Skip to main content

Drama (Musical Theatre)

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single honours

Award
BA (Hons) Drama (Musical Theatre)
School/s
Bath School of Music and Performing Arts
Campus or location
Newton Park
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: W401 or W403
Campus Code: A,BSU

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

Pursue your passion for musical theatre while enjoying the benefits of a more broadly based drama degree.

  • Develop your performance skills, knowledge and understanding of both Drama and Musical Theatre.
  • Learn to experiment, critically reflect and innovate in your work.
  • Prepare for a career in a range of employment contexts including theatre, creative industries and education.

BA Drama (Musical Theatre) is designed for students interested in exploring theatre and performance in its many forms. It will give you a strong grounding in the traditions and debates that inform contemporary performance, while also providing you with the tools to perform, interpret and create a wide range of work.

Over the three years, the musical theatre modules will develop your understanding of the history of the art form and the place of musicals within popular culture, while building your technical and interpretive skills in singing, staging, and acting through song.

University of the Year for Social Inclusion

Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

Joint 2nd in the UK

and #1 in the South West for Value Added in Drama and Dance (Guardian University Guide, 2024) 

#10 in the UK

and #1 in the South West for Student Satisfaction in Drama, Dance and Cinematics (Complete University Guide, 2024) 


Open Days

Get a taste of life at Bath Spa – come to one of our Open Days.

Book your place


“One of the best elements about Drama at Bath Spa is the large range of module choices. From musical theatre to scriptwriting to education, this course allows you to tailor your studies to exactly what you are interested in within the world of drama and theatre.”

Lacey Ruttley, Drama graduate

What you'll learn

Overview

BA Drama (Musical Theatre) consists of six modules in musical theatre (a third of your degree) alongside an exciting range of Drama modules that will equip you with the skills to perform, make, explore and analyse a wide variety of performance work.

The course enables you to develop specialised musical theatre skills and knowledge through acting, singing, staging and contextual work, while also enjoying the benefits of a more broadly-based Drama degree, preparing you for a range of career destinations in the creative industries, teaching, and allied professions.

You'll engage with key ideas and movements in theatre history through the study of plays, musicals, practitioners and genres that have helped to shape contemporary theatre and performance, and through our three-fold focus on skills development, exploration, and performance.

You'll explore approaches to performance making including writing, directing and performing. Performance opportunities include workshop presentations in campus performance studios, workshops and performances in schools, and public performances at the University Theatre and local venues.

Course structure

Year one
Build the foundations. You’ll take modules in theatre history, approaches to working with dramatic texts, contemporary performance and theatre skills. Musical Theatre studies will see you taking foundation modules in musical theatre history and musical theatre skills, with a strong focus on vocal performance and working with music.

Year two
Apply your skills. Core Drama modules focus on approaches to creating your own original work, while a range of optional modules will allow you to explore your particular areas of interest such as physical theatre, writing for performance, applied theatre and theatre production. Musical Theatre workshop modules will explore different types of musical theatre with a focus on acting, vocal interpretation, dramaturgy and staging.

Year three
Specialise. You’ll research an area of drama or performance of your own choice for your dissertation, as well as selecting areas of study from a range of specialist modules such as Performance Projects, Staging Gender, Modern American Drama, Staging Shakespeare, Docu-drama, Media and Performance, Devising and Site-Specific Performance. The practical work of Musical Theatre will culminate in a formal showcase, while the contextual work will finish with an exploration of the place of musicals within popular culture.

How will I be assessed?

We use a variety of assessment tasks across the programme, including:

  • Public performance
  • In-class performance of devised or published work
  • Playwriting
  • Devising
  • Performance of backstage/technical roles
  • Oral presentations
  • Critical reflection
  • Working as part of an ensemble
  • Script and song analysis
  • Individual and group research projects.
How will I be taught?

