
What you'll study
Rose Bruford College was the first institution in Europe to offer a degree in Lighting Design, and we’re excited to relaunch this innovative course. Through hands-on experience and creative exploration, this programme equips you with the skills needed to design and work with light across a variety of contexts. You’ll collaborate with a range of industry professionals, learning the techniques and technologies shaping the future of lighting design.
This practical course focuses on the current uses and applications of light, encouraging you to consider its role in live performance and beyond. You’ll develop transferable design skills for a range of industries, including music, film, television, opera, architectural settings, and installation art.
This information is subject to validation approval and the final course outline may be slightly amended.

Why choose this course?
Career-focussed
This course is designed for those eager to develop their own lighting design style and pursue a career across creative industries. Our graduates have gone on to work in diverse fields such as live music, dance, opera, film, corporate events, and architectural installations.
Learn from world-class professionals
You'll have the chance to work with and learn from leading designers, gaining valuable insights into their creative processes. Recent visiting experts have included Willie Williams (Visual Designer for U2, David Bowie, Complicité) and Andi Watson (Lighting Designer for Radiohead)
Professional experience and networking
Benefit from practice-based learning, including work placements with UK and international industry partners. In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to work on individual or collaborative projects, building your portfolio and professional network.
State-of-the-art facilities
Train on professional-grade equipment and technologies, including lighting consoles, projection systems and computer-aided design tools.

Course breakdown
The course is structured to build your knowledge and skills progressively, preparing you for professional practice. Course content is regularly updated to reflect industry needs.
Year 1
In your first year, you’ll begin developing foundational technical, practical and creative skills as a lighting specialist. Through hands-on projects and simulated professional environments, you’ll explore the core concepts of lighting design. By the end of the year, you’ll be able to:
- Identify key principles and concepts of lighting design
- Demonstrate knowledge of lighting and visual media technologies
- Employ fundamental techniques and practices
- Develop transferable skills suitable for future employment
Modules include:
- Essential Lighting
- Essential Production Skills
- Essential Video
- Shared Module
Year 2
Your second year focuses on refining your skills and applying them in more complex professional contexts. You’ll take on roles in live production and develop a deeper understanding of the creative industries. The modules covered include:
- Advanced Lighting Design
Build on your skills, advancing to a professional standard through practical and theoretical work.
- Live Events
Explore the theories and practices of live event production. You’ll learn to design and implement lighting systems in new and challenging performance spaces.
- Production Process
Take on the role of Lighting Designer in a college production, developing your creative and technical abilities.
- The Sustainable Practitioner
Learn sustainable practices for lighting design and understand the environmental impacts of your work.
Year 3
In your final year you’ll work independently, preparing to transition from study to professional practice. You’ll undertake placements or projects tailored to your chosen career path, gaining real-world experience and developing industry-ready skills. The modules covered include:
- Vocational Practice
Analyse the techniques and processes of professional lighting designers while undertaking projects or industry placements.
- Professional Preparation and Practice
Examine the industry sector you aim to join, gaining insights into employment pathways of self-employment strategies.
- Independent Research Project
Conduct a major piece of research or a creative project, showcasing your expertise and personal interests.
Teaching and assessment methods
Throughout the course, your learning will combine scheduled teaching, practical projects, and independent study.
- Year 1: Approximately 320 hours of taught sessions and 880 hours of independent work.
- Year 2: Around 180 hours of taught sessions and 1,020 hours of independent work.
- Year 3: Around 60 hours of taught sessions and 1,140 hours of independent work.
Assessment methods include coursework, presentations, assessed tutorials and portfolios.
Programme specification
Get a flavour
Your future career


We aim to put you in front of and amongst the profession. This includes the opportunity to network and undertake a placement, as well as introducing your work to the industry at our graduate exhibition in London.
Alumni success
Tom Young
Lighting, Strictly Come Dancing; Lighting programmer 2014 Common Wealth Games ceremonies
Luke J Collins
Video Content Programmer and Operator, Eurovision
Matthew Kemp, Andrew Bruce and Joe Lott
Established the company Quantum Creatives, Touring artists (incl The Vamps, Jorja Smith, Good Charlotte, Reading Festival); Theatre (regional tours and shows at venues like Dominion and The Albion)
Careers options
Studying an Arts related subject gives you a wide range of skills that can be put to use in many careers. Recent graduates have gone on to become:
- Lighting/video programmers for live events, theatre, tv & film
- Lighting and video designers
- Programmers and software developers
- Technical managers
- Information technology and telecommunications professionals
- Planning, process and production technicians
- Freelance and Creative start-ups
How to join
Applications are now open for September 2025.
UCAS application deadline is 29th January 2025.
Institution code: R51
Course code: W4W2
UCAS Points
64 UCAS points*
This is equivalent to:
- Two C’s at ‘A’ level/AVCE,
- A Pass in a single AVCE Double Award at Grade C or above
- One Merit and two Passes at BTEC (QCF) National Diploma or equivalent,
- One Pass (D or E on the core) at T level or equivalent.
- Successful completion of the Access to HE Diploma in Production Arts
Portfolio
Our Portfolio page gives an overview of what we will ask you to provide once we receive your application.
Course Summary
Duration
3 years
Mode of study
Full time
Start date
September 2025
Course Type
Undergraduate Course
Course Fees (2025 Entry)
UK/Republic of Ireland students (Fee per year)
£9535
International students (Fee per year)
£22800