The NI Traineeship provides a high-quality vocational education and training programme those who aspire to work within a specific sector.

Full details of the programme is available in our Traineeship page.

The Level 2 Traineeship in Creative Arts and Digital Technologies is a hands-on course designed for young performers and musicians who want to build a career in the creative industries. Based at the Causeway Campus, this programme focuses on live performance, audio production and digital filmmaking. While media and sound tracking are included in the course, these technical skills are primarily there to empower you as an artist. You will learn how to produce your own material, record your own music, and shoot your own audition self-tapes.

You will spend your time in real recording studios, edit suites, and performance spaces to master both onstage skills and behind-the-scenes technology. By combining creative performance with digital skills, you will build a strong portfolio, plan live events, and launch your own projects online. This practical course bridges the gap between your raw talent and the multi-skilled requirements of the modern creative industry.

The programme is split into four key areas, designed to give performers and musicians complete independence to create their own work.

• Performance & Presentation: Build your stage presence and technical skill across music, drama, or dance. This area develops your confidence for live shows whilst teaching you how to handle auditions, pitch your ideas, and present yourself professionally to secure industry work.

• Audio Production: Learn how to record and mix your own sound without needing a separate technician. You will use professional recording studios, set up microphones, record audio on location, edit tracks on a computer, and create basic scores for visuals.

• Visual Media & Self-Promotion: Discover how to film, package, and share your work with the world. You will operate digital cameras, set up studio lighting, and use editing software to make high-quality self-tapes and video showreels, whilst using social media to promote your work and build an audience.
• Professional Practice & Employability: Prepare for the workplace by dropping straight into real-world projects. You will learn to work well in a team, solve technical problems quickly under pressure, keep your working environment safe, and collaborate to plan, promote, and run a live public event.

This traineeship will help you find your artistic identity whilst giving you the technical skills needed for higher-level courses. The most direct route after finishing is moving onto one of our successful Level 3 Creative Industries courses, including:

• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts: Full-time training for acting, dance, and musical theatre.

• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music / Music Technology: Advanced training in studio engineering, sound design, music software, and live music performance.

• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production: A great path if you find out during this course that you prefer filmmaking, camera work, and video editing to performing.

Beyond Level 3, we also offer a Foundation Degree in Creative Industries Production, meaning there are plenty of different pathways and progression routes available. This course is your opportunity to get a real head start in an exciting and thriving sector.

You must:

• Be at least 16 years of age on or before 1 July in the year of proposed entry to the course.
• Have a minimum of - a Level 1 qualification defined as 4 GCSEs at grades D-G including Maths and English grades D-F or equivalent. However, most areas will require higher grades in Maths and English.  See our Traineeship page for specific grades for each vocational area.
• Attend an information session and demonstrate a strong passion for music, performing arts or creative media.