Focusing on the artistic and creative use of technology, this Foundation Degree in Live Events Production includes practical training delivered by leading professionals. It also offers a variety of work placements and the opportunity to develop a personal portfolio – giving you the opportunity to increase your employability while you learn.

Key information

Award:

FdA

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

2 years

Location:

Backstage Academy

UCAS points:

UCAS code:

N820

Start date:

20/09/2021

Course Details

From sound, lighting, staging, motors, trussing and emerging 3D technologies, to production design, show control software and events management – creative technology is an essential part of staging any live event. This course aims to provide you with a practical understanding of all these key aspects of modern live events production.

Each module is based around recognised industry certification and accreditation. So when you graduate from the course, you’ll be equipped to enter the industry with the kind of credentials employers are looking for.

In addition to technical skills, you’ll have the chance to learn valuable personal skills, such as how to set up as a freelancer, plan your career, interact with fellow professionals and take responsibility for the quality and management of your own work.

The course is a partnership between the University of Bolton and Backstage Academy. The course is based at Production Park in South Kirkby, home to Backstage Academy, more than 10 live events companies and Europe’s largest purpose-built rehearsal facility.

Backstage Academy does not have a Tier 4 licence and is therefore unable to accept international students.

Highlights

A range of industry collaborations and partnerships allow us to provide a unique range of training content supplied by leading manufacturers and practitioners.
As part of the course, you’ll develop an online portfolio, which provides employers with evidence of your skills as well as an innovative method of assessment.
Over the course, you’ll benefit from work experience in a variety of venues and have the opportunity to develop industry contacts that could be helpful in your future career.
Industry-standard training is an integral part of the course, which could help your employment prospects afterwards.
You may have the chance to participate in international events that in the past have included the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, a prestigious festival for theatrical and event scenographers in Europe.

Key Features

This course is highly distinctive as it focuses on equipping you with the skills and knowledge to produce a wide range of live music and festival events, conferences, street parades, corporate events, and parties.
As well as traditional lectures, seminars, examinations and tutors your learning will be enhanced with visits from a variety of experienced guest speakers. Master class seminars will be provided by industry professionals.
It’s directly aimed at your employability, and has been developed with industry experts who produce live events on a daily basis.
Through its connection with Production Park, Backstage Academy offers unique commercial opportunities, balancing academic rigour and real-world experience in the modern live events industry.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain the personal and professional skills needed to work successfully in the industry worldwide. The facilities, equipment provision and industry linkages are unique within Europe.

Professional recognition

80 UCAS points. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points.
Your Level 3 subjects must include a mathematical or physical science subject, a technology based subject or a music, literature or creative art subject; for instance, A-level English Literature or BTEC Extended Diploma in Computing.
You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics.
We’ll be happy to consider your application if you have non-standard qualifications and/or a proven employment record in the live events production industry. Please contact the programme leader.
You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
If English isn’t your first language you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
This course is open to UK and EU students. Applications from International students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course does not have a Tier 4 licence. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under Tier 4 (i.e. a Tier 4 international student visa to study in the UK) then unfortunately we’ll be unable to consider your application for this course.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

This course focuses on the artistic and creative use of technology. It includes modules on lighting, sound, staging, live visuals and entertainment control networks, together with work skills, concept and production design and specialist skills such as lasers and emerging 3D technologies. Some of the transferable skills you’ll have the opportunity to start developing include communication skills, working as part of a team, business and event planning and industry awareness, and pitching and presentation skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

The FdA Live Events Production qualification aims to introduce you to the creative and technical skills needed to succeed in the backstage sector, across music concerts, festivals, theatre, corporate and sporting events, brand activation and cruise ships – anywhere a live event takes place! Potential careers range from technical and “hands on” production (either working as crew, design, programmers or operators) through to support (working for suppliers in specifying, preparing and supplying a range of resources and services to the live events industry).

Some of the job roles include lighting technician, lighting designer, sound system engineer, production manager, live visuals engineer, video wall technician, moving light technician, pyrotechnician, site manager and stage manager. Upon completion of your FdA qualification, you have the opportunity to progress onto the BA (Hons) Live Events Production (Top-up) one-year course.

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience or post graduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:

Broadcast engineering
Technical theatre
Technical sales and support
Teaching and education
Event technology
Acoustics
Event management
TV and film
Tour management
Safety enforcement

Course fees

Home EU Fees	Year of study			Total
Entry year	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
2020	£9,250	£9,250	-	£18,500

Useful information

Backstage Academy does not have a Tier 4 licence and is therefore unable to accept international students.

The fees for a student’s course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

The university is currently awaiting government guidelines as to EU fee charges for students commencing study in 2021/2022.

For 2021/2022 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2021/2022 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton undergraduate students.

For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

September start

Please apply through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for September entry.

The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.

You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £24. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £13 is applicable.

You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:

Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44

UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com

The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.

How you apply is determined by your current location and what you are choosing to study:

Apply direct to the University. Links for the next available intakes of this course are shown below. Please click the link which will direct you to the online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this.
Apply via one of our approved in-country referral partners. A list of our partners may be found on the International pages of this website.
Apply via UCAS for courses starting in September only – visit www.ucas.com.

Should you have any queries please contact the International Team on +44 (0) 1204 903110 or email international@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: Backstage Academy FdA Live Events Production with Backstage Academy - 20 September 2021

University of Bolton Group Partners

Bolton College
University Technical College
University of Bolton

The University welcomes applications from our group partners and progressing students so we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible. By selecting the link for your chosen course from the list shown below you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.

Please ensure when you are asked to add a contact email address you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address we will be unable to identify you as a partner and you will be referred to apply via UCAS, which incurs a cost.

Apply online: Backstage Academy FdA Live Events Production with Backstage Academy - 20 September 2021

We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!

Course content will be taught through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and tutorial sessions. You’ll be able to learn theoretical principles and be allowed to apply these in practical contexts through both group and individual study.

The assessment strategy of the Live Events Production FdA pathway is designed to ensure that you achieve the overall aims and objectives of the modules and programme. The strategy ensures that both individual and group assessments are used at HE levels 4 and 5. A variety of assessment methods are employed to maximise your opportunities and develop your abilities, helping you to fulfil your potential and meet the QAA benchmarks.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

Academic and Professional Skills for the Event Industries
Concept Design and Presentation
Staging
Live Sound
Lighting
Visual Production
Work Placement
Event Production Management
Production Planning and Realisation
Career Development and Employability
Live Sound Systems and Mixing
Lighting Systems and Programming
Visual Production Systems and Design
Live Events Business

Assessment methods

Level	Assesment method
Level one	Coursework 65%, Practical exams 35%
Level two	Coursework 72%, Practical exams 28%

Learning activities

Level	Learning activity
Level one	Guided independent study 65%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 35%
Level two	Guided independent study 61%, Placement/study abroad 12%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 27%

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.