Production Arts (Design Realisation for Events, Stage, and Screen) 

BA (Hons)

Study Production Arts (Design Realisation for Events, Stage, and Screen) at University Centre Leeds

Launch your backstage career with our Production Arts Degree specialising in Design Realisation for Events, Stage & Screen. This course will train you in all aspects of prop-making, puppet making, scenic construction, painting and costume.

EPH Creative

 

Our amazing facilities are sponsored by EPH Creative ensuring you will have access to great tools and industry expertise. Work placements and access to their stock for productions are often available.

 

An exciting partnership with Leeds Heritage Theatres means you will have lessons in venues such as City Varieties Music Hall and Leeds Grand Theatre getting hands on with staging and flying systems.

Leeds Heritage Theatres

 

You will work alongside professionals and other students from The School of Creative Arts and Leeds Conservatoire collaborating on a variety of events and productions.

  • Starts:
  • Duration: 3 Years Full Time
  • Venue: Mabgate Campus and Quarry Hill Campus
  • Fee: £9,535 full-time (per academic year for UK students)
     
    International Fee: £14,000 full-time (per academic year) £4,000 Scholarship available
  • UCAS Course Code(s): W454
  • UCAS Institution Code: L21
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Validated By: Luminate Education Group

Entry Requirements: 48 UCAS Tariff Points

TYPICAL OFFER

UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), one of which must be in a relevant subject

A Levels: 2 x D grades one of which to be in a relevant subject

BTEC L3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade in relevant subjects

Access to HE Diploma: Overall pass with 60 credits, with 24 credits to be at a Merit grade in a relevant subject 

T Levels: Acceptable in a relevant subject

GCSE English: English Language grade 4 or above. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.

GCSE Maths: Maths grade 4 or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Numeracy are accepted in place of GCSEs.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.

*21 years and over at the start of the course 

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)

Interviews: A successful interview is required

References: An appropriate reference required either UCAS or internal Luminate Education Group reference.

Production Arts

The course is ideal for enthusiastic, hands-on, creative people who are looking to start a successful career in design for theatre and events. 

The course has been designed alongside our active industry partners to provide an extensive range of production skills to ensure you are highly employable by the time you graduate. 

You will have full access to our state-of-the-art sponsored facilities in Leeds’ cultural quarter and spend significant time on industry placements. You will apply your skills and knowledge on collaborative projects gaining professional experience whilst also developing a varied portfolio of work and in-depth knowledge of the production arts industry. 

Students will attend lessons in the Mabgate and Quarry Hill Campuses. Additional sessions will also be delivered at Northern Ballet’s Workshop, our Digital Fabrication Studio, City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Conservatoire studios, Leeds Playhouse, Prime Studios and EPH Creative’s base at Thorpe Arch. 

This course is validated by Luminate Education Group

Luminate Logo

How to Apply: Courses starting Autumn 2027

If you are applying for 2027 entry, you will need to apply through UCAS. 

Apply through UCAS

Applicants from Leeds City College, Leeds Sixth Form College, Harrogate College and Keighley College

Select your college for more information on how to apply and the exclusive benefits available to you.

Leeds City College    Leeds Sixth Form College    Harrogate College    Keighley College

Course Information

Year 1 (Level 4)

You will work toward 120 credits over 4 challenging modules that will allow you to develop a range of skills. The modules include: 

  • Professional Practice (Industry Certificates) (15 credits) This module is achieved by completing and reflecting upon a range of professional training activities to show competence in the workplace. You will identify courses that will enhance your CV, such as First Aid at Work, a H&S qualification, Mobile Elevated Work Platform training, Sign Writing etc.
  • Skills Development (5 x 15 credits) This module allows you to explore a range of core and digital design realisation disciplines and ensure that you have a solid grounding in the skills and knowledge required in each area. With an exciting range of intensive mini modules to choose from, you can decide how your portfolio of skills will develop over the year.
  • Industry Insight (Roles & Responsibilities) (15 credits) This module will introduce you to what it is to be a production professional by introducing you to the breadth of roles and career opportunities within the production arts and then ask you to consider your own professional trajectory.
  • Freelancing and Networking (15  credits) The fundamental aim of the course is to support your transition into the profession and so we work with you in this module to ensure you are work ready with the knowledge needed to launch your freelance career and then the networking skills to help your career flourish. 

 

Year 2

You will work toward 120 credits of mandatory modules that allow you to focus on an elected production specialism.

  • Industry Insight (Sustainability) (30 credits) This contemporary module provides you with the knowledge to improve production practices and the confidence to suggest changes to wider industry.
  • Skills in context (30 credits) This module helps to develop your design realisation skills but with a real focus on applying them in an industry context. This might mean you are making something for a professional designer or creating something for a public event.
  • Extended Industry Placement (30 credits) To ensure you are exposed to contemporary production practices and professional working relations you will undertake an extended placement with a professional company. 

  • Production Skills (30 credits) This module requires you to apply your realisation skills on a collaborative production. You will work on a large-scale show or event alongside industry professionals to contribute to the costume. props, set or puppets.  

 

Year 3

You will work toward 120 credits of mandatory modules that allow you to focus on an elected production specialism. 

 

  • Personnel Project (30 credits) An opportunity for you to explore a theme or develop very specific production skills on a project of your own choosing. 
  • Production Safety (30 credits) This module gives you the tools to write thorough risk assessments and method statements to assure others of your competence and ability to manage tasks safely.
  • Collaborative Productions (60 credits) This double unit allows you to collaborate on a series of productions and events to develop you practice and hone your collaborative skills. 

