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Course
Overview

BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship) Course Overview BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship)  Course Overview

Our proven actor training is combined with established first-class instrumental, singing and movement coaching to create actor musicians: multifaceted performers able to satisfy the industry’s increasing demands for actors who can make music as part of their storytelling skills.

You will develop essential technical skills in acting, instrumentation, singing and movement, as you study classic and groundbreaking musical material. In your third year you collaborate with professional theatre makers on two public performances and an industry showcase, while creating digital showreels for your portfolio.

Accredited By:

Accredited by Federation of Drama SchoolsAccredited by CDMT

Will Hammond, Director of the School of Performance, discusses our BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship) course, including: how you'll train while being part of 911±¬ÁÏÍø's creative community, why Liverpool's a great base for an Actor/Musician and how the course is a response to an industry need.

What You Will

Study

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

How You Will

Study

  • Technical Skills Classes
    Technical Skills Classes
  • Performances
    Performances
  • Seminars
    Seminars
  • Workshops
    Workshops
  • Independent study
    Independent study
  • Group work
    Group work
  • Masterclasses
    Masterclasses

How You Will Be

Assessed

Your assessment takes place during practical classes and rehearsals, performances and your reflective tasks. Overall, assessment is based on applications of technique in performance situations, either in front of an audience or in workshops.

The coursework element is focussed on your future career, your working environment and critical life skills. In your third year you undertake an optional practical or written research project. Again, career focussed and chosen by you.

Practical/written work ratio

Approximately 80% practical work / 20% portfolio

What Our

Graduates Do

This is a new course, and with the increased demand for performers who combine high level acting skills with first rate musicianship, we expect our graduates to be equipped to gain sustained work with leading theatre companies, musicals, television, film, radio, emerging digital platforms and as musicians. Some of our graduates may also set up their own independent theatre and production companies.

Related

News

Three 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads part of Legally Blonde tour
16 Feb 2026

Three 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads part of Legally Blonde tour

Gallery: Filmmakers recreate scenes from Blade Runner
10 Feb 2026

Gallery: Filmmakers recreate scenes from Blade Runner

Acting grad appears in prime-time ITV thriller
06 Feb 2026

Acting grad appears in prime-time ITV thriller

Watch: award-winning film created by 911±¬ÁÏÍø students and grads
21 Jan 2026

Watch: award-winning film created by 911±¬ÁÏÍø students and grads

Winter/Spring season of public performances
19 Jan 2026

Winter/Spring season of public performances

Acting grad has major roles in two huge TV shows
06 Jan 2026

Acting grad has major roles in two huge TV shows

Gallery: Term one productions 2025/26
17 Dec 2025

Gallery: Term one productions 2025/26

A busy and creative Christmas for 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads
15 Dec 2025

A busy and creative Christmas for 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads

911±¬ÁÏÍø secures £2.5m Office for Students capital funding to deliver new performance and digital innovation hub
18 Nov 2025

911±¬ÁÏÍø secures £2.5m Office for Students capital funding to deliver new performance and digital innovation hub

Autumn/Winter Season of public performances
02 Oct 2025

Autumn/Winter Season of public performances

911±¬ÁÏÍø achieves major milestone: new degree awarding powers
07 Aug 2025

911±¬ÁÏÍø achieves major milestone: new degree awarding powers

Gallery: Graduation 2025
31 Jul 2025

Gallery: Graduation 2025

Sir Paul McCartney honours leading arts figures at 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduation
30 Jul 2025

Sir Paul McCartney honours leading arts figures at 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduation

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads and students head to Edinburgh Fringe
18 Jul 2025

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads and students head to Edinburgh Fringe

Bryn Holding: ‘the seeds of being a director were sown at 911±¬ÁÏÍø’
01 Jul 2025

Bryn Holding: ‘the seeds of being a director were sown at 911±¬ÁÏÍø’

Watch: Acting grad Jak Malone wins Tony Award
23 Jun 2025

Watch: Acting grad Jak Malone wins Tony Award

James Nesbitt Q&A: six key takeaways
02 Jun 2025

James Nesbitt Q&A: six key takeaways

Watch: One Night, Four Films
23 May 2025

Watch: One Night, Four Films

Tony Award nominations for two 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates
08 May 2025

Tony Award nominations for two 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates

911±¬ÁÏÍø grad Jessica Reynolds to star in new Channel Four drama
01 May 2025

911±¬ÁÏÍø grad Jessica Reynolds to star in new Channel Four drama

911±¬ÁÏÍø grad to direct Michael Sheen in Welsh National Theatre’s debut season
22 Apr 2025

911±¬ÁÏÍø grad to direct Michael Sheen in Welsh National Theatre’s debut season

Life after 911±¬ÁÏÍø: Acting graduate Sian Polhill-Thomas
10 Mar 2025

Life after 911±¬ÁÏÍø: Acting graduate Sian Polhill-Thomas

Acting student set for West End showcase
21 Feb 2025

Acting student set for West End showcase

Acting grad makes Broadway debut
17 Feb 2025

Acting grad makes Broadway debut

Acting grad Matthew Khan: Waterloo Road was a 'sink or swim' moment
17 Feb 2025

Acting grad Matthew Khan: Waterloo Road was a 'sink or swim' moment

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad heads back to Liverpool in ‘bucket list’ role
29 Jan 2025

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad heads back to Liverpool in ‘bucket list’ role

