music exams you have done (within school and/or outside school)
• say which pieces you are going to play or sing, and (if you can) say why you chose them

Please don’t worry if there are any hesitations or faltering in your introduction: it is just useful for us to get some sense of how you communicate at this stage.

Please make every effort to use backing tracks or have a live accompanist where appropriate to the music. If that isn’t possible, please play or sing unaccompanied.

Please make sure your face and hands (for instrumentalists) are visible in the video.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO RECORD A VIDEO

If you are unable to record a video because you don't have an instrument at home (e.g. if you are a first study percussionist), or for any other reason, please let us know and we will arrange an interview with you by phone or video call and/or an in-person audition.

UPLOADING AND SHARING THE LINK

The video should be uploaded to YouTube as unlisted.

If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you can follow instructions here to set one up.

If you haven’t uploaded a video before, you can follow instructions here to do so.

Please be careful to upload the video as unlisted rather than private.

Please name the video in the following format:

Your name – Your chosen course – Your chosen campus – Your instrument, e.g.

‘Laurie Crump HND Music Sighthill Recorder’

Please then paste a link to the video within the additional information section of your application.

AFTER SUBMISSION

Our staff will review your application and, in some cases, they will follow up by giving you a phone or video call. If you don't get a call, don't worry! It will be because the staff have got all the information they need from your video and the rest of your application.

We aim to be in touch with a decision about your application within two weeks, although please note that this is not always possible.

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

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