An intensive musical theatre top-up year to sharpen your triple-threat skills and step into the industry with confidence.
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The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up) at SLP College, awarded by the University of Chichester, is a one-year Level 6 programme for performers who have already completed substantial training at Level 5 and are ready to finish a full honours degree while working at a higher standard.
This top-up year is designed to sharpen what you already have: greater consistency, clearer professional identity, and the habits and skills that employers in this industry look for.
You'll refine advanced skills across the full range of musical theatre, with regular opportunities to apply technique through rehearsed and assessed performance work:
At Level 6, you'll be expected to work with greater independence and artistic ownership. You'll set your own performance focus, manage your own practice, and take real responsibility for the quality of your work, alongside developing the professional habits that matter in rehearsal rooms and audition spaces: preparation, focus, collaboration, resilience, and the ability to respond well to direction and feedback.
Beyond the studio
Professional practice runs throughout the year as part of how you train. You'll develop:
This year prepares you to move into auditions and early professional opportunities in musical theatre performance and related work. It can also support progression to postgraduate study.
Course structure
The Top-Up year is structured around four modules, each building on the last and culminating in a full-scale public musical production.
Professional Performance Skills
The core of the year. You'll select one discipline; acting, singing/voice, or dance, as your principal focus, and develop advanced performance craft in that area while maintaining strong, reliable practice across the other two. The aim is a clear professional performance identity: knowing what you bring, being able to deliver it consistently, and understanding how to position yourself for the industry.
Professional Practice
You'll research the industry, identify where you fit, and build the professional materials to get there: CV, Spotlight profile, audition preparation, self-tape technique, and a realistic career development plan. Workshop activity simulates real audition processes, including mock dance calls, singing calls, and online submissions.
Independent Project
A self-initiated, small-scale performance project that you plan, develop, rehearse and deliver. You'll work collaboratively with peers, but you're assessed individually on your artistic choices, your project management, and your ability to reflect critically on the process. It's a chance to work on material that matters to you, on your terms, at Level 6 standard.
Full Musical
The year ends with a full-scale musical production, presented publicly, working with a professional director, musical director, and choreographer. From audition and casting through to performance, this is the closest thing to a professional production process your training can offer. You'll join SLP College's Year 3 cohort for this production, performing alongside students on the full BA programme, and attend the agent showcase in London.
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Optional enhanced training
Elevate Your Training
For students who want to go further and make the most of every opportunity, SLP Extra offers an enhanced professional training experience alongside your BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up) degree.
It’s designed for ambitious performers who want to stretch every muscle, refine every skill and graduate with the broadest possible range of opportunities.
As an SLP Extra student, you’ll have extra studio hours dedicated to technique, creativity and performance development, and you’ll benefit from:
SLP Extra transforms your degree into the most immersive version of SLP training. It’s for students who want to hone their craft further, challenge themselves and graduate as confident, industry-ready artists, not just strong triple-threat performers, but adaptable, employable professionals ready to stand out in a competitive industry.
SLP College offers various extra-curricular activities which students can choose to audition for and participate in. These include:
Note: Acro and Partner work classes have a small fee associated with them.
Admission process
Entry is by audition and interview. We're looking for strong underlying technique, a professional attitude, and clear readiness to work at Level 6 intensity. The audition assesses your current skills and, importantly, your capacity to sustain high standards in rehearsal and performance while working with increasing independence.
Academic requirements
You'll normally have successfully completed a Level 5 qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, for example:
If you don't meet the standard requirements, we may still consider you through non-standard entry, based on your audition, interview, and evidence that you can succeed at Level 6.
You'll normally also have GCSE English Language at Grade 4 (C) or above (or a recognised equivalent).
Applicants without the above qualifications may still be considered through non-standard entry, which is assessed at audition.
All applicants must have the legal right to reside and study in the UK for the full duration of the programme.
Minimum age requirements
All applicants must be 18 or over by 31 August in the year of entry.
International students
At present, we are unable to accept applications from International or EU students, as we are not able to sponsor or support Student Visa applications.
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Admission to SLP College is based on your audition performance, potential and commitment to training.
As part of your audition, you’ll be asked to demonstrate your skills in dance, acting, and singing. Then, you'll be interviewed by members of the faculty.
The audition process is designed to give you the chance to show your individuality, creativity and readiness for professional training.
Applicants who demonstrate exceptional talent may be offered a place regardless of formal academic qualifications.
For details about upcoming audition dates, requirements and how to prepare, see Audition information.
SLP College is a funded and private fee-paying college offering a University of Chichester–validated degree alongside optional enhanced professional training through SLP Extra.
Students are eligible to apply for student finance to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
Tuition fees
Tuition Fees: £10,050 per year (2027/28)
Most UK students are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, which covers this in full. For more information, visit Apply for Student Finance.
Students may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan from Student Finance to help with living costs such as accommodation, food, and travel.
The amount you can receive depends on your household income and personal circumstances.
You can use the Student Finance Calculator on the GOV.UK website to estimate how much support you may be entitled to.
SLP Extra (optional)
Fee: £1,500 per year
This covers additional professional training through the SLP Extra programme.
Note: SLP Extra is optional and not required to complete the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up) degree.
Supplementary fee
In addition to your tuition fee, there is a mandatory supplementary fee of £500 per student, per year. With tuition of £10,050, the total cost of the course is £10,550 per year.
This contributes to essential production-related costs, including (but not limited to) costume, props, set materials, technical production support, lighting, sound, rehearsal resources, and consumables required for showcases and public performances during your course.
The supplementary fee helps ensure every student benefits from high-quality production values and professional-level performance experiences throughout their training.
Please note: This fee does not cover student uniform, dancewear, or any personal costs associated with the course.
Additional costs
In addition to tuition and supplementary fees, students should budget for some personal and course-related expenses that are not covered by SLP College. These may include:
Next step
Applications for the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up) can be made directly to SLP College via the Apply page on our website.
You can also apply through UCAS.
