BA (Hons)
Drama: Musical Theatre
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Why study BA Drama: Musical Theatre at Goldsmiths
This degree prepares you to create musical theatre and find work in the performing arts sector. As part of a close-knit community you'll develop your talents as a performer and in other areas, from director to arts administrator.
- Our programme encourages you to develop your talents not only as a performer, but also in other areas of musical theatre: as a director, choreographer, musical director, stage manager, writer, dramaturg, publicist, designer, or arts administrator.
- We train as a company, where you’ll be part of a community of creators and collaborators sharing the responsibilities of producing theatre – from acting to ticketing. We believe that this maximises your artistic experiences and your professional opportunities once you leave.
- You'll take one-on-one singing lessons with our lecturing vocal coach, who has trained West End performers.
- You'll study movement fundamentals, jazz, and tap. Our tap teacher brings their West End experience to the classroom as they teach all levels of students.
- We supplement our dance courses with dance workshops and we regularly supplement our singing courses with master classes with visiting artists.
- Goldsmiths has a range of studios and performance spaces. These facilities are regularly available for student booking as you develop your own work.
- The programme focuses on a series of performance benchmarks: your first year culminates in a cabaret, usually at an off-West End venue; your second year involves developing a new piece; and the third year involves a major production of a licensed show.
- You will have the opportunity to develop your own work. The department offers competitive grants and associate artist positions, as well as our rehearsal studios, to help facilitate student work.
- Modules in musical theatre history and theory will help you to think critically about performance and representation. At Goldsmiths, we think through the ethics of musical theatre and understand where it has has been so that you can take it to new places.
- We are proud partners with IRIE! Dance Theatre, whose work embodies many African Dance traditions and contemporary dance styles and with whom we share workshop experiences.
- As a university in London, Goldsmiths is a 15-minute journey from the heart of theatre in Britain, not to mention a range of museums, concert halls, cabaret and jazz clubs, and other cultural venues.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Bradley Rogers or Luis Garcia.
UCAS code
W312
Entry requirements
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall including three HL subjects
Length
3 years full-time
Fees
Home - full-time: £9250
International - full-time: £20160
Department
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What you'll study
In your first year you'll take the following compulsory modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Ideas in Practice | 15 credits |
| Creative-Critical Project | 15 credits |
| Introduction to Movement and Dance | 15 credits |
| Introduction to Singing and Music Theory | 15 credits |
| Performance Praxis 1A: Action | 15 credits |
| Performance Praxis 1B: Acting, Voice, and Text | 15 credits |
| Musical Theatre-making 1 | 30 credits |
Teaching style
Our contact hours include lectures, seminars, workshops, and performances. As part of a rigorous university course, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study including production and project work, rehearsals and preparation for essays, discussions, and readings.
Full-time students should expect to undertake a weekly minimum of 35-40 hours of study, understood as a combination of classwork and independent preparation.
How you'll be assessed
We incorporate a range of assessments into our curriculum. Performance assessments include a licensed book musical, an excerpt of a new musical in development, a cabaret show, a musical revue, as well as individual scenes and songs. Other courses culminate in a tap routine, a choreographed jazz dance, and written essays. Extensive support is provided in the first year to help students prepare to write essays.
Entry requirements
We accept the following qualifications:
A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
UAL Extended Diploma: Merit overall
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2
If you can't find your qualification here, then please visit our entry requirements page for a list of alternative qualifications.
Additional requirements
You must be able to express a well-informed interest in theatre and performance theory and practice.
While drama and theatre studies would be an advantage, this is not necessarily essential as we are also interested in those with other subjects or complementary experience. Applicants with A-levels in an arts and humanities subject such as English, history, languages, philosophy and sociology are welcomed.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.
Alternative qualifications
See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.
We welcome students with a range of educational experiences. If you believe you may not meet the standard qualification requirements we would still encourage you to apply because we consider all aspects of your application when making a decision.
We’ll pay particularly careful attention to your personal statement, which is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the subject you’ve applied for. Your referees are also welcome to include any relevant contextual comments around your academic achievements. We’ll look at all these things when making a decision on your application, as well as your qualifications and grades, and may still be able to offer you a place.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the UG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £9250
- International - full-time: £20160
If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Student Visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Careers
Your professional development begins in Year 1 with a programme of talks, workshops and events led by staff in the Department and Goldsmiths’ Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, and culminates in a showcase of performances for industry stakeholders and partners in Summer Term of the final year.
There are built-in links with employers through the following:
- Guest lectures by visiting practitioners
- Regular employment of industry professionals as teachers and project directors
- The Department’s long-standing connections with a number of London theatres
- Final year practical writing/devising project will enable students to position themselves in the job market
- The final showcase production includes invitations to creative industries stakeholders, which may comprise agents and producers, commensurate with student preparation and aims
You can find out more about the career options open to you following graduation on our Theatre and Performance careers page.
Skills
The programme aims to prepare you to meet the varied demands of the theatre industry with informed intelligence, flexibility and a wide range of organisational and artistic skills. So you will learn to function independently to generate your own professional work.
Students are encouraged to develop collaborative skills as well as technical, IT and management skills.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
