Musical Theatre MFA - 2026/7
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MFA Musical Theatre
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGDip | Musical Theatre |
| PGCert | Musical Theatre |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PRC72001 | 240 credits and 120 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Dance, Drama and Performance
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences - Guildford School of Acting
Programme Leader
WOOLFORD Julian (GSA)
Date of production/revision of spec
15/11/2024
Educational aims of the programme
- To enable students to develop their experience, practical ability and critical understanding of Musical Theatre.
- To enable an advanced knowledge of context, style, genre and the practice of Musical Theatre.
- To provide an ensemble training context for the development of professional level skills based on a blend of practical, theoretical and reflective practice.
- To enable students to widen their career prospects and employment opportunities in Musical Theatre and other related parts of the Creative Industries.
- To enable students to become the authentic artist and becoming the individual creative collaborator.
- To enable and encourage students with a range of skills in Musical Theatre that encourage individual resourcefulness and resilience.
- To enable students to study with a global view of Musical Theatre encouraging a community where students develop an appreciation of a diversity of cultural experience.
- To enable students to engage and use Digital Technologies and engage with them to enhance understanding, employability and creativity in Musical Theatre.
- To encourage and understanding of the shared responsibility of Musical Theatre makers and others in the Creative Industries of the importance of sustainability in our personal and collective practice.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate integrated skills in Acting, Singing and Dance/Movement to a professional standard | KPT | PGDip, MFA | |
| Knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary practitioners, theories and practices. | KC | PGCert, PGDip, MFA | |
| Knowledge and understanding of a key range of Musical Theatre texts and their influences. | KCP | MFA | |
| Develop a range of rehearsal and performance techniques and skills in live and recorded formats. | KCPT | PGCert, PGDip, MFA | |
| Skills to analyse, reflect and evaluate own and other¿s work. | KCP | MFA | |
| Develop performance skills that demonstrate imagination and understanding of style and genre. | KCT | PGDip, MFA | |
| Demonstrate an awareness of sustainable personal and collective practice in the creative industries. context | KCPT | MFA | |
| Demonstrate discipline and consistency in a professional context. | PT | PGCert, PGDip, MFA | |
| Develop a professional approach to the choice, preparation and performance of material. | KP | PGDip, MFA | |
| Communicate effectively in physical, verbal or written formats. | KT | MFA | |
| Demonstrate effective collaborative skills within a creative process. | KPT | PGCert, PGDip, MFA | |
| Demonstrate a continually developing awareness and knowledge of global influence and cultural synergies within the Creative Industries. | KCPT | MFA | |
| Demonstrate a resilient approach to problem solving with the application of creative thinking and solutions. | KPT | MFA |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over two academic years, consisting of 240 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits and are either semester based or year-long. GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUTM028 | DANCE TECHNIQUE | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| MUTM029 | VOCAL TECHNIQUE | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| MUTM050 | REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| MUTM049 | ACTING TECHNIQUE | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
N/A
Year 2 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUTM042 | PEDAGOGIES | Compulsory | 15 | Year-long |
| MUTM047 | ADVANCED SKILLS | Compulsory | 30 | Year-long |
| MUTM051 | NEW MUSICAL | Compulsory | 15 | Year-long |
| MUTM052 | PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT | Compulsory | 45 | Year-long |
| MUTM053 | COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE | Compulsory | 15 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 2 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
N/A
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | Y | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | Y | Yes |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Other information
Digital Capability¿
Students will be engaged with new technologies that help create the modern Musical Theatre rehearsal environment including (where possible), but not limited to ¿ Digital Rehearsal Materials, Technical Digital Design environments in Light, Sound, and Costume. Engagement with Digital scheduling and reporting modes. Students also engage with creating Digital Content to secure employment and create their own artistic content.¿¿¿
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Employability¿
Employability is core to this programme. Modes of working in rehearsal and performance, engagement with industry stakeholders who are invited to attend performances and sustained demonstration and exploration of skill-base in a ¿real world¿ setting all add to the mix.¿¿
Students also receive tutorials on CV building, Promotion and Agency and Management options. Talks and Industry Outreach is also encouraged, and GSA has a dedicated Director of Employability.¿¿
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Global & Cultural Capabilities¿
Texts are chosen to reflect the experiences, skills, and diversity of the students and are constantly changed and re-evaluated to reflect the changing world we live in and the current debates in the Creative Industries. All modules benefit from an inclusivity ethos and students across their course of study benefit from the oversight of the Director of Equality and Diversity at GSA.¿¿
Every effort is made to make a range of performances accessible, and students are also encouraged to reach out to the Disability and Neuro-Diversity service within the University of Surrey if they are experiencing barriers to individual learning.¿¿
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Resourcefulness & Resilience¿
The process of acting and performing, by its very nature, encourages this. Students undertake intensive rehearsals and performance schedules and evolve the skillset to negotiate them through practice. Working schedules reflect the kind of resilience and resourcefulness that is needed to effectively work in Musical Theatre. The classes and the structure of the feedback enable students to build a holistic view of their process ¿ which in turn aids resourcefulness and resilience. Most full-time staff are Mental Health First Aid trained and can give advice and guidance on where to seek further help ¿ again, enabling students to take control of their learning and any barriers to learning.¿¿
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Sustainability¿
All GSA productions are planned and designed to meet high sustainability standards ¿ props, set design and costume elements are expected to be re-used and recycled amongst productions ¿ GSA has the strongest commitment to working on productions in the most sustainable way possible. Students are encouraged to contextualise their learning and reflect on their current and future social, cultural, economic and environmental impact from a personal, professional and global perspective.¿¿
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.