BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Degree

Overview

ArtsEd offers rigorous, exceptional triple-threat training. An exciting and extensive curriculum prepares you to become a world-leading performer across all disciplines and in all genres.

Our tutors are all inspiring and experienced industry professionals, committed to working with you to develop your full potential in singing, dancing and acting.

Dynamic and diverse with a focus on excellence, this vocational three-year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre course will develop your technical skills through practical classes across singing, dance and acting, one-to-one singing tuition, projects in singing, dance and acting, and final year performances.

This programme is validated by City St George’s, University of London and you will receive a City St George’s, University of London award on successful completion.

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news on our degrees and diplomas.

Duration 3 years (full-time)

Academic year September 2025 - July 2026

Application deadline Applications for 2025 are now closed

Course Leader: Jonathan O'Boyle, Director of the School of Musical Theatre

At a glance

Only 54 students are accepted each year
A minimum of 35 contact hours per week
Teaching delivered over three terms (33 weeks)
Two, one-to-one sessions with singing tutors every week

Year 1

Dance, Acting and Singing Projects
Performance Class
Song and Dance
Song Workshop

Year 2

Dance, Acting and Singing Projects
Performance Class/Audition Technique
Song and Dance
Song Workshop
CV and Photograph Workshops

Year 3

Two Public Productions and a Showcase (filmed)
Industry Professional sessions and workshops

Fees

Learn More About Fees

How to apply

Am I Eligible for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre course?

Applicants must be aged 18 or due to have turned 18 by the time the course commences.

In addition, the following qualifications are normally required:

Passes in two subjects at A-level or a BTEC ND
Passes in three subjects at GCSE or equivalent
Candidates whose first language is not English must provide proof of their proficiency by having either an ELTS overall score of 7 or a TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS score of 6 or equivalent

If an applicant fulfils the audition criteria, but comes from an unconventional academic background, the academic requirements may be waived, although good spoken English is a requirement for all our courses.

At ArtsEd we are committed and are active in maintaining equal opportunities, all who apply will receive comparable treatment and no applicant will receive less or more favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, ethnic origin, disability, age or religion or any other equivalent factors. All successful applicants will be selected solely on the basis of their abilities.

You can find out everything you need to know about auditions here

What next?

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news on our degrees and diplomas.

Course Guide

Click here to view the full Course Guide for BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

Careers

Les Misérables

Les Miserables is the longest running show in the West End and has always been populated with ArtsEd MT Alumni. Including: Amara Okereke (Cosette), Toby Miles (Marius), Charlie Burns (Cosette), Dean Chisnall (Jean Valjean), Paul Wilkins (Marius), Josefina Garbrielle (Madame Thénardier), Jordan Shaw (Enjorlas) and Lulu-Mae Pears (Cosette).

Miriam-Teak Lee

Miriam graduated from ArtsEd in 2017 and went on to play the lead in On The Town at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. She then went into the original West End cast of Hamilton. Miriam is currently playing Juliet in '&Juliet' for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

&Juliet

&Juliet is a 2019 coming-of-age stage musical, Winner of six WhatsOnStage Awards and three Olivier Awards. A number of alumni have been part of the production, including: Miriam-Teak Lee, Oliver Tompsett, Rachel Moran, Bessy Ewa, Tom Francis and Joe Foster

Dom Simpson

MT/2016 Dom immediately flew over to Broadway to become the standby Elder Price in the Book of Mormon. Since then, he has come back to the West End to become the first British Elder Price to play the lead.

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical, Hamilton has become a West End staple, and a number of alumni have been part of the production, including: Tarinn Callender as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, Miriam-Teak Lee, Courtney-Mae Briggs and Waylon Jacobs.

Danny Mac

Danny graduated from ArtsEd BA MT in 2009 and has gone on to grace the stage and screen in such things as: Hollyoaks, White Christmas, Amelie and Midsomer Murders.

Wicked

Celebrating 10 years in the West End, Wicked continues to showcase ArtsEd alumni, including: Matt Parsons, Aimee Fisher, Danny Michaels, Grace Chapman, Scott Sutcliffe and Russell Walker.

Jac Yarrow

Jac graduated from ArtsEd in 2019 and shot to stardom after playing the title role of Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, for which he won The Stage Debut Award for Best Actor in a Musical and was nominated for an Olivier Award. He set to perform in Pantoland at the London Palladium this Christmas.

Six

The musical sensation, Six, has featured many ArtsEd graduates including: Izuka Hoyle, Genesis Lynea, Chrisina Modestou, Courtney Stapleton, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky, Roxanne Couch and Leah Vassell.

