BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre

Key Information


Duration

3 years

Typical Offer

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Campus

Brayford Pool

Validation Status

Subject to Revalidation

UCAS Code

W40F

Academic Year

Course Overview

From London's West End to more experimental Fringe performances, musical theatre spans the arts, inspiring and entertaining audiences around the world. Our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree at Lincoln gives you the opportunity to create, perform, explore, and analyse musical theatre in all of its diversity.

Students can learn from expert staff who are practitioners and scholars trained in musical theatre, music, theatre, and dance. Workshops and masterclasses are delivered by visiting tutors, offering further opportunities to learn about the practical elements of musical theatre.

Why Choose Lincoln

Staff with experience of performing in the West End and Europe

450-seat theatre on campus

Opportunity to study abroad

Workshops and masterclasses by visiting tutors

One-to-one singing lessons available at no extra cost

Gain hands-on experience in industry or a school setting

Musical theatre students on stage

How You Study

While training at Lincoln, you can gain practical experience by immersing yourself in the process of producing and performing musicals, alongside complementary historical and contextual analysis modules.

Teaching is delivered via practical workshops, seminars, lectures, technique classes, and one-to-one vocal lessons.

You can hone your skills during performances, reflecting on the productions to gain a rounded contextual understanding of musical theatre. As the course progresses, you can learn about the history of musicals and their significance in contemporary society, while undertaking more independent, industry-focused tasks, emphasising employability and preparing you to enter into a variety of associated careers.

The practical elements of the course are taught through group and one-to-one tuition with guest workshops allowing students to expand their practical professional abilities. The critical elements of the course are taught through a series of lectures and seminars.

Weekly one-to-one singing lessons are available at no extra cost, and students participate in regular dance technique classes. There are also opportunities to learn develop audition skills and develop explore the techniques of acting through song. Guidance on how to form a musical theatre company, devise a show, and tour the production around the country is also available. There are also modules where you can learn how to teach musical theatre.

As part of your studies, you may also choose to study abroad through one of our many international schemes, or take up a placement in a professional setting, working alongside a theatre company, arts organisation, school or other education setting. Additional costs may apply.

Modules


† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

'And Scene': A Practical Introduction to Musical Theatre 2024-25Level 42024-25CoreInternational Musical Theatre 2024-25MST1009MLevel 42024-25This module explores the landscape of musical theatre in non-English speaking countries, beyond Broadway and the West End. Although it is these production centres that are most familiar, there is a remarkable amount of activity taking place around the world. In this module, students can discover what musical theatre is like from the Philippines to Mexico, and from Israel to Japan.CorePersonal Development 1a 2024-25Level 42024-25CorePersonal Development 1b 2024-25Level 42024-25CoreStaging a Musical 1: Song and Dance 2024-25MST1006MLevel 42024-25This module offers students the opportunity to put on a show, directed by the course tutors. Working as a company, students will have the chance to rehearse and stage a musical through an intensive four-week period, culminating in a performance to fellow students and staff. This will give students their first taster of how the development and rehearsal process of a professional show takes place.CoreStaging a Musical 2: Another Opening. Another Show 2024-25MST1007MLevel 42024-25This module builds on the experience of Staging a Musical 1 in the first term. Working as a company, students can rehearse and stage a musical through an intensive four-week period, culminating in a performance to fellow students and staff. Consolidating their experience of a professional working process, students are encouraged to focus on developing independent skills, and taking responsibility for various aspects of the production.OptionalCreating a Musical 2025-26MST2002MLevel 52025-26In this module students have the opportunity to create their very own original show under staff supervision. Students can create, rehearse, and then perform a short musical of their own, in an intensive process using the skills they have built up during the course. Students can establish a theme, build a structure, develop musical motifs into songs, and write the book and lyrics.CoreMusical Theatre Workshop 2025-26Level 52025-26CorePersonal Development 2a 2025-26MST2011Level 52025-26Under the tuition of our staff, students will continually develop their vocal and dance skills in regular sessions throughout the year.CorePersonal Development 2b 2025-26MST2012Level 52025-26Under the tuition of our staff, students will continually develop their vocal and dance skills in regular sessions throughout the yearCoreActing the Song 1 2025-26MST2001MLevel 52025-26This is a practical module which explores the techniques of singing and acting a song. Students can work on vocal technique, character development, and acting approach to prepare solo numbers for performance. The module aims to equip students with the skills to begin to put together a portfolio of song material appropriate for their voice. This may be of particular value for those anticipating applying for drama schools, especially for musical theatre courses. Assessment will be part practical, and part based on an annotated rehearsal log put together throughout the process.OptionalDrama Study Abroad 2025-26DRA2039MLevel 52025-26This module offers the opportunity for students to spend the second Semester of Level 2 living and studying at one of our international partner institutions. During the period abroad, students will share classes and modules of study with local students. Not only will students be living and socialising in another culture - providing opportunities to study their respective countries, they will also have an opportunity to examine international theatre practice through attending performances as part of modules and participating in extra-curricular activities.OptionalMusical Theatre Lab 2025-26Level 52025-26OptionalFinal Production 2026-27Level 62026-27CoreIndustry Preparation 2026-27Level 62026-27CoreMusical Theatre Futures 2026-27MST3004MLevel 62026-27This module considers the current moment in musical theatre, and anticipates where new innovation might be heading. It will focus particularly on musical theatre in the British and digital contexts, identifying new dynamics, new emergences, and new opportunities within the musical theatre industry.CorePersonal Development 3 2026-27MST3005MLevel 62026-27Under the tuition of our staff, students can continue to develop their singing and dancing skills in weekly sessions throughout the year.CoreForming a Company (Musical Theatre) 2026-27MST3002MLevel 62026-27This module sets the challenge of launching a small-scale musical theatre company and taking a production to a venue (or venues) outside the University. This is likely to be students' first independent venture into staging a production, which could be performed in a small-scale venue, in a school context, in a site-specific space, or on tour.Optional

