Music UAL Level 3 Diploma (SCQF L6)

Course overview

Upon completion of the course, students will achieve the internationally recognised and highly regarded UAL Level 3 Diploma in Music Performance and Production – following a specialised Music pathway.

Offered across our Sighthill (Music Box) and Milton Road (CRE:8) campuses, the UAL Level 3 Music course is a one-year, full-time preparation course for Higher Education study in music.

Its purpose is to give students opportunities to strengthen their experience in several important areas before starting a Higher Education course, here at Edinburgh College or elsewhere. The course is centred on the development of practical skills and relevant knowledge as students work towards collaborative projects. Supporting subject theory is delivered in an engaging way.

Applicants will have several years of experience on their instrument or voice, play to at least Grade 4 level, and will usually have studied music at school. Applications are welcomed from mature students or those with equivalent experience.

Students wishing to focus on classical, traditional or jazz music should apply to our Sighthill campus. Those wishing to focus on popular music can apply to either Sighthill or Milton Road.

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.</

• Principles of music performance and production
• Critical listening and music composition
• The music industry and professional practice
• Critical and contextual awareness for music performance and production
• Music production in context
• Music performance in context
• Preparation for specialist study in music performance and production
• Collaborative music performance 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

• Four qualifications at SQCF Level 5, including Music and English
• Basic knowledge of music theory
• Grade 4 standard on instrument or voice

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

• Higher National Certificate/Diploma (Level 8) programme, which can lead to our BA (Music) Honours degree.
• We also support students to make applications to universities or other institutions during the course of the year, should they wish to do so.

Career options

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