Three 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads listed in The Stage 100
10 Jan 2025

Three 911±¬ÁÏÍø grads listed in The Stage 100

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads get creative for Christmas
17 Dec 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads get creative for Christmas

New Acting course:  'It's an opportunity to take tradition and flip it upside down'
05 Dec 2024

New Acting course: 'It's an opportunity to take tradition and flip it upside down'

‘Films have a way of finding you out’ - Sir Sam Mendes at 911±¬ÁÏÍø
25 Sept 2024

‘Films have a way of finding you out’ - Sir Sam Mendes at 911±¬ÁÏÍø

“This award is and will always be so special to me”: 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad wins ‘We See You’ award at the SoulFest Short Film Festival
16 Sept 2024

“This award is and will always be so special to me”: 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad wins ‘We See You’ award at the SoulFest Short Film Festival

911±¬ÁÏÍø shortlisted for environmental award
10 Sept 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø shortlisted for environmental award

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads and students at Edinburgh Fringe
08 Aug 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads and students at Edinburgh Fringe

Gallery: Graduation 2024
05 Aug 2024

Gallery: Graduation 2024

Award-winning 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad honoured by Sir Paul McCartney
30 Jul 2024

Award-winning 911±¬ÁÏÍø grad honoured by Sir Paul McCartney

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads help bring iconic Liverpool TV show to the West End
24 Jul 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads help bring iconic Liverpool TV show to the West End

911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates' new play launches in London
09 Jul 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates' new play launches in London

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE: Six key takeaways
17 Jun 2024

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE: Six key takeaways

FutureProof festival showcases 911±¬ÁÏÍø's creative talents
07 May 2024

FutureProof festival showcases 911±¬ÁÏÍø's creative talents

‘My knees buckled’ - grad Jak Malone on winning an Olivier
24 Apr 2024

‘My knees buckled’ - grad Jak Malone on winning an Olivier

Two Olivier Awards for 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates
17 Apr 2024

Two Olivier Awards for 911±¬ÁÏÍø graduates

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads taken aback by reaction to ‘Rockstar’ Bluey
09 Apr 2024

911±¬ÁÏÍø grads taken aback by reaction to ‘Rockstar’ Bluey

Entry

Requirements

64

UCAS tariff points required from level 3 qualifications

For example:

  • Two A Levels at grade C or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma: MPP
  • BTEC Diploma: MM
  • T level: P (D or E)
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 64 points from Higher Level subjects

You also need 5 GCSEs grade 4/C or above including English and Maths or Level 2 equivalents.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): if you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

The Acting (Musicianship) programme does not require applicants to have attained a recognised grade standard on their instrument(s). At audition applicants will be assessed on their playing, sight-reading and harmony ability (please note voice is not considered an instrument for the purposes of enrolling upon this course) to ensure the required level to successfully undertake the training is demonstrated. Ìý

5.5

IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). We also accept other English language examination equivalents. You can find out more about English Language requirements hereÌý

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. You can find out more about qualifications from specific countries here.Ìý

Mature applicants (aged 21+). If you do not hold the academic qualifications but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply.ÌýÌý

The Acting (Musicianship) programme does not require applicants to have attained a recognised grade standard on their instrument(s). At audition applicants will be assessed on their playing, sight-reading and harmony ability (please note voice is not considered an instrument for the purposes of enrolling upon this course) to ensure the required level to successfully undertake the training is demonstrated. Ìý

Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.

Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.

Key

Attributes

1

Knowledge, Ability and Experience

We’d like you to have some performance experience in more than one acting genre as this shows us you’re interested in becoming a versatile actor. If you have some ability in directing or writing, we’d be interested to know about this, although these aren’t essential for entry on to the course. We’d expect you to have potential in singing and dance ability combined with a solid grounding in your musical instrument skills.

2

Commitment

We’re keen to hear about how much acting you are doing outside your school qualifications. Tell us about any extra-curricular performance(s) at your school or college, with a youth theatre or amateur dramatic group or perhaps at a professional level. We understand that distance or cost may have stopped you from gaining formal experience, so we also like to read what you have done to connect to acting (for example: reading or seeing other people act).

3

Ability To Work Effectively with Others

While you’re with us (and in your professional work) you’ll work with a range of people – students, teachers and industry professionals, so it’s essential that you can work well with others. We’d like to see that you can take direction and feedback well, listen to others and offer support and constructive feedback.

4

Broad Interest and Engagement

We look for evidence that you are curious about the world around you and want to engage with all aspects of the course you’re applying for and the wide range of opportunities we offer.

5

Self-Awareness

We’d like to know why you’re applying to us and how you think the course you’re applying for will help you to grow and achieve your career aspirations. We’d like to see that you understand your strengths and weaknesses and how we can support you

6

A Spirit of Enterprise

We want you to be able to work on your own initiative and see that you’re interested in creating your own opportunities. You may have been involved in creative projects which weren’t part of your regular school/college curriculum, or if you haven’t had the chance to do this, you might have ideas and ambitions which you can tell us about.

  • "When I met 911±¬ÁÏÍø students, I was struck by their commitment to continual improvement to develop their craft."

    Woody Harrelson
    Actor, writer, director, producer

    Woody Harrelson Quote Icon

Course Changes

For information on possible changes to course information, see our course changes information page.

View the programme specification on 911±¬ÁÏÍø's course catalogue