Program Overview

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Musical Theatre

Develop as a triple-threat performer who excels at singing, acting and dancing, with our Musical Theatre degree in Cambridge.

Course Options

• 3 years full-time
• 4 years with foundation year
• 4 years with placement

Key Facts

• STUDY OPTIONS: 3 years
• START DATES: September
• LOCATION: Cambridge
• ENTRY: UCAS code: W491
• FEES:
  • £9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
  • £16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

Year 1

The first year will give you a solid foundation of training across a range of skills within the musical theatre discipline. You’ll engage in ensemble singing, music theory, acting technique, physical theatre, modern ballet and jazz dance. Within these classes you’ll be pushed to challenge your creative boundaries both individually and in ensemble work.

You’ll develop your physicality, and technical competency in dance, practice diverse and solo and ensemble signing techniques and develop your acting in more demanding and complex scenarios. This year will follow a workshop-based approach, emphasising ‘learning through doing’. Therefore, you will need to demonstrate discipline and commitment as part of your process and development.

To conclude the year, you’ll be introduced to the key creative and theoretical elements of contemporary musical theatre practice, culminating in a public live performance. You’ll develop discipline, learn rehearsal etiquette and self-awareness in order to cultivate an environment of trust and professionalism.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

Core Modules

• Technical Skills 1 and Showcase
• Technical Skills 2
• The Small-Scale Musical
• Into ARU

Assessment

You’ll show your progress mainly through performance and practical work, with some small written components or longer essays if you choose theoretical options. The methods of assessment will include studio and public performances, essays, presentations, critical reflections, and a Major Project, which can be practical or written work.

Year 2

This year you will perform in, design and produce a large-scale public performance based on a selected musical theatre piece. You must show a willingness to participate in all aspects of work on the production and rehearsals. You’ll be assigned a performance role and engage with an in-depth study and practical work on script, score and choreography according to the style and aesthetics of the selected piece.

During the year your modules will also combine theory and practice by introducing you to a range of concepts, genres and performance practitioners, which then help your development of more specialist skills in musical theatre performance.

You’ll be encouraged to think critically discussing and presenting arguments in class, applying this theory into practice, working on specialised skills in performance. You’ll develop your professional discipline while you work alongside industry-led professionals through work-based learning. You’ll gain a new perspective on the employment opportunities available in the Musical Theatre sector and an understanding of individual career pathways.

This year you will essentially become and ‘employee’, working with a professional director and resident musical director, functioning as a member of a production company with your peers.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

Core Modules

• The Book Musical
• Ruskin Module (15 credits)
• Theatre Theory and Specialist Skills
• Technical Skills 3

Assessment

You’ll show your progress mainly through performance and practical work, with some small written components or longer essays if you choose theoretical options. The methods of assessment will include studio and public performances, essays, presentations, critical reflections, and a Major Project, which can be practical or written work.

Year 3

The final year major project will allow you to engage in a substantial piece of individual research and creative work, focused on a topic of your choice that is relevant to the Musical Theatre course.

You’ll be encouraged to develop the skills you need for professional practice in musical theatre, and your readiness for the audition process within the musical theatre industry and provide transferable skills in self-confidence, adaptability, resilience and rapid thinking that will boost your employability.

You’ll also have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules which will allow you to explore choreographic practices or engage with different directorial and explore the planning and leading of workshops and rehearsals within a small group, and consider the management of production processes.

Modules are subject to change and availability.

Core Modules

• Undergraduate Major Project
• Professional Preparation
• Professional Practice

Optional Modules

• Directing
• Stage Choreography
• Acting Through Song
• Vocal Reel
• Dance Collaboration
• Workshop Facilitation

Assessment

You’ll show your progress mainly through performance and practical work, with some small written components or longer essays if you choose theoretical options. The methods of assessment will include studio and public performances, essays, presentations, critical reflections, and a Major Project, which can be practical or written work.

Student Work

Our student showcase

• Alice By Heart, performed by graduating Musical Theatre students from 2-4 May 2024.

Facilities

You'll have full access to all our creative industries facilities including:

• the Mumford Theatre, a 260-seater on-campus professional theatre
• dedicated drama studio, with highly flexible black-box performance space
• large rehearsal space with audio playback facilities, piano, LED lighting rig, portable dance mirrors, gym mats and rostra/modular staging
• Students’ Union-run dance studio
• radio mics
• podcast and video capture system.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree prepares you for a variety of roles in the performing arts, and the wider creative industries. Our wide choice of optional modules means that you'll be able to specialise in a particular area, if you choose to.

You can work as a musical theatre performer, director, choreographer, or stage manager or you could choose to focus on technical theatre. You could also create your own company, produce new work and tour it globally.

You can access jobs within arts organisations and management, acting as a theatre producer or event organiser, or join theatre and companies' marketing teams. You may develop as an arts journalist or critic or you could work in arts fundraising.

As a graduate you’ll have access to numerous job opportunities in education, pursuing a career as primary or secondary school teacher, or as a workshop facilitator for a variety of communities. You can work as a musical theatre assistant, supporting school and students' productions; you might also have a role touring schools to use musical theatre to educate student groups.

A growing number of roles in the health sector look at the role of drama in wellbeing. If this area interests you, you might want to train as a dramatherapist with our MA Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and Personal Career Development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Entry Requirements

• 96 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, OCR, Access to HE and most other qualifications within the UCAS Tariff. Preferably to include Drama, Performing Arts or related subject at A level or equivalent level.
• 3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above.
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.0 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Fees and Paying for University

Tuition Fees and Student Loans for UK Students (2025/26)

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

• If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
• That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

• Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
• EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

Tuition Fees for International Students (2025/26)

£16,700 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

Living Costs

Living at university

We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.

The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:

• accommodation
• bills
• internet, mobile phone and calls
• travel
• food and drink
• socialising and going out
• study materials.

As a very general guide, living costs at university can range from around £7,000–£9,000 per year. They may be lower if you're living at home. Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money.

Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs.

More about maintenance loans

Paying for Uni: Bursaries, Sponsorship and Working

We offer a range of ARU scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university. If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.

Find all you need about our generous scholarships to international and European students.

Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.

Apply for Musical Theatre

UK Students

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International Students

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