How to become a broadcast engineer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- volunteering
- an in-house training scheme
University
You'll need a degree to apply for a graduate training scheme with a broadcaster. Useful subjects include:
- broadcast engineering
- broadcast technology
- electronics
- physics
- computer science
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
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College
You may be able to get into broadcast engineering after doing a T level for Radio Network Technicians at college.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
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Apprenticeship
You can get started by doing a broadcast and media systems technical operator advanced apprenticeship or a broadcast and media systems engineer degree apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or more A levels, or equivalent, including maths and science, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
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Work
You could start work with a broadcaster as a production assistant and later apply for a place on an in-house engineer training scheme.
You could also begin as a broadcast technician, for example after an apprenticeship, then do further training on the job to become an engineer.
Volunteering
You'll find it useful to get practical experience using broadcast technology equipment, as competition for places on training schemes is strong. You could get this through:
- student film and TV productions
- community or hospital radio
- a placement with a broadcaster
Other Routes
You can start on an in-house engineering training scheme like the BBC's degree apprenticeship.
You can apply for the BBC Broadcast Engineering Graduate Scheme, if you have an honours degree or equivalent in electronics, physics, maths, computer science or a related subject.
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Professional and industry bodies
You can apply for professional registration with the Engineering Council for Information and Communications Technology Technician or Chartered Engineer status. Registration can improve your career prospects.
Further information
You can find out more about working in the media industry from ScreenSkills, ITV Careers and Sky.
You can get information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.