“I was given the opportunity to gain a vast amount of experience through various recorded and live performance projects”
BA (Hons)Musical Theatre
Apply on UCAS
Starting in: 2025
Register your interestUCAS code: WW31
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 104-120Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study a musical theatre degree at Solent University
Take centre stage at university by developing your stage technique with tutors who have worked professionally in musical theatre.
- 0%positivity score for teaching on the course (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for academic support on this course (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for student voice on this course (NSS 2024)
- Perform two live public musical theatre shows in your second year and be part of a season of musicals at a local theatre in your final year.
- Solent ranked 13th in the UK for teaching quality in music studies (out of 75 institutions) (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
- Get access to rehearsal spaces as well as an additional 64-seat flexi-form space on campus, which can be used for live performances.
- Hear from top industry professionals. Recent guest speakers include representatives from West end lead Earl Carpenter (Valjean in Les Mis, Phantom in Phantom of the Opera); Will Holyhead (Associate director The King and I, Curtains) Equity, Spotlight, The Point Theatre.
- Collaborative study and work with students from our film, television, make-up, animation, fashion and photography programmes.
- All students on our courses are eligible for Equity membership at a much-reduced student rate. Not all courses offer this opportunity. This will allow you to access essential career resources such as information on casting, contracts, and pay, and to create a personal profile on their website.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Course overview
With a key focus on employability and developing your creative skills, you will receive training in up-to-date acting techniques, vocal coaching based on contemporary vocal techniques, and a range of dance techniques. You will also have the opportunity to develop your skills in related areas, such as directing, theatre in education, and stage combat.
You will learn from an experienced, welcoming and helpful teaching team who have been professionally engaged in the performing arts across a wide range of disciplines.
Thanks to the course team's close links with industry, you’ll have the chance to gain practical experience working with local institutions on live briefs. Our industry links can create exciting partnerships with professionals and guest lecturers including actors, directors, and career guidance professionals who will share their unique insights, including our Associate Professor, Earl Carpenter (Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera).
Studying musical theatre at Solent combines practical performance skills with academic study (no formal exams) to help you identify potential career directions in the creative industries. Whatever direction you choose to follow, musical theatre at Solent offers an exciting and collaborative starting point.
Spotlight, the leading casting platform, and Equity, the performers union, worked together to create guidelines for drama school and university courses. Our course has been recognised as fulfilling these guidelines, allowing our third-year students to become both Spotlight Graduate members and obtain Equity’s full membership.
During your studies you will be eligible for Student Equity membership at a much-reduced rate and Equity’s full membership upon graduation. This will allow you to access essential career resources such as information on casting, contracts, pay, and to create a personal profile on their website.
As a Spotlight Graduate Member, you can receive tailored events to help nurture your transition from training to the industry, as well as discounted membership for the first two years of your career.
During your third year, one student is nominated by course staff to compete for the Spotlight Prize, with a chance to win a cash prize and perform at an industry event in front of an expert panel of judges.
In the final year, you can participate in an industry-standard performance showcase in London, providing the perfect opportunity to present yourself to the industry and develop professional networks that will help launch your career in the performing arts. Our showcase is listed on the Spotlight Performance Calendar, making it visible to casting directors and agents.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
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Course features
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
Solent’s musical theatre degree is ideally suited to students with a passion for musical theatre arts and a desire to work in a performance related area. Strong communication and team building skills make our students highly desirable for employers across of range of industries. Applicants will ideally have some previous experience and/or qualifications in drama and will be required to present an audition.
What does this course lead to?
The nature of this degree prepares students for a career in the performing arts. Our alumni have gone on to post-graduate studies, teaching, cruise ship entertaining, theatre and/or screen acting, theatre in education, children's’ entertaining and more.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Meet the team
Course tutors are academic and/or industry professionals whose knowledge and contacts provide you with an invaluable resource for understanding contemporary trends and opportunities in the performing arts. In addition, visiting lecturers provide further insight into current workplace practice. Our focus on employability ensures that you leave us with the skills and confidence to realise your career ambitions.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Students have access to a variety of rehearsal spaces including rehearsal rooms, studios with sprung floors, and a 64-seat flexi-form space on campus, which can be used for live performances. Students will be able to use the University's collection of musical equipment, including a piano, electronic keyboards and portable stereo systems.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Directed Musical Theatre Production
In this practical module, you will to rehearse and perform an extended 20 – 30 minute excerpt from a musical. Recent shows include The Rocky Horror Show, Chicago, Waitress and Cabaret.
The Broadway Musical
Broadway shows remains central to your work as musical theatre performers and scholars. This module will help to familiarize you with a range of key American Musicals. You will also be asked to think about and research contexts - the historical background from which shows were written, performed, and understood by their first audiences.
Body and Voice
Free, release and develop your dancing, singing, and vocal skills and building a toolkit of exercises that will be used throughout your training and forward into the profession.
Acting in Musicals
This module could make a real difference to your musical theatre performances. It’s your opportunity to focus on the essential acting skills which underpin your success as a musical theatre performer.
The West End Musical
This module will help to familiarize you with key West End Musicals. You will also be asked to think about and research contexts - the circumstances, from which particular shows were written, performed and understood by their first audiences.
Musical Theatre Styles
A fast-paced and energetic module that provides an exploration into different musical theatre styles which may include ensemble, solo and chorus work.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Individual performances
- Group performances
- Individual presentations
- Group presentations
- Portfolios
- Workshops
- Quizzes
- Devising
- Assignments
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose a career in musical theatre?
UK creative industries generate more than £100bn a year to the UK economy. It is considered one of the fastest growing industries and continues to outperform the wider UK economy.
Based on the Arts Council England report commissioned from the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), the arts and culture industry in 2016 was responsible for:
- £21.2bn in direct turnover
- £10.8bn in Gross Value Added (GVA), with £8.6bn of this generated by the market segment of the industry and the remaining £2.2bn contributed by the non-market organisations
- 137,250 jobs
- £6.1bn in employee compensation
Musical theatre continues to grow in popularity both in the West End of London and major touring companies. And employment in the creative industries as a whole is 14% above pre-pandemic levels with 2.4m filled jobs in 2022, according to the Creative Industries Council.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
“I was given the opportunity to gain a vast amount of experience through various recorded and live performance projects”
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Accredited by
Recognised by:
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
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Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 costs were:
Compulsory costs:
- Trip to London – Actors Pro Expo: £50
- Self-taping equipment: phone tripod stand £17, microphone £9
- Movement clothing - £70
Women: 1 pair black jazz shoes, 1 pair high impact trainers, black leotard with cap sleeves (or any style which conceals bra-straps), black fitted jazz pants or leggings (good quality, non-see-through).
Men: 1 pair black jazz shoes, 1 pair high impact trainers, black fitted T-shirt (round neck, short sleeves), black tracksuit bottoms.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount)
This scholarship is available to students from an EU country, with EU nationality, who are applying for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025. The scholarship will reduce your tuition fees to £10,500.
Find out more about the scholarship
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Student funding - the essentials Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D, a T-Level Merit, or equivalent qualification, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 104 UCAS points.
- Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course.
- UK applicants are required to attend an audition – applicants will be required to prepare one monologue and one song.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send electronic auditions.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send electronic auditions.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For more information about qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
104-120UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: Call:How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
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