The focus of the course is producing highly employable graduates ready to step straight into an industry desperate for creative, practical staff with the right skills, knowledge and attitude.

We have consulted with local, national and international employers to discuss their requirements and the roles available to early career technicians and creatives; we have reflected on the input of contemporary freelance practitioners about the challenges of entering the workforce and designed your course with employability at the heart of everything you will do.

Other benefits include:

  • Study a range of practical, academic and industry-focused modules
  • Explore and develop a range of specialist skills
  • Build your confidence through assessments that mirror real industry practices
  • Experience working within professional environments
  • Delve into contemporary technical and design practices
  • Engage with local production companies, artists, venues and suppliers
  • Create a professional portfolio of work and training certificates
  • Build a strong network of contacts
  • Organise and carry out a live external collaborative projects with other students

The course is structured around live collaborative projects to ensure you understand the mechanics of the production arts sector and have the creative and transferable skills to navigate and operate within it.

Our assessments draw on a range of skills to reflect the activities of a typical industry employee.
Ideas and research are assessed through a presentation as well as written and practical outcomes.
Creative practice and practical outcomes are the chief component of assessment on the course. The Production Realisations require practical bodies of work that demand creative stamina and technical accomplishment. Reflection and evaluation are important in self-directed learning and development, reflective journals feature in all the collaborative production modules and allow you to document your progress.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Portfolio
  • Reflective journal
  • Project observations
  • Interview
  • Research presentation
  • Live events
  • Live production

Students will be based at our vibrant Mabgate and Quarry Hill Campuses, placing you right in the heart of Leeds’ creative quarter. 

Quarry Hill is a purpose-built, industry-standard campus featuring the professionally equipped Chroma-Q Theatre, specialist construction workshop, costume room, Mac suite, and digital fabrication lab - everything you need to bring ideas to life in a professional setting. Just a short walk away, the brand-new Mabgate Campus offers further support and enrichment, including our HE library and Technical Services Centre. 

Sessions will also take place at leading regional creative venues, including Northern Ballet, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Conservatoire, Prime Studios, and EPH Creative’s base at Thorpe Arch, giving you invaluable exposure to real-world creative environments and industry partners. 

 

TYPICAL OFFER

UCAS Tariff Points: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), one of which must be in a relevant subject

A Levels: 2 x D grades one of which to be in a relevant subject

BTEC L3 Diploma or Extended Diploma: MP, MPP grade in relevant subjects

Access to HE Diploma: Overall pass with 60 credits, with 24 credits to be at a Merit grade in a relevant subject 

T Levels: Acceptable in a relevant subject

GCSE English: English Language grade 4 or above. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.

GCSE Maths: Maths grade 4 or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Numeracy are accepted in place of GCSEs.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.

*21 years and over at the start of the course 

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)

Interviews: A successful interview is required

References: An appropriate reference required either UCAS or internal Luminate Education Group reference.

The course prepares you for a range of roles in a variety of areas, dependent on your own areas of interest and career aspirations. It allows the development of a strong body of contemporary work which may lead to work in the industry or further study, as well as many freelance or community projects and directives.

Students may wish to progress internally on to planned BA (Hons) delivered in association with Leeds Conservatoire, onto a PGCE course, or externally on to other creative BA programmes or teaching qualifications.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES MAY INCLUDE:

  • Venue Technician
  • Touring Technician
  • Costume maker
  • ASM/DSM
  • Wardrobe manager
  • Prop maker
  • Scenic Artist
  • Set builder
  • Freelance creative
  • Arts Administrator
  • Creative Project Management

For the latest version of the programme specifications for this course please click here.

Students are expected to have their own safety boots. Additional costs may be required for creative materials as well as resources such as books, journals or memberships for personal research. Commuting to work placements may result in additional costs.

Local opportunities and trips are often subsidised, but optional national and international trips would require additional funds.

A DBS may be required depending on your placement setting.

Information for International Students

Applications are open for 2027 entry.

To apply directly to study at University Centre Leeds as an international applicant, please visit our 'How to apply' page and complete the steps.

You can also apply through UCAS.

For more information please visit our 'How to apply' page.

Course fees for Undergraduates are £14,000 (GBP)

For 2027 Entry: Scholarship available £4,000 (GBP) all courses.

For more information about fees and scholarships, please click here.

Please see our entry requirements page for additional requirements as an international student

International students will study 5 additional hours on top of the regular timetable.

  • 1 hour cultural studies
  • 2 hours academic study skills
  • 2 hours English studies

For more information about visa and immigration, please click here.

Go to International site

Hear from our Performing Arts and Production Arts students!

Hear directly from our students at University Centre Leeds as they share their unique journeys, challenges, and achievements. In this video, they discuss what makes learning here special, from supportive tutors and hands-on learning experiences to the close-knit community that fuels their passion and ambitions.

Discover how University Centre Leeds has helped shape their confidence, skills, and career paths, bringing their goals within reach in a vibrant and supportive environment.

View our Creative Arts Instagram

Open Days

  • Book on our current open events
  • Register your interest in upcoming open events

Our online and in-person Open Events give you a chance to hear from tutors, discover the range of student support available, and find out for yourself why University Centre Leeds has the highest rating for student satisfaction in the city (NSS 2025).

Open Days

Production Arts students working on their projects

View Gallery

Access your Prospectus

Want to find out more about the wide range of courses, student support and more available for students at University Centre Leeds?

Access your University Centre Leeds Prospectus now.

Access your Prospectus