Guildford School of Acting is arguably one of the world’s most successful conservatoires for musical theatre training, with alumni appearing in the West End, on Broadway, and across the world. We provide personalised, industry-focused instruction and education within the discipline of an ensemble to develop your skills and abilities in preparation for a successful and rewarding career in musical theatre.
The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme at Guildford School of Acting (GSA) offers comprehensive training for individuals aspiring to excel in musical theatre. This three-year degree combines rigorous instruction in acting, singing, and dance to cultivate versatile performers ready for the professional stage.
We are ranked 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, and 5th in the UK for drama and dance in the Guardian University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
GSA is proud to have received such an outstanding Overall Satisfaction in the 2020 NSS for it’s BA Musical Theatre programme. This is testament to the incredible energy and commitment of students and staff to ensure that training is delivered to the very highest standard
Julian Woolford, Head of Musical Theatre
Graduate Story: Christina Bennington
What you will study
Our BA Musical Theatre course will develop your professional and collaborative sensibilities through a rigorous programme of training. You’ll gain individual technical, critical, and evaluative skills with practical classes in a range of core disciplines, including acting, singing, and dance.
In this course, your skills are continually developed through integration exercises, scene work, project rehearsals, and productions of classic and contemporary musicals. Classes in acting, dance, and singing are highly prioritised alongside projects, which will enable you to become multi-skilled and highly versatile, ensuring your appeal to the industry and a flying start to your career.
Programme structure
The academic year is divided into three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. All modules are either 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.
To view the course structure click here
Disclaimer: Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
Entry requirements
To view the entry requirements please click here
Entry is also subject to successful audition. Candidates who can demonstrate exceptional talent, and can satisfy the panel of their ability to complete the programme may also be considered.
GSA International Auditions in Philadelphia, USA
We are excited to announce we will be holding in-person auditions this year in Philadelphia. This will be open to all GSA applicants. If you are applying for BA Acting or BA Musical Theatre and would like to audition in Philadelphia, you must have completed the first round video audition stage, and to have been invited to a recall audition.
The auditions will take place on 22 January 2024 in Philadelphia. Venue TBC
In order to be invited to this audition, we must receive your application no later than Friday 5 January 2024. For BA Musical Theatre and BA Acting applications, we must receive your UCAS application by Friday 3 November 2023. The deadline to submit first-round videos will be Friday 1 December 2023.
Please note: the above only applies to applicants interested in auditioning in Philadelphia, USA.
For more audition information please visit AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS
A non-refundable audition fee will be charged.
View a complete listing of all ongoing fees for our undergraduate programmes
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
We're committed to making sure that we offer support for students who might need it. Find out more about bursaries and scholarships.
Experienced staff in our International Student Office are available to help from the moment you consider studying at the University. We offer professional advice on immigration, visa issues, entry qualifications, pre-departure information, employment regulations and international student welfare.
We currently have alumni appearing in nearly every West End musical including: Olivier Award winning Michael Jibson in Hamilton; Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as Ike Turner in Tina; Christina Bennington as Raven in Bat Out of Hell; Steven Carlisle as Scar in The Lion King on Broadway; Jodie Sam Steele and T'Shan Williams in Heathers at the Theatre Royal Haymarket; Alistair So, Cletus Chang and Kamm Kunaree in the King and I. Our very distinguished alumni include performers such as:
- Michael Ball
- Tam Mutu
- Hal Fowler
- Alex Gaumond
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE
- Tom Chambers
- Billy Carter
- Michael Jibson
- Caroline Sheen
- Maiya Quansah-Breed
- Helena Blackman
- Savannah Stephenson
- Faye Brookes
- Ashley Samuels
- Grace Mouat
West End productions include:
- Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
- Six, Lyric Theatre
- &Juliet, The Shaftesbury Theatre
- American in Paris, Dominion Theatre
- The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
- The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales
- Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre
- Les Miserables, Queens Theatre
- Mamma Mia!,Novello Theatre
- Wicked, Apollo Theatre
- Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre
- Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre
- School of Rock, New London Theatre
- Motown the Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre
- The Play That Went Wrong, The Duchess Theatre
- Annie, Piccadilly Theatre
- Nativity the Musical, Eventim Apollo
- Dreamgirls, The Savoy Theatre
- Evita, Phoenix Theatre
- Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre
UK tours and regional theatres:
- Shrek
- Legally Blonde
- Happy Days the Musical
- Dreamboats and Petticoats
- The Buddy Holly Story
- West Side Story
- Avenue Q
- Cats
- 9 to 5
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
- Singin’ in the Rain
- The Lion King
- Oliver!
- Betty Blue Eyes
- Evita
Why study at GSA
Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is one of the UK’s leading accredited drama schools, providing dedicated conservatoire training within a purpose-built environment on the University of Surrey campus.
GSA operates a pedagogic approach that utilises student-centred learning. Every module has an ethos of nurturing and enabling employability and personal development opportunities for the students. Our working practices encourage dialogue and are most effective when a collaborative approach is undertaken. Our learning environment grants our students the freedom to take risks and to embrace spontaneity.
We keep our cohorts small to ensure you get personal attention and contact from our expert teachers, who have extensive first-hand experience in professional theatre in the UK, Europe and the US.
We are ranked 1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, and 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
94% of our GSA postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA).
GSA is accredited by the Federation of Drama Schools (FDS).
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