Amara Okereke

Graduated in 2018, Amara won ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ at the Stage Debut Awards 2018 for the role of Cosette in Les Miserables at The Queens Theatre, as well as recently winning ‘Outstanding Performance in a Musical’ at the Black British Theatre Awards for the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum.

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! has been a constant hit in the West End and you will always find our graduates in the cast. Including: Gabrielle Williams (Sophie), Danny Nattrass (Pepper), Taylor Bradshaw (Eddie), Philip Ryan (Sky), Zoe Humphryes and Luke Hall.

Emily Lane

Graduated in 2020, Emily made her West End debut in Frozen as ‘Ensemble’, and has now taken over the role of ‘Anna’ full time.

Newsies

Disney's brand new West End production of Newsies original cast features many ArtsEd graduates: Lindsay Atherton, George Crawford, Ross Dawes Jacob Fisher, Alex James–Hatton, Josh Barnett, Bobbie Chambers and Kamilla Fernandes

Djavan van de Fliert

Djavan has recently graduated from ArtsEd, making his professional debut as Kristoff in ‘Frozen’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The Book of Mormon

Winner of 9 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the Book of Mormon in the West End stars alumnus, Dom Simpson, who is joined by alumni Alex Lodge, Bree Smith and Sackie Osakonor.

Courtney Stapleton

Courtney graduated ArtsEd in 2014. She is currently appearing as Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Her previous credits include: Dear Evan Hansen, Six, Bat out of Hell, Les Miserables and Mamma Mia!

Matilda

The West End musical of Roald Dahl's Matilda has seen a variety of ArtsEd alumni, including: Karina Hind, Marianne Benedict, Richard Astbury, Connor Lewis, Rob Compton, Holly Dale Spencer, Glen Facey and Roger Dipper.

Carly Mercedes Dyer

Carly graduated from ArtsEd in 2008. She is currently playing Erma in Anything Goes at the Barbican. Her other credits include: Shug Avery in The Color Purple, Anita in West Side Story, Hadestown, Dreamgirls, Sweet Charity and Memphis.

Back to the Future

Based on the 1985 cult cinema hit, the musical adaptation of Back to the Future has recently opened in the West End to rave reviews. It stars ArtsEd gradutates Olly Dobson as Marty McFly and Courtney-Mae Briggs as Jennifer Parker. Also appearing are: Joshua Clemetson, Bessy Ewa, Nic Myers, Shane O'Riordan, Glen Facey, Adam Margilewski, Katharine Pearson, Tavio Wright and Charley Warbuton.

Marc Antolin

Marc Graduated ArtsEd in 2008. He is currently appearing in the RSC's production of The Magician's Elephant. His previous credits include: Seymour in The Little Shop of Horrors, Twelfth Night at The Globe, Peter Pan at the National Theatre, Matilda, Singing in the Rain and Into the Woods.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

The RSC is a major British theatre company. With shows such as Matilda, The Boy in the Dress, The Magician's Elephant and A Christmas Carol - our Alumni are playing their parts in these amazing productions. Alumni include: Luke Latchman, Charlotte Jaconelli, Clancy Ryan, Alexander Moneypenny, Ahmed Hamad, Eamonn Cox, Bethany Linsdell, George Westall and Lauren Arney

Omari Douglas

Omari Graduated from ArtsEd in 2015. He has recently been seen in Chanel 4's award-winning It's a Sin and the West End production of Constellations. Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre, West End), I Hate Suzy too (Sky), Rye Lane (Searchlight Pictures)

FAQs

When do you hold auditions and can we choose when we want to audition?

Auditions are generally held on Tuesdays from October to April during term time. If we offer you a date please do your best to attend. We can only reschedule under extreme circumstances such as illness or an exam commitment.

What does a typical timetable look like and how is the day structured?

Very full! You have classes or rehearsals all day, five days a week from 8.30am (or sometimes earlier) to 6pm and sometimes beyond. You could be going from an acting class straight into ensemble singing, straight into jazz followed by Speech & Voice and 1-2-1 singing! You will then have work to prepare for the following day.

How strict is it going to be?

Musical Theatre training is rigorous – you are learning three skills. We train people to be professional, focused, hardworking performers. This takes dedication and passion. Is it strict? That’s up to you and your work ethic!

How is the timetable split between dancing, acting and singing?

This is a ‘triple threat’ course, so the weighting is completely equal between acting, singing and dance. Singing tuition includes two one-to-one singing lessons a week.

You can find more general FAQs here.

BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

BA (Hons) / Level 6 Diploma