Train as an actor who can work confidently across both acting and musical theatre through integrated conservatoire training in acting, singing and supporting dance skills.
The BA (Hons) Acting (Musical Theatre) at Italia Conti is a three-year, full-time vocational programme for students aged 18+ (17+ for applicants from Scotland), delivered collaboratively by specialist teams from both the School of Acting and the School of Musical Theatre & Dance.
Training is acting-led, with singing and dance fully integrated into performance practice. You will build strong technical foundations across all three disciplines, while developing the ability to move between straight acting and musical theatre work with control and clarity.
Across the three years, training progresses from foundational technique to integrated performance and industry-facing work. You will work on a range of intensive projects and productions, culminating in fully staged performances, a West End Industry Showcase, and direct engagement with agents, casting directors and industry professionals.
Alongside studio training, you will develop the wider skills required of a professional performer, including audition technique, self-taping, industry knowledge and independent creative practice. You will graduate as a confident, adaptable and industry-ready performer, equipped to enter the profession and sustain a career across acting and musical theatre.
In first year you focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines and early skill integration. Training supports the development of skills across Acting and Musical Theatre, establishing secure foundations in both genres.
You will build a foundation in acting principles as you are introduced to core ideas from Konstantin Stanislavski’s system, explored through the work of practitioners including Uta Hagen, Michael Chekhov, Sanford Meisner, and Mike Alfreds. Alongside this, you engage with non-traditional approaches, including Viola Spolin, Sharrell D. Luckett, and Tia M. Shaffer. Through improvisation and text work, you develop the skills required to create convincing characters. This marks the beginnings of assembling the actors’ personal toolbox.
You work with traditional musical theatre material and stimuli, developing an understanding of historical performance contexts alongside lyrical and traditional singing styles. Ballet and Jazz are introduced to develop fundamental dance skills, coordination, and musicality. Two weekly musical theatre workshops explore singing, acting, dance and movement as your begin to develop stagecraft and rehearsal room ettiquette.
You will recieve a weekly 1:1 singing lesson to work on vocal technique development focusing on the fundamentals of voice production (posture and alignment, breath, tone, resonance and articulation) and organising these behaviours for lyrical and traditional singing styles.
Contextual Practice develops reflection and critical thinking. You apply historical and contextual study directly to studio work and develop as a thinking performer.
Typical projects in this year may include:
In second year, core technical training continues at a more advanced and integrated level. Project work becomes more sustained and intensive, with disciplines working in full interdependence.
You are required to sustain and develop character across longer and more demanding performance contexts, strengthening professional performance skills.
You are introduced to advanced naturalistic and non-naturalistic texts, building on the foundations established in Level 4.
You work with contemporary musical theatre and Pop/Rock material and stimuli, developing an understanding of historical performance contexts alongside Contemporary Commercial (CCM) singing styles. Ballet and Jazz continue into year 2 dance skills. Two weekly musical theatre workshops explore singing, acting, dance and movement as you refine your stagecraft and rehearsal room ettiquette in preparation for extended rehearsal and performance intensive projects.
You will recieve a weekly 1:1 singing lesson to work on vocal technique development focusing on more advanced voice production including extending vocal range, vocal flexibility, riffs and runs, and mixed voice whilst, organising these behaviours for contemporary and Pop/Rock singing styles.
Contextual Practice continues to develop reflection and critical thinking. You integrate practice-research approaches into theatre-making, preparing for the Independent Performance Project in Level 6.
Typical projects in this year may include:
You may also participate in a tour to a London-based Musical Theatre Cabaret venue (optional).
In third year, the training draws together all previous study to prepare you for a career as a professional actor and musical theatre performer.
You perform in:
These industry-facing performances provide you with enhanced exposure and networking opportunities with agents, casting directors, and creatives at this key moment in your training as your prepare for graduation into industry.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops refine audition technique across the core disciplines and support wider professional practice, including:
For your Independent Performance Project, you create a practical piece of theatre in response to a question, theme, or stimulus, demonstrating independent professional practice. You will write, produce and perform in a 15 minute piece of theatre.
