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Theatre Industry Practice: BA (University Highlands and Islands)

Musical theatre students performing a high-energy ensemble dance on stage, with raised arms, coordinated movement, and purple lighting.
Qualification Qualifications Explained
BA
Study Mode
Full Time
Duration

1 Year - 2.5 Days p/w
Start date
Aug 2026
Campus
Easterhouse
Enquire now

Course overview

⚠️ Applications for this course must be made through UCAS, not via the Glasgow Kelvin College website.

🔗 University of the Highlands and Islands course page:
https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/ba-hons-theatre-industry-practice/#tabanchor

🔗 Apply via UCAS:
https://accounts.ucas.com/account/login?returnUrl=https%3A//www.ucas.com/dashboard

Step into the professional world of theatre and performance, and shape your future in the creative industries.

The BA Theatre Industry Practice is a one-year, full-time degree delivered in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). Designed for performers and theatre practitioners who already hold an HND, this course helps you transition confidently from training into professional practice within the theatre and wider performance industry.

The programme focuses on the realities of working in today’s theatre sector, combining applied practice with research, self-promotion, and experiential learning. You’ll develop a deep understanding of how the theatre industry operates while refining your performance, production, and professional skills. There is a strong emphasis on real-world application, helping you build confidence, resilience, and a clear professional identity.

Studying at our Easterhouse Campus, you’ll benefit from practical rehearsal and performance opportunities while engaging with industry-relevant projects, placements, and collaborative work. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with the skills, experience, and insight needed to progress into employment or further honours-level study.

This course is ideal for learners who:

  • Have completed an HND in Musical Theatre, Acting, or Technical Theatre
  • Want to progress from college-level training into degree-level professional practice
  • Are interested in performance, production, directing, teaching, or arts facilitation
  • Wish to develop self-promotion, research, and industry-ready skills
  • Are motivated to build a sustainable career in the theatre and creative industries

What you will learn

You’ll develop both creative and professional skills that reflect current industry expectations. Learning includes:

  • Theatre Industry Fundamentals & Applied Practice – Understand how the theatre industry operates and apply this knowledge through practical projects
  • Professional Practice & Self-Promotion – Build up-to-date skills in marketing yourself, networking, and presenting your work professionally
  • Research & Performance – Develop academic research skills alongside performance-based practice
  • Experiential Learning & Production Work – Take part in hands-on learning through rehearsal, performance, and production activity
  • Industry Focus & Specialism – Explore areas of personal interest within the theatre industry
  • Work Placements – Gain real-world experience and insight into professional theatre environments
  • Creative Enterprise – Learn how to create and manage a production company
Mhari Watt, Curriculum Manager for Performing Arts, discussing Glasgow Kelvin College’s BA Theatre Industry Practice degree.

BA Theatre Industry Practice at Kelvin 🎭

Hear from Mhari Watt, Curriculum Manager for Performing Arts, as she introduces our new BA Theatre Industry Practice degree, delivered in partnership with UHI Perth.

Designed by industry professionals, the course combines practical learning with an in-depth exploration of the theatre industry, helping students develop the skills and knowledge needed for a career in the performing arts.

Students will have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as performance, directing, choreography and stage management, while continuing to work alongside staff at Glasgow Kelvin College.

View on YouTube

Entry requirements

✅ HND Musical Theatre

✅ HND Acting

✅ HND Technical Theatre

Applicants with other relevant qualifications or significant industry experience may be considered on an individual basis.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may progress into a wide range of creative and professional roles, including:

🎭 Theatre or Screen Performer

💃 Dancer or Choreographer

🎓 Drama, Dance or Performance Teacher

🎬 Director or Assistant Director

🎤 Vocal Coach

🎨 Arts Educator or Community Arts Facilitator

Future prospects

Successful completion of this course allows progression to:

  • BA (Hons) Theatre Industry Practice

You’ll also be well placed to pursue professional work across theatre, performance, education, and the wider creative industries.

Our Environment

Throughout the course, students regularly take part in dance, acting, singing, and movement performances, many of which explore climate-related themes and social issues.

We are committed to sustainable practice and actively:

  • Re-purpose wood and materials for set and prop construction
  • Upcycle costumes from previous productions
  • Encourage environmentally responsible approaches to creative production
BA Theatre Industry Practice students performing on stage during a theatre production at Glasgow Kelvin College.

BA Theatre Industry Practice | Student Experience 🎭

Did you know you can study a BA in Theatre Industry Practice right here at Glasgow Kelvin College?

Hear from Carys as she shares her experience of studying on the course and take a look behind the scenes at rehearsals.

From performance to production, students develop the skills, confidence and industry knowledge needed to succeed in the world of theatre.

View on YouTube

Other Courses You Might Consider

Find out about our Performing Arts Department

Read What Our Lecturer and Student Said

Video Transcript – Mhari Watt: Curriculum Manager

Hey guys, my name's Mhari Watt and I am the Curriculum Manager for the Performing Arts Department here at Glasgow Kelvin College.

I'm really excited to be telling you about the new BA Theatre Industry degree that we're running this year. We are running it along with Perth and UHI.

A lot of it will be practical, so it's going to be here in Glasgow and some of the modules will be online.

So the type of things that you would learn on this course is you will delve into much more understanding of the industry. It has been written by industry professionals, so you will get a really good idea of what's current and relevant right now.

We'll also be able to specialise in different roles. So for example, you might specialise in performing, you might specialise in directing side of things. It could be the choreography or the stage management and your knowledge in these areas will improve. 

If you think that you would be interested in this course, then you can apply.

We would love to see you.

Video Transcript – Carys: BA Theatre Industry Practice

Hi, I'm Carys. I'm a student on the BA Theatre and Industry Practice course here at Glasgow Kelvin in collaboration with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

What we do here is a bit of everything. We all get to pick our own specialisms. Mine is facilitation, but in the class we have a mix of lots of different people. We have some choreographers, we have some vocal coaches, directors and stage managers.

What we're currently working on is our group project. We're going to be putting on a little cabaret and we're all working together using our specialism so we've recently been doing some singing where our vocal coach is teaching us some harmonies and stuff and it's been great fun.

We all want to have our own theatre schools and some of us want to do secondary teaching. What we've done is we've put together a wee welcome pack and we're going to go out into schools, high schools and nurseries.

For the primary schools we're doing a little hour workshop where we're going to read them a story, we're going to do some dancing and singing and we're going to spread kindness. We're going to give them a wee post-it notes and we're going to do some positive I am mantras with them.

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