What You Need to Know

We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

How you are assessed

The programme has been developed to assess students in a variety of ways, designed to preparing them with the skills needed to enter into the industry. Assessment methods may include: Practical workshops, seminars, lectures, technique classes, and one to one vocal lessons.

As the course progresses, student assessment will focus on independent, industry-focused tasks, which emphasise employability.

Feedback will be both formative (through ongoing feedback during class/rehearsal sessions) and summative (through written feedback following specific assessment points).

Features

The Musical Theatre team have a wide-range of industry experience performing across Europe and playing in the West End. We are also active researchers and practitioners writing about musical theatre and performance in a range of contexts and continuing to work within our specialist areas of practice. This knowledge, experience and understanding underpins and informs our teaching, enhancing your learning.

Musical Theatre offers additional technique and masterclasses to enable further development and skills acquisition. Previous sessions have included tap dance, ensemble work, mindfulness, commercial dance and stage combat. We also work with visiting directors, choreographers, musical directors, and musical theatre companies to create exciting musical theatre performances.

Students are offered the option to study for the International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA) Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching. This qualification provides a basis for students to progress into dance teaching in a variety of contexts. It is delivered in three units by a qualified IDTA trainer, covering anatomy and physiology, teaching planning and delivery, and safe dance practice. Training sessions are extracurricular and usually take place in the evenings or at weekends. Fees apply.  

Musical Theatre students are also able to apply for The Lincoln Company, the School of Creative Arts’ professional company of emerging performance makers. As the company-in-residence at Lincoln Arts Centre, each year they work to produce and tour high-quality, original performance to venues and festivals around the UK including Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the world’s largest platform for the arts.

Industry Memberships 

The Musical Theatre programme is a member of the Musical Theatre Network an organisation dedicated to improving opportunities for new musical theatre in the UK. University of Lincoln Musical Theatre students are also eligible for student membership of equity – the trade union for the performing arts and entertainment industries. 

Placements

In the second year, Musical Theatre students can choose to undertake a placement or teaching module. These opportunities allow students to gain hands-on experience in an industry context or a school setting. Students are expected to source their own placement, but tutors can provide support during the process if required. Those who choose these options are expected to cover their travel, accommodation, and general living costs.

What Can I Do with a Musical Theatre Degree?

The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree aims to equip students with the confidence, knowledge, and industry skills to pursue a freelance career in the theatre or to form small-scale touring companies. Those completing the course are well-placed for roles across the wider cultural industries.

Entry Requirements 2024-25

United Kingdom

112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 3 A Levels or equivalent qualifications.

A Levels: BBC.

International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall.

BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit or equivalent.

T Level: Merit

Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points.

Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, which must include English. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may be considered.

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, EPQ etc.

We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.

International

Non UK Qualifications:

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.

EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

For further advice on IELTS and the support available, please contact the International College by email at internationalcollege@lincoln.ac.uk.

For applicants who do not meet our standard entry requirements, our Arts Foundation Year can provide an alternative route of entry onto our full degree programmes:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/afyafyub/

If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk

Contextual Offers

At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages.

Interview

Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview-audition, providing an opportunity to see our facilities and meet the course team. 

By meeting you in person we get to know more about your musical interests, experiences, and aspirations, and you get to meet the Musical Theatre team that may soon be teaching you. This will give you an opportunity to experience how the course is taught, gaining experience of a practical and contextual session.

Fees and Scholarships

Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.

Course Fees

For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. The University of Lincoln offers a variety of merit-based and subject-specific bursaries and scholarships. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

Course -Specific Additional Costs

Students are expected to have appropriate clothing for class and we estimate that this may cost around £40 per year.

For students who wish to participate in The Lincoln Company's Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances there are additional costs. Students are currently required to contribute £150 towards the cost of attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and are responsible for their travel and general living costs. Accommodation costs in Edinburgh are covered by the University. An approximate break down of these costs includes £570 for travel, accommodation and a levy to participate, and an additional £200-£400 to cover the cost of meals and entertainment during the trip. These costs are based on those incurred by individual students during the 2015 performances.

There may be additional costs associated with external visits.

Find out More at an Open Day

The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to join us for one of our Open Days. Visiting us in person is important and will help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.

Book Your Place
Three students walking together on campus in the sunshine
The University intends to provide its courses as outlined in these pages, although the University may make changes in accordance with the Student Admissions Terms and Conditions.