You'll be taught through a range of activities including lectures, workshops, seminars, skills classes, rehearsals, tutorials, work placements and theatre visits.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Year one (Level 4) modules
  • Investigating Theatre and Performance
  • Contemporary Theatre
  • Building the Ensemble
  • Theatre Project
  • Introduction to Theatre Production
  • Performance Practices
Year two (Level 5) modules
  • Acting and Directing
  • Applied Theatre
  • Creative Production Skills
  • Writing for Performance 1
  • Shakespeare and his Contemporaries
  • Musical Theatre Workshop
  • Puppetry
  • Making Performance 2
  • Performance and Media 1
  • Writing for TV and Radio
  • Musical Theatre Workshop 2
  • Professional Placement Year
Year three (Level 6) modules
  • Theatre and Social Engagement
  • Staging Gender
  • Performance Project
  • Puppetry Lab
  • Staging Shakespeare
  • Drama Independent Study
  • Musical Theatre Project
  • Musicals as Cultural Politics
  • Writing and Directing for Performance 1
  • Writing and Directing for Performance 2
  • Podcasting
  • Creative Enterprise Project 1
  • Creative Enterprise Project 2

"Through studying Drama I acquired the confidence to stand up in front of a group of young people and lead a workshop – a workshop that may include elements of creativity, or drama games to assist learning. And I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned is that I don’t have to do just one thing. I’m a teacher, a writer, a consultant, a facilitator, a project manager, an events organiser, a social media content producer and so much more."

From BA Drama to LGBTQIA+ sex ed: read Laura's career story
Person with a backpack and red-dyed curls walking up stairs decorated with a rainbow of pride colours

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Work placements, industry links and internships

As a Drama student, you’ll benefit from our partnerships with local performance venues, schools and community groups as well as visits from industry professionals. Previous visitors have covered a range of specialisms including playwriting, directing, acting, television production, theatre in education, and children’s theatre.

Recent visiting professionals include:

  • Baz Taylor - Television director (Bergerac, Eastenders, Shine on Harvey Moon, Lovejoy)
  • Neil D’Souza - Actor and writer
  • Kylie Walsh - Paper Birds Theatre Company
  • Mark Wilson - Natural Theatre Company
  • Geese Theatre Company - Internationally renowned applied theatre company
  • Local professional theatre companies - The Misfits, Travelling Light Theatre Company, Up In Arms Theatre Company.
Careers

We equip you with creative, collaborative, writing, presentational and communication skills that are invaluable in many professional and vocational areas.

Many of our graduates pursue careers in the creative industries and teaching. Others use it as the basis for specialised postgraduate study - either academic or vocational training.

Recent graduates have won places at Central School of Speech and Drama, Yale Theatre School, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Guildford School of Acting and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Professional placement year

Overview

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

How will I be assessed?

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

You'll benefit from use of teaching and rehearsal facilities at Newton Park campus.

Facilities include:

Fees

2024 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,250
UK part time £4,625
International full time £16,905

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

  • UK: £1,850
  • International: £3,381

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We are looking for students who are motivated learners and reliable collaborators with an interest in exploring Drama in its many forms, both practically and in terms of the ideas that underpin approaches to theatre making. Musical Theatre students should have good fundamental performance and musical skills (pitch, rhythm, melody) and an active interest in building their skills and knowledge, both in the classroom and through independent study.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

  • A Level – grades BBB-BCC including a grade B in Drama, Theatre Studies or Performing Arts preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject, or evidence of experience in Performing Arts.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required in addition to evidence of involvement in drama or performing arts.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher) together with evidence of involvement in drama and performing arts.

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

Interview and portfolio guidance

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to audition at our Newton Park campus between December and March.

The interview process will focus primarily on your:

  • Vocal skills
  • Group skills
  • Aptitude for taking part in workshop activities
  • Spontaneity and creativity
  • Interest in drama practices.

More information will be sent via email on invitation to audition.

Get ahead

A general familiarity with a range of musicals from different periods will be an asset, as will singing experience and basic experience of working with sheet music. Recommended reading includes:

  • Deer, J. and Dal Vera, R. (2010). Acting in Musical Theatre. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Harvard, Paul (2013) Acting Through Song. London: Nick Hern Books.
  • Taylor, Millie (2008) Singing for Musicals: A Practical Guide. Crowood Press.

Course leader: Roy Connolly
Email: r.connolly@bathspa.ac.uk

Three year course
With placement year

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk