Begin your professional musical theatre training from age 16 through an intensive conservatoire programme, with a defined progression into degree-level study. Fast-track route to a full BA (Hons) degree by age 19
The FdA Musical Theatre at Italia Conti is a two-year, full-time vocational programme designed to develop technical foundations and performance skills across acting, singing and dance. On successful completion, you progress directly into the final year of the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre, graduating with a full degree.
Training is fully integrated across all three disciplines, with a strong emphasis on performance, rehearsal practice and adaptability. You will build secure technical foundations, develop range and consistency, and apply your skills through structured project and performance work.
Across the two years, training moves from foundational technique to integrated performance. You will take part in productions and rehearsal processes that prepare you for the expectations of degree-level training and the professional environment.
Alongside studio training, you will develop audition technique, self-taping skills and professional awareness. You progress into the final year of the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre as a confident and industry-prepared performer.
In first year you focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines and early skill integration. You develop the triple threat skills of Acting, Singing, and Dance, initially building each discipline in isolation to establish secure technical foundations as a musical theatre performer.
Core disciplines include Dance (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Commercial), Singing (Singing Tech, Singing Rep, Musicianship, Ensemble Singing and Acting Through Song), and Acting (Acting Skills, Improvisation, Scene Study, Voice and Text). You will attend three musical theatre workshops that focus on ensemble performance: song and dance, ensemble character development and scene into song. You will also recieve a weekly 1:1 singing lesson to work on vocal technique development focusing on the fundamentals of voice production.
Each week you will take an industry guest workshop which invites a range of further singing, acting and dance styles and industry professionals into the studio to work with you.
Contextual Practice develops reflection and critical thinking. You apply historical and contextual study directly to studio work and develop as a thinking performer. You will explore health and safety as an emerging performer in theatre. This focuses on areas such as safe practice in class, injury prevention and overall positive health, and well-being. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of musical theatre and themes covered in other classes.
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 the three disciplines working in full interdependence.
Core disciplines include Dance (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Commercial), Singing (Singing Tech, Singing Rep, Ensemble Singing and Acting Through Song), and Acting (Acting Skills, Voice and Accents, Scene Study, and Voice and Text). You will attend three musical theatre workshops that focus on ensemble performance skills including swing, small ensemble performance and song and dance. You will also recieve a weekly 1:1 singing lesson to work on vocal technique development focusing on on more advanced voice production including extending vocal range, vocal flexibility, riffs and runs, and mixed voice.
Guest workshops continue into second year to ensure students continue to meet with current industry practitioners, performers and creatives.
You are required to sustain character across longer and more demanding rehearsal and performance contexts, developing professional performance practice through projects which may include:
Within Contextual Practice, you study the history of musical theatre, focusing on Musical theatre as a social and political influence and the chronological development of theatrical trends. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of musical theatre and themes covered in other classes.
Students on the two-year FdA Musical Theatre are automatically offered the opportunity to complete their degree with a third year of study at Italia Conti and will ultimately be awarded a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre qualification. No audition is required, but students must complete and pass the FdA to be eligible to progress into the top-up year.
Students can choose to leave at the end of the 2-year FdA Dance Programme. Students may leave to enter employment or complete further study.
In third year the emphasis is on preparing students for a career as a professional performer. This final year bridges the gap between professional training and the industry.
You will continue to study core skills of ballet, jazz tech, jazz performance, commercial, singing rep, and acting through song to keep your performance skills match fit and ensure you are ready to audition for and perform in professional contracts. You will study acting for camera focusing on both screen acting skills and self taping for auditions. You will have a weekly 1:1 singing lesson to ensure your voice is industry-ready.
You take part in:
Industry connection continues through:
You perform in the Italia Conti Christmas Carol Concert.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops will hone audition technique to ensure that you have all the skills necessary to embark upon a successful professional career. This also extends to preparation for all wider soft-skills and supporting areas for professional practitioners including sourcing and choosing headshots, joining and populating Spotlight, creating personal showreels and meeting with leading industry creatives, agents and casting directors to begin networking.
You will also complete a practical Independent Performance Project (dissertation) in the third term where you can put your devising skills into practice as you write, rehearse and perform your own piece of theatre, encouraging independent and professional working practices in the development of your own work in response to question, theme, or stimulus.
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. Applicants 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.
Applicants are only required to apply for one programme, and encouraged to express on the form if they 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.
Self Tape Recorded Audition
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.
In Person Audition Day
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 FdA Musical Theatre requires the following:
Admission through recognition of non-standard entry qualifications/experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis for 16-17 year old applicants who have not completed Level 3 study but demonstrate exceptional talent or who can satisfy the panel of their ability to successfully complete the FdA 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 FdA MT 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.
The course is allowing me to reflect on my past practice, current position, and future endeavours. I really enjoy how flexible the course is, with regards to being able to tailor my studies to my own practice, enabling me to maximise the benefits of this on my future career. I expect my professional development to be impacted exponentially and I am excited to continue!
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