You will take part in a range of performance and skills-based classes and workshops designed to further develop industry readiness, to ensure graduate match fit and ready to audition and work professionally. This includes weekly classes in Singing Rep, Acting Through Song, Jazz Performance and Acting for Screen.
You also receive weekly 1:1 singing lessons and you will once again, perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
Tuition Fees | £9,790 per academic year, paid in advance in termly instalments.
Student Finance | Student finance is available, including access to a Tuition Fee Loan and a Student Maintenance Loan.
Audition Fee | £45 (non-refundable).
Deposit | A deposit of £275 is required to hold and accept a place on the programme.
Fee Waivers | Audition Fee and Deposit Waivers are available for eligible applicants.
An outline of associated programme costs and more Info on Fees Waivers are available on the Fees and Funding page
Scholarships are awarded upon outcome of audition. You may apply for a bursary after receiving an offer of study by contacting admissions@italiaconti.co.uk
For further information on international student fees, please see our International Applications page.
What Additional Costs Should I Expect?
Other Optional Costs:
Applications are made directly to Italia Conti and do not require a UCAS application. You must complete the application form and pay a non-refundable £45 audition fee to be considered. These fees act as both an administration fee for processing your application as well as a non-refundable deposit for a place on an audition day.
You are only required to apply for one programme, and encouraged to express on the form if you have interest in any other programmes, in addition to the programme directly being applied for. All applicants are considered for the respective One Year Fully funded CertHE Foundation Programmes, by standard.
Places on our programmes are limited; it is usual for drama schools to make more offers than there are places. Acceptances are dealt with on a first come first serve basis and so early acceptance is advised. Once a programme offer has expired, an offerholder will be moved to the waiting list.
The application deadline for this programme is 28 February 2026. Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
After completing the application process, you will be invited to prepare, record and submit an audition self-tape where auditionees will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills. First round applicants will receive the result from their audition submission within 4 weeks of receipt. This is to ensure that every submission deserves our full time and attention.
This stage enables us to explore your work in greater depth, assess your responsiveness to direction, and understand how you engage within a training environment.
The recall day is also an opportunity for you to experience the ethos of the school, meet the faculty and students on our programmes, and gain insight into the training you would undertake. Recalled applicants will receive the result from their recall audition within 2 weeks.
Full information on what to prepare for your auditions can be found here.
Check back soon for recall dates for September 2027 entry.
Entry to BA Acting (Musical Theatre) requires the following:
Admission through recognition of non-standard entry qualifications/experience may also be considered on a case-by-case basis for candidates who demonstrate exceptional talent or who can satisfy the panel of their ability to successfully complete the programme. Non-standard entry is assessed at audition and interview. Students without a Level 2 English qualification may be asked to complete a non-standard entry written task.
Applicants must have the legal right to reside/study in the UK for the full period of the programme.
1st September – 11th December 2026
4th January – 2nd April 2027
26th April – 23rd July 2027
Check back soon for term dates for September 2027 entry.
Join us at an Open Day to learn more about the BA Acting (Musical Theatre) programme.
Italia Conti offer a range of Audition Ready short courses to prepare for auditions. These programmes allow students to work with full time faculty, gain feedback, and experience a mock recall audition for the programme.
Italia Conti offers fee waivers to eligible applicants who meet set criteria, helping to ensure that financial circumstances do not act as a barrier to applying.
You get to work with people who have different techniques and different ways of working. also people who are in the industry. You’re not only getting taught by industry professionals every day, but you’re getting an insight in the projects from someone who’s actually currently working in the industry.
My training at Italia Conti has truly inspired me. During my time, I felt welcomed into a creative, supportive environment. The facilities are great, they give us everything we need to experiment, rehearse, and perform. Having access to such great studios and performance spaces has really helped me feel more prepared and confident as I grow in my training into becoming a professional artist.
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