Performance is at the heart of this course. It offers a rigorous programme of creative, theoretical and professional development, with its training in singing, dancing, acting and other key performance skills enhanced by an understanding of the theatre industry and how to secure roles and work to expected industry standards.
As well as developing your artistry and creativity, you’ll gain an understanding of core musical theatre disciplines from a theoretical perspective by examining key practitioners and pieces and by viewing the genre from the viewpoints of its cultural, political and digital developments.
This approach means that you’ll be able to understand and interpret a broad and exciting repertoire of musical theatre, and also be well-prepared for postgraduate study and employment in related roles.
The UCW Academy of Performing Arts aims to replicate the professional workplace environment, so you’ll utilise our rehearsal studios and work individually and as part of an ensemble to perform in regional theatres and also further afield.
The numerous opportunities to perform in professional venues is what sets us apart. Our students recently performed Sister Act at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, with the show seen by more than 1,000 members of the public over its week-long run. We also hold a spectacular end of year show every summer to give our students the chance to showcase their talents to theatre-lovers closer to home.
The UCW Academy of Performing Arts is part of our Knightstone Campus in the centre of Weston, but you’ll also be able to use all of our facilities at no extra charge. This includes access to the University Centre in the Winter Gardens on Weston seafront. This brand new facility is open later in the evenings and on some Saturdays, and features teaching spaces, a café, a library and technology-enabled learning spaces.
Please click on the next tab to find out more about what you’ll learn on this programme and how it is taught and assessed. The dropdowns below deal with our partnership with Bath Spa University and what is included in the cost of tuition. Please contact the course leader Sylvia Lane or UCW’s HEART team if you have any questions. It would also be great to meet you and show you around at our next Open Day.
Students who pass this course are awarded a degree at Level 6 from Bath Spa University. The agreement between Bath Spa University and UCW is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure academic standards are maintained.
Full-time tuition fees: £8,250 per year.
This covers all of the teaching and assessment elements that are required for you to complete the course.
It also includes:
- The use of all UCW facilities and equipment.
- Attendance at guest lectures at UCW.
- Annual £10 printing and photocopying allowance for full-time students.
- The use of UCW computers at any of our campuses and access to Microsoft Office 365 while you are enrolled with UCW.
- The loans of books from our libraries.
- Access to all of the UCW student support and careers services.
It does not include:
- Optional theatre trips at an approximate cost of £50 each.
- Optional residential visits at an approximate cost of £75 (UK) and £100 (overseas) per night.
- Clothing and footwear suitable for performing at an approximate cost of £200 per year.
- Scripts and scores at an approximate cost of £50 per year.
- Props and costumes at an approximate cost of £50 per year.
- The recommended but optional cost of joining the Equity trade union.
- Extra printing and photocopying above the £10 limit.
- The cost of books you may wish to purchase.
- Transport between our campuses, and to/from your partner university and any work placements. We encourage students to take advantage of termly bus passes to reduce transport costs.
- Accommodation and other living costs.
UCW publishes its Tuition Fees Policy on the Wider Information Set page of this website.
You may also be eligible for additional financial support, depending on your circumstances.
All of the modules on this course are compulsory and worth either 20, 40 or 60 credits each. Successful completion of all three years is worth 360 credits and will lead to the award of a degree at Level 6.
Year 1:
- Acting and voice (20 credits) – learn how to interpret text and scenes, create and realise characters and deliver powerful performances.
- Ballet and jazz dance (20 credits) – develop your skills in key musical theatre dance styles.
- Musical theatre history and repertoire (20 credits) – explore the social-cultural and historical underpinnings of musical theatre.
- Musical theatre singing 1 (20 credits) – develop singing techniques for your voice type and apply them to realise creative and musically-intelligent performances.
- Personal development (20 credits) – complement your practical training with professional knowhow, in areas including nutrition, fitness and professional conduct.
Year 2:
- Acting and voice 2 (20 credits) – continue your development as a versatile performer through an applied examination of the key modern performance trends in TV, theatre and film.
- Musical theatre dance skills (40 credits) – develop the dance skills expected of musical theatre professionals in today’s commercial industry, with a focus on both traditional and contemporary styles.
- Musical theatre performance processes (40 credits) – integrate the three main musical theatre skillsets, and work collaboratively and independently to perform in professional theatres.
- Musical theatre singing 2 (20 credits) – advance your signing techniques alongside a theoretical look at song interpretation.
Year 3:
- Musical theatre independent study (20 credits) – demonstrate your enhanced musical theatre-based academic skills with a significant piece of research and written work.
- Professional musical theatre project (60 credits) – the culmination of your skills training, this module takes the form of three performances produced and realised to professionally-recognised timeframes.
- The professional musical theatre performer (40 credits) – continue to develop your singing, acting and dancing skills with a focus throughout on securing representation and professional roles.
This course is taught and assessed via a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, skills classes, in-class performances of devised work, presentations, individual and group work, written assignments and public performances. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students. When not in scheduled lectures and seminars, students are also expected to continue learning through independent self-study.
This course has an average of 22.5 hours of scheduled teaching per week.
At UCW we understand that some students benefit from more contact time with lecturers than is the norm at a traditional university, so we do all we can to make sure academic staff are available for their students when they are needed.
Assessment is via a combination of practical exams and coursework, with an assessment breakdown of 25% coursework and 75% practical exams. There are no written exams on this degree.
- Students who pass this course are eligible to apply for postgraduate study, such as the Master’s Degrees in Classical Acting, Directing, Theatre for Young Audiences or Scriptwriting at Bath Spa University.
- Graduates can also seek roles with touring theatre companies and employment in various positions in the wider entertainment industry.
A minimum of CDD at A Level, or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMP, or equivalent, preferably in a related area. Applications from those studying two A Levels or alternative Level 3 qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants are also required to attend an audition.
