Bachelor of Music Theatre

Steal the stage

Theatre artists are keen, creative and collaborative professionals who perform across a range of disciplines including acting, singing and dancing. They work hard to bring stories to life and entertain audiences around the world. 

What will you do?                       

Our Bachelor of Music Theatre welcomes you into a vibrant community as enthusiastic about music theatre as you are. You will:

  • study at the prestigious Elder Conservatorium in the centre of Adelaide’s cultural hub
  • receive intensive, individualised training in singing and song coaching, as well as classes in dance, acting and music
  • develop broad cultural and inter-disciplinary awareness
  • build skills in communication, collaboration, self-confidence, physical presence and analytical insight
  • benefit from the expertise of our highly accomplished and industry-active staff.

You’ll also gain valuable experience through University partnerships with Adelaide Festival, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Adelaide Fringe.

Where could it take you?
Our artists are industry ready and equipped to realise a career as a performer. This can also take you into the broader world of theatrical arts and theatre making.

Please note: This highly practical degree program involves regular dance classes, production rehearsals etc where the student must be in the room. Students are required to attend this program in person.


Hear from our students



  • South Australia's only Bachelor of Music Theatre degree
  • Learn stagecraft and theatre skills from experienced industry professionals
  • Partnerships with Adelaide Festival, SA Film Corp., Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Adelaide Fringe

Entry Requirements

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Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 334781
Deferment No
Intake February
Additional Entry Requirements
All Bachelor of Music Theatre students applying to the Elder Conservatorium of Music are required to attend an audition. The audition will be divided into three parts and will assess each applicant's current skill level and potential for future studies. After auditioning you may be asked to return later in the day or the next day to join a group audition in dance and further singing and action work. Offers will be made on the basis of the audition, the Musicianship test and academic achievement. The Musicianship test aims to assess the applicant's general level of musicianship, which involves the ability to identify and recognise musical concepts within aural, written and theoretical contexts. The test comprises: aural questions covering rhythm, tonality, melody and harmony; score interpretation questions about a given short piano extract; theoretical questions such as keys, major and minor scales, intervals and chords. To apply for an audition and for details regarding audition rounds, Musicianship test and the application process, please visit the Elder Conservatorium of Music: https://able.adelaide.edu.au/music/study/auditions
Selection Criteria
Recent Secondary Education Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Higher Education Study You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Your best GPA is used in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) study You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Further ranking according to the level of TAFE award is undertaken in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Work and life experience To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). You must also undertake an audition/interview including an aural/theory test. You compete for a place based on your audition score. Your STAT rank is used in the case of a tie-breaker. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Other Entry Pathways

2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
ATAR
(raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer *
Median ATAR to receive an offer *
Highest ATAR to receive an offer *
Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer *
Median Selection Rank to receive an offer *
Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer *
Minimum eligibility score N/A
Additional criteria considered Audition required
  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    N/A N/A
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    N/A N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    26 100.0%
    International students N/A N/A
    All students 26 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

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Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,085

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.

Find a Scholarship.

Careers

Career Readiness

Musical theatre is an increasingly significant performing art form - economically and culturally – in both national and international contexts. It is an important employer of performers with singing, dancing and acting skills; creative artists in composition, choreography and theatre direction and technicians in staging, lighting and sound production.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Acting Director;  Actor;  Artistic Director;  Arts Management;  Backstage Assistant;  Backup Singer;  Choreographer;  Performer;  Dancer;  Professional Writer ...

Degree Structure

The Bachelor of Music Theatre will provide the intensive training and the physical and intellectual skills necessary for a career in live theatre entertainment. The study of music theatre builds broad cultural and inter-disciplinary awareness, self-confidence, communication and collaborative skills, emotional intelligence, physical presence, creativity and analytical insight.

The Bachelor of Music Theatre is an AQF Level 7 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 3 years.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Music Theatre the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units:

  • Level I courses not exceeding 24 units which must include a course chosen from the Core Competency List to the value of 3 units
  • Level II courses not exceeding 24 units
  • Level III courses not exceeding 24 units
  • Broadening Electives to the value of 9 units

Testimonial

I had an opportunity to learn all about backstage. A great experience that will definitely help me after my B Music Theatre degree!

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Last updated: Thursday, 7 Mar 2024