The International College of Musical Theatre (ICMT) and Coventry University are working together to introduce the first accelerated musical theatre performance degree course in England.
The two-year course has been designed to help get students start their career sooner—which could allow more people from different backgrounds to enter the profession with a degree.
The BA (Hons) musical theatre performance degree will be delivered at the ICMT campus in central London and validated by Coventry University. Current performers, directors, choreographers, musical directors, singers and leading practitioners in their fields will take students through intensive practical-based training across the core disciplines of singing, acting and dancing.
Principal and ICMT co-founder Kenneth Avery-Clark said the new degree had been designed to make acting more widely accessible.
He said, “we attract many students who’ve completed a three-year degree programme and then come to us for an additional practical year to become industry-ready. They study for four years and spend a lot of money on living and tuition fees.
“Now they can come to us first, start an intensive programme from day one, save money and get a full degree. There’s a large number of young and talented individuals who can’t pursue a career in the arts due to economic constraints. An accelerated degree will ensure the performing arts are more widely accessible."
Judith Mossman, pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of arts and humanities at Coventry University, said the collaboration was another chapter in the university’s history of championing the arts.
She said, “during the pandemic we’ve all missed the unique buzz that musical theatre can give. Coventry University has a proud history of championing the arts, thinking internationally and developing industry-ready graduates—which is why we developed this wonderfully cosmopolitan course.”
Applications for the course, which starts in September 2022, are open at the ICMT web site.