Musical Theatre
 Musical Theatre (Major).jpg)
UCAS Code: Combined Honours only – see combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Creative Campus
UCAS Campus Code: L46
International students can apply
About the course
Liverpool is a vibrant city, tapping into the momentum and energy of a diverse creative scene and a thriving theatrical community. Musical theatre continues to play an integral role in its ever-changing theatrical landscape, and our students benefit from experiencing national touring musical productions at the renowned The Empire Theatre as well as international events such as the Eurovision Song Contest.
This degree focuses on the practical study of musical theatre, underpinned by theoretical analysis of the genre through the eras. Your studies will incorporate vocal training, acting skills and dance technique, combined to develop you as a fully-rounded performer and realise your individual potential.
The aim of the musical theatre course at Hope is to create an ensemble theatre company, helping to develop your professional practice and awareness. Through the study of musical theatre history, you will develop your understanding of the genre, and explore a wide range of musical styles and repertoire, in both an individual and ensemble setting. This is also supported by weekly 1-1 singing lessons, in which you will strengthen and develop your vocal technique, as well as learning about the importance of vocal health. Your practical work is supported by weekly tutorials and lectures to assist in the development of your academic writing and analytical skills.
The course is led by a team of Musical Theatre specialists, who have first-hand production and performance experience - both in the West End and regional theatres - ensuring our students receive up-to-the-minute insights and guidance, as well as the opportunity to work with external professionals.
Course structure
The structure of the Musical Theatre course is collaborative in nature, with all three practical disciplines combining to produce a fully integrated learning experience. Course content is delivered through a range of lectures, seminars and tutorials,
Assessment and feedback
Assessment will be by way of creative projects, performances and contextual essays. These will grow in complexity as the course progresses, culminating in the production of a full musical in your final year of studies.
Curriculum overview
This programme of study will expose students to:
- The importance of working as an ensemble
- Acting through song and the important relationship between music and lyrics
- The balanced relationship between music, dance and acting, where each inform the other in terms of communication and expression
- Individual vocal development, identifying and developing a personal and appropriate variety of repertoire
- Developing confidence in movement through the study and practical application of a wide range of dance styles
- Developing music reading skills in preparation for working with live musicians in your final year of study
- Analysis of key Musical Theatre works and figures, and the elements of directing and producing works for musical theatre
- Audition skills and professional portfolios.
These areas of study will increase in complexity and challenge as the programme advances.
Year One
Introduction to Musical Theatre
In your first year, you will develop the skills that will form the core of your degree, in short these are creative/practical (singing, acting and dancing); academic research and critical thinking.
You will study singing in one-to-one lessons with your vocal teacher as well as in group settings. Dance and acting techniques are also taught in group seminars and workshops to cover a broad range of styles and techniques.
The historical development of the Musical Theatre genre will be introduced to develop your understanding of its evolution and relevance, helping to draw a line between early works of music theatre and more contemporary pieces.
Year Two
Explorations in Musical Theatre
In your second year of study, your critical explorations of the genre of Musical Theatre deepens. You will become more acquainted with key practitioners (i.e. performers, composers, writers and directors) as well key social and contextual matters.
You will be encouraged to embody this knowledge to more fully develop your performance potential across singing, dance and acting.
You will study, both critically and physically in much more depth the interrelationships that exist in musical theatre between words, music and movement. You will also be encouraged to work towards the creation of your own musical theatre extracts as you develop your practical expertise across performance, choreography, acting and directing presented through your end of year assessments.
Your expertise with respect to the technology of musical theatre will be further refined to develop your own production values.
Year Three
Advanced Musical Theatre
In your third year of study, you will advance your knowledge and performance abilities significantly within Musical Theatre. You will be able to focus upon the development to advanced levels of the particular creative and performance approaches that are of special interest to you – whether singing, dancing, acting, writing or directing. Your professional development is further supported through weekly audition sessions and the creation of your professional portfolio.
You will also focus upon certain academic and critical aspects of the Musical Theatre genre that attract your focus, through the realisation of a final dissertation project.
Your studies will culminate in a full musical theatre production assisted by a professional musical director and practising professional musicians. This will secure your understanding of working as an ensemble through an intensive rehearsal process.
By the end of your programme of study with us in Musical Theatre you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the professional requirements for working successfully and confidently in the musical theatre arena and beyond.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BCC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 104 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 104 Tariff Points |
| IB | 24 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 104 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | An A level or a relevant level 3 qualification such as a BTEC or equivalent in one of the Performing Arts – Music, Drama or Dance is essential. An indicative ability to sing at ABRSM Grade 5 is strongly advised. All applicants will be required to attend an audition and interview. |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
Musical Theatre is a fast-growing area of employment regionally and nationally – whether as a performer, director, stage manager, producer or educator. The study of Musical Theatre involves many transferable skills that will strongly encourage the development of a portfolio creative career.
Enhancement opportunities
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2025/26 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is only available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: