95% would recommend NESCol to others
Music, Sound Production & Drama
Bringing performing arts to life.
Courses
NESCol‘s basement studios and theatre are alive with inspiration.
Our music, sound production and drama courses are tailored to meet the demands of the fast-moving creative sector.
Whether you’re composing, mixing, or performing, you’ll develop your technical skills and theoretical understanding in a vibrant environment.
With courses taught by industry-experienced lecturers, you’ll grow as a performer or creator and build key employability skills, so you’re ready for your chosen career or the transition to university.
View all full-time music, sound production & drama courses
As well as a host of full-time courses, we also offer part-time courses in music, sound production & drama where you can study at a location near you with daytime, evening and weekend options.
52,400
actors, entertainers and presenters in the UK¹
When I came to see the facilities at Aberdeen City Campus and spoke to staff who told me about the course content and the opportunities it could provide, applying was a no-brainer!
Definitely do it! You’ll make friends for life and have a great experience!”
Nairn Milne
Nairn studied HND Music at NESCol before progressing to a BA Hons Music at Edinburgh Napier University. He is now a professional session drummer who has played with artists such as McFly, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Amy Macdonald, and most recently, Callum Beattie. He has also established a successful drum teaching business. .
Career opportunities
Former students have gone onto exciting and varied careers including:
Music
Musician, Music Teacher and Music Therapist
Sound Production
Audio Engineer, Audio Technician, Music Producer and Sound Designer.
Acting & Performance
Actor, Drama Teacher and Presenter.
£7.6 billion
contributed to the economy by the UK's music industry in 2023²
Where you will study
A hidden gem on the North East arts scene, our very own theatre at City Campus has a capacity of more than 100 and hosts a range of shows each year. Most importantly it provides the ideal space for students to hone their skills in performance and production. The theatre complements music rehearsal spaces as well as sound production, TV and radio studios.
Study music, sound production & drama in Aberdeen
- 4,500+ students
- Fitness Suite
- 4 Cafés
- Quiet & social areas
Our Aberdeen City Campus is situated in the heart of Aberdeen city centre, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
Study part-time
Part-time courses are offered at locations throughout the region.
What our students think
More than 4,000 full-time students responded in our Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey, covering the 2024-2025 academic year. We are delighted to share some of the feedback we received.
"A very supportive and welcoming community of staff from all departments and students."
96% feel safe and secure at College
"Good variety of skills taught across the curriculum."
93% feel College has helped them develop knowledge and skills for the workplace
"I enjoyed my time at College and feel it will open more opportunities for me."
Student stories
Don’t take our word for it!
Mickey Dugan
HND Music
Mickey followed his passion, studying HND Music after school. He is now the Students’ Association Depute President, and plans to complete a music degree at the University of Aberdeen in the future.
Luc Retour Rose
HND Sound Production
Luc thrived during his HND. He went on to complete an audio technology degree at university and now lives in York, leading a successful career as a technical product manager for an acoustics material company.
Antoni McMillan
HND Acting & Performance
Antoni has had an exciting career since completing his HND, including working as an actor, dancer and runner. He recently directed and starred in his own feature film, and also runs an entertainment business.
Get in touch
Our student advisers can help with any application enquiries.
Contact the team directly by calling 01224 612330, dropping into your local Student Advice Centre, or by emailing studentadvice@nescol.ac.uk. Student advisors are also available on LiveChat when the chat icon appears at the bottom of our website.
¹ Source: Nomis – Office for National Statistics (ONS)
² Source: UK Music