BA Programme in Musical Theatre (180 hec)

Our programme in musical theatre is the only one of its kind in higher education in Scandinavia. It comprises three years of full-time study and includes one semester of placement study.

The aim of the programme is to provide advanced training in musical theatre and related genres. It includes a number of courses in two main areas – the musical artist’s techniques and stage performance for musical artists – as well as an independent project. Several of the courses are offered in collaboration with the other programmes in theatre.

Professional areas

We train artists who can work in musical productions and closely related theatrical and musical activities.

Content

The programme is offered in parallel with the programme in acting and the teaching is integrated to some extent, above all during the first year. There is also cooperation with the programme in opera.
The programme includes stage performance, general voice and musical training, physical training and dance as well as other elements intended to offer students the skills needed to cope with their future stage roles. The theoretical courses provide basic knowledge about the history of the theatre and musical theatre, drama theory, Swedish and foreign musical drama as well as cultural policy and cultural life in Sweden.

All teaching is compulsory. Timetabled teaching varies from about 20 to 40 hours per week depending on which stage the programme has reached. About half of the time is devoted to stage performance, which is the major subject.

During the first year technique training involves basic voice practice, rehearsing music, speech, movement and dance as well as improvised performance that focuses directly on stage performance. Stage performance involves basic acting training, improvisations in musical drama and also practice rehearsals of various works of musical drama.

In the second year of the programme techniques are studied at a more advanced level. In stage performance greater demands are made of stylistic and formal awareness.

During the third year stage performance involves working on a production in conditions that are as professional as possible and appearing before audiences in public performances. Certain courses may be offered in foreign languages, primarily English and German.

During the third year of the programme students also undertake placements at theatres/musical theatres.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre, 180 higher education credits.

Eligibility, application, enrolment

The basic eligibility requirements for higher education apply for this course. You can read more about them below. In addition you have to take an enrolment test on which selection is based. At the enrolment test a jury assesses each applicant’s capacity to benefit from the programme.

Extract from the Higher Education Ordinance

Basic eligibility
Section 5. A person has basic eligibility  … if he or she 1. has received an upper secondary school certificate as specified in Chapter 5, Section 4c, fourth paragraph of the Education Act (1985:1100), 2. has received a school-leaving certificate from upper secondary adult education and has a minimum grade of ‘Pass’ in courses comprising at least 2 250 upper secondary school credits, including a minimum grade of ‘Pass’ in the upper secondary certificate project, 3. has a transcript of final grades from upper secondary adult education and has a minimum grade of ‘Pass’ in courses comprising at least 2 250 upper secondary school credits, including at least 650 credits for core subject courses, 4. has Swedish or foreign education corresponding to the requirements in point 1, 2 or 3, 5. is a resident of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway and is eligible for higher education there, or 6. has the potential to benefit from the education, by virtue of Swedish or foreign education, practical experience or because of some other circumstance.

Section 6. A person who has a mother tongue other than Swedish, Danish, Faroese, Icelandic or Norwegian must have the knowledge of Swedish needed.