BA (Hons) Theatre & Performance with Professional Placement Bachelor's degree at Falmouth University
BA (Hons) Theatre & Performance with Professional Placement at Falmouth University. You'll engage with core theory, research methods, and specialist options across four years, culminating in an independent project.
About this course
Explore the financial support available to help fund your undergraduate degree. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Theatre & Performance with Professional Placement is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Falmouth University, based in Penryn Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Drama graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 25% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £22,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 6 modules
- Performance Skills
Module details
Develop fundamental voice and movement technique training for the performer. Get to know your voice and body and its extraordinary potential.
- Culture & Contexts: Stage and Screen
Module details
Develop research, critical thinking and writing skills: examine the roots and cultural contexts of theatre-making, performance, film and television, and their relationship to each other.
- Play Texts
Module details
Explore fundamental practical physical, vocal, psychological and creative approaches to text for the performer. Develop, rehearse and perform a variety of scene studies.
- Making Skills 1
Module details
Learn and develop practical physical, vocal, creative and collaborative tools and how to apply them to make engaging and exciting theatre.
- Stagecraft: Physical and Digital Scenography
Module details
Experiment with analogue and digital aspects of stagecraft, scenography and performance making, whilst developing your sensory imagination and design thinking skills. Collaborate to bring together a range of these practical skills to drive a creative process.
- Ensemble Performance
Module details
In small companies, collaborate to create and perform your own original piece of performance as an ensemble. Explore choral working, physical theatre and other approaches.
Year two 6 modules
- Extended Making Skills: Physical, Vocal, Digital
Module details
Continue to build, deepen and integrate your physical theatre, vocal and digital-making skills. You will explore their performance application through workshop exercises and self-led practice.
- Immersive and Participatory Theatre
Module details
Working within a company, you'll develop, rehearse and perform a public production with a director, exploring immersive and participatory theatre forms and collaborating with other specialists.
- Theatre Futures
Module details
Explore the work of significant contemporary theatre companies, producers and festivals. Examine the wider cultural, social and political contexts of creating and sharing work. Contextualise your developing practice in relation to the contemporary landscape of theatre and performance.
- Page to Stage: Writing, Directing and Dramaturgy
Module details
Develop and extend writing skills in and around the making and performing of material and acquire, develop and apply a range of directing and dramaturgical skills.
- Show in a Bag
Module details
Lead the creation of your own piece of solo performance work, using a range of generative processes, techniques and skills, exploring a range of delivery styles. You will be encouraged to take the eventual work you make out into venues and communities as a public performance.
- Modes of Making: Socially Engaged Practice
Module details
Through advanced physical, vocal and imagination training, you will encounter a series of technique-specific workshops to help extend your understanding of socially engaged performance practice. You will also be introduced to diverse approaches to collaborative theatre-making focussed on a social context. In companies, you will create an original live performance informed and supported by techniques and methodologies encountered in the workshops.
Year three 5 modules
- Creating Companies
Module details
Create and develop scratch performance work over several dynamic cycles in small companies. Pitch ideas for work to producers, then collaborate in companies to make that work over a defined period of time.
- Professional Development
Module details
You'll learn about the practical 'nuts and bolts' infrastructure of the theatre and performance business, and how to develop a career as a performer, theatre maker or company. You will also explore allied industries and contexts where your creative skills and solution-centred entrepreneurial approach are in high demand.
- The Thinking Practitioner: Student Led Research
Module details
Research, critically reflect upon and write about an area of theatre making that passionately interests you.
- Masterclasses: Physical, Vocal & Digital
Module details
Through advanced masterclasses you will finesse your creative theatre making creative skills. Voice, physicality, composition and dramaturgical skills will be focuses, as well as digital skills and technologies to feed into your professional practice.
- Professional Production
Module details
Work in a small production company and collaborate to develop, rehearse, polish and present your own original professional production for performance to industry specialists and the public. Alongside this, you will develop the knowledge and skills to potentially fund and resource your work in the future.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course integrates practical theatre and performance training with a professional placement year. You'll usually begin with foundational modules in performance technique, dramaturgy and contextual studies. As you progress, you'll work towards specialist pathways, such as performance, composition, production or community-focused practice, whilst developing your craft through ensemble and individual projects. From Year 1 onwards, you'll combine principal-study lessons and recital opportunities with study of music history and pedagogy. By Year 3, you'll typically focus on your chosen specialism, undertake professional development training and complete a major project or public performance. The integrated placement year provides industry experience and professional networks alongside your degree.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to theatre as both an intellectual and creative pursuit, if you want to understand its history and theory while building practical performance or production skills. You thrive in collaborative, hands-on environments and enjoy exploring how performance works across different genres and contexts. You're prepared for sustained academic and creative work: the four-year structure and independent project demand discipline and curiosity. The embedded professional placement appeals if you want to test your skills in a real workplace before graduating. You're ready to think critically about theatre's role in culture and society, not just practise technique.
Careers & job market
Across Music and Performing Arts graduates nationally, 90% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those in work, 55% are in highly skilled roles or postgraduate study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) of £20,000–£28,000; after five years, £19,975–£28,200. Pathways vary: some graduates move into performance, directing, or production; others pursue arts administration, teaching, or creative industries roles beyond theatre. Your professional placement year provides direct industry contacts and experience, both valuable for navigating competitive entry to the field.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time BA (Hons) degree taught in English at Falmouth University, a nationally recognised degree-awarding body based at the Penryn Campus. The course includes a professional placement year, allowing you to gain work experience within the industry. Falmouth holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Professional placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 93% |
| another higher-education qualification | 3% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 3% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Falmouth University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £22,000 | £18,000 – £25,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £14,500 | £9,500 – £21,000 | 60 |
| 5 years after | £22,000 | £16,000 – £26,500 | 70 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Music & Performing Arts courses at the same study level.
Compared with 527 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £22,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 90.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Falmouth University
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Penryn Campus
153 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Falmouth University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Falmouth University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Falmouth University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Falmouth University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Falmouth University
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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