BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

• 104 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Subjects that include experience of dance, drama or performing arts are preferred.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
• You'll be required to attend an audition and interview, staged at Shockout.
• If you don't have the above qualifications but possess equivalent qualifications or experience, we'll be happy to consider your application. In addition to attending an audition and interview, we may require you to provide a portfolio of work or complete another form of test so that we can assess your application.
• You'll need to provide a satisfactory medical report signed by your GP to confirm you are fit and well to undertake full-time intensive and rigorous physical training.
• You’ll be required to pay a registration fee. The registration fee is refundable if you do not gain the UCAS points required for entry to the course or a satisfactory medical report.
• Successful applicants and students on the course will need to wear suitable dance attire (a list of items will be provided). You may well have many of these items, but for an estimate of the cost if you need to buy them new, please contact Admissions at Shockout.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
• This course is open to Home students only. Applications from International and EU students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course is not licenced by UKVI to sponsor students. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under the Student Visa Route to study in the UK, then, unfortunately, we'll be unable to consider your application for this course. Some EU students are eligible to study this course under the EU Settlement Scheme or Common Travel Area arrangement – for details, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree focuses on preparing you for a career in musical theatre, building excellent performance skills, musical versatility and adaptability, and a comprehensive understanding of musical theatre repertoire. The all-round knowledge and skills of performance this course offers also opens doors to many careers in the wider performing arts industry, such as live theatre, dance, TV, film and radio, as well as other related careers in the diverse artistic and entertainment industries.

Some of the key skills associated with this degree include performance skills, confidence, self-presentation, teamwork, self-awareness, communication skills, and coping with criticism. Graduates can also expect to possess the ability to work individually and collaboratively and demonstrate creative problem-solving skills, listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills, and critical thinking skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

Graduates can take advantage of opportunities in a wide range of careers relating to musical theatre, performance, creative producing, education, community, and arts administration. Opportunities exist within musical theatre, live theatre arts, TV and film, cruise ships and leisure industry work, promotion and commercial events, and popular music performance.

A career in musical theatre is often complemented with employment in teaching or devising and performing your own work. Self-employment may be another option where you could establish your own performance-related business. Alternatively, you may choose to further your studies at the postgraduate level or train to become a performing arts teacher in the education sector. If you wish to continue your education at the master's level, Shockout also has a fast-growing postgraduate provision to accommodate your needs.

As a graduate, you'll possess skills and expertise that span the production arena, so you can take advantage of a diverse range of opportunities, such as performer, choreographer, director, dance captain, swing roles, art production, and theatre and artist management. You could also explore opportunities in areas such as creative producing, education, community performance, and curatorial and arts administration.

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification to step into a range of other careers. Relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required for some of these roles. Some of these careers include:

• Teaching and education
• Community arts
• Modelling
• Journalism and writing
• Dance, theatre, film or TV critic
• Dance or drama therapy
• Arts administration
• Agent work
• Casting
• Marketing and PR

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2026-2027 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2026-2027 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2026-2027 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

We use a variety of teaching and learning strategies throughout the programme to develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills and help you achieve the intended learning outcomes. We take a blended learning approach that includes practical sessions, lectures and workshops. Practical sessions are designed to teach each of the core performance techniques and specialist areas within acting, dance and voice. In addition, we'll expect you to spend time on guided independent study, for example, rehearsing and practising for your dance, singing and acting core techniques, engaging in general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, and working on assignments. During the course, we'll also support you in developing employability and information literacy skills and exploring personal development planning (PDP).

We'll expect you to attend traditional lectures, seminars, practical sessions, workshops and tutorials. You may also have opportunities to work on live projects as part of your practical modules. Through these, you can gain unique insights and a thorough understanding of the performing arts industry operating in international markets and across many sectors.

This programme's key assessment forms include in-studio technical assessments, practical skills assessments, showcase performances, practical project reports, portfolios, oral presentations, written coursework and a major research project. You'll receive feedback on your assessments to help you understand what you have done well and where you can improve.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Dance Techniques 1
• Acting Techniques
• Singing Techniques
• History and Context 1
• Dance Techniques 2
• History and Context 2
• Musical Theatre Techniques
• Musical Theatre Performance
• Advanced Musical Theatre Techniques
• Professional Practice and Self Promotion
• Musical Theatre Showcase
• Major Project With Research Skills

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.