Audition/ Open Day

Application and Eligibility

Applicants must be aged 18 years or over by the start date of the course.

Entry onto the course is based on both audition and academic qualifications. The follow academic criteria is desirable:

• 80 UCAS points (new tariff) through Level 3 academic qualifications (BTEC, A-Level, Scottish Highers, etc)
• Level 4 (Grade C) in English Language

When Emil Dale Academy is satisfied with that an applicant from an unconventional academic background without formal work experience fulfils the audition criteria, the academic requirements may be waived, although good spoken English is a requirement for all of our courses.

Applicants are offered after a successful audition and interview.

If you can demonstrate exceptional talent and can satisfy the panel of your ability to successfully complete the course, you may be considered for a place irrespective of your academic background. Details of your examination results will be requested upon application.

International Students

If you are applying to Emil Dale Academy as an international student, please contact admissions@emildale.co.uk before applying.

Currently, international students must have an eligible visa to reside in the UK that does not require Tier 4 sponsorship. The visa must not depend on student status, but rather must carry a different status to allow you to reside in the UK.

If you have a British passport, you may qualify for the degree programme but you must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the course.

UCAS

You can apply through UCAS for this course, but you will also be asked to apply through EDA’s site and complete our audition form, select an audition date and pay the £40 audition fee.

If you do not wish to take up one of your UCAS places you can also apply directly through our website and at a later date you will be asked to complete a direct application form to the University.

To apply, please CLICK HERE. You must pay an audition fee of £40, which is non-refundable. This is a one-off fee payable upon applying and covers the cost of the workshops and panel auditions, as well as any recall auditions if required.

We ask you to complete your application as robustly as possible, including detailing any specific access requirements you may have that need to be considered to ensure you have a fair audition opportunity.

Audition process

We audition throughout the year.

There are four things to prepare. You will need to prepare one Shakespeare monologue and one Contemporary monologue from a published play, and two contrasting musical theatre songs with sheet music (you must bring the sheet music with you), cut to 2 minutes also.

You will take part in one jazz class where you will be taught and asked to perform a routine, and may also be invited for an interview at the end.

In some cases, students may be recalled to a later date, with advice as to why we need to see them again. There are no additional fees for this.

We are looking for trainability. Many people come to us as a strong singer or a stronger dancer. Do not let anything hold you back!

The Three Year Course with BA Hons in Musical Theatre is delivered in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire at Emil Dale Academy’s campus, based in Hitchin Hertfordshire, only 30 minutes on the train from London King’s Cross. The course itself was bespoke-written for EDA, focusing on the key elements of vocational training required for a course of this level, to ensure students have the best possible opportunities to progress into a career in musical theatre.

EDA consistently deliver intensive, triple-threat musical theatre training with high contact hours, private weekly singing lessons, industry-focused masterclasses and delivered by specialist tutors.

We ensure that our students become industry ready with outstanding technical tuition and study.

We guarantee agency representation for our students in their final year, alongside a London showcase performance in front of casting directors and agencies.

Eligible students have access to Student Finance England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland towards university fees and living costs.

In partnership with:

The University of Bedfordshire

Emil Dale Academy is in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire for delivery of the BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre course. We are a study centre of the University of Bedfordshire, meaning our students are enrolled as University of Bedfordshire students. The University of Bedfordshire is the awarding body for the BA Hons Musical Theatre course, taught at Emil Dale Academy. When applying for student finance, please apply under the University of Bedfordshire.

This partnership also means that students have access to all of the services and facilities that the University of Bedfordshire have including clubs, sports, library access, online library services, and student services. For more information on the School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries (that Emil Dale Academy is partnered with), visit their website HERE.

By partnering with the University of Bedfordshire, Emil Dale Academy is able to widen participation and access to higher education, enabling young people to have a University education as well as receiving exceptional Musical Theatre training. Emil Dale Academy draws upon the experience of the School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries to deliver a strong, robust, and creative BA Hons in Musical Theatre degree programme.

What the course offers:

Emil Dale Academy’s three-year course offers the following:

• A BA Hons in Musical Theatre, validated by the University of Bedfordshire
• London Showcase in front of agents & casting directors in students’ graduating year
• Participation in full-scale production – accompanied by a live West End Band in students’ graduating year
• Access to the Emil Dale Academy facilities – 56,000 square foot building, one of the most beautiful places to train in the UK
• High contact training hours
• Small class sizes
• Live London agent panel day.

Weekly (Please note that a condensed timetable is run during show terms to accommodate rehearsals and shows):

• Private 1-to-1 singing lessons for every student
• 2nd and final year students also receive a private 1-to-1 repertoire lesson on a fortnightly basis
• West End Jazz classes (Streamed in ability)
• Acting classes (Including acting for stage and screen, text deconstruction, monologues, audition technique, acting projects)
• Technical Ballet classes (Streamed in ability)
• Ensemble Singing Classes (Technical harmony workshops)
• 30-minute cardio sessions
• Tap dance classes (Streamed in ability)
• Song and Dance classes
• Acting Through Song workshops
• West End Masterclasses (Taught by professional working in top UK Touring and West End shows)

Additional weekly classes may include a combination of the following:

• Commercial dance classes
• Contemporary dance classes
• Performance workshops
• History of Musical Theatre classes
• Professional development (Learning about the industry and gaining understanding of casting, job roles, submitting tax return, nutrition and more)

Termly:

• Musical Theatre or Acting Projects
Apply Now To Audition!

Emil Dale Academy is committed to protecting the interests of all its students and ensuring that their opportunity to complete their programme of study is safeguarded. Our Student Protection Plan (SPP) sets out the risks that could impact students’ continuation and completion, and the measures in place to mitigate those risks. Please find a link to the SPP here: 250820 v01 Emil Dale Student Protection Plan 2025-26.pdf

University Student Services

Emil Dale Academy delivers the qualification, and the University of Bedfordshire validates it.

Students are registered with the University and as such have access to the student services there such as the student union and associated clubs, societies and sports (visit www.bedssu.co.uk), student support services (mental health, disability, community & faith, money, counselling, academic support, incident and situational support and more - www.beds.ac.uk/student-support/ ) and can refer to university policies for further understanding and clarification (www.beds.ac.uk/student-support/supportandreport/policies-and-processes/).

Emil Dale Academy – Fees & Funding (2026/2027)

Emil Dale Academy is a funded and private fee-paying college.

Students have access to student finance to help cover tuition fees and living costs.

Course: BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (3 years)

With optional private sector hours

Awarding Body: University of Bedfordshire

Total Annual Cost: £13,390

(£9790 + £3600 private vocational training fee)

1. University Tuition Fee – £9790 per year

• Paid to: University of Bedfordshire
• Covers: Academic delivery of the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree
• Student Finance: Most UK students are eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9790, which covers this in full. No upfront payment is required.

The University of Bedfordshire is the awarding body for this degree, which is taught at Emil Dale Academy.

2. Private Vocational Training Fee – £3,600 per year

• Paid to: Emil Dale Academy
• Covers: Additional private sector vocational training hours
• Breakdown: £3000 + £600 VAT
• Payment Options: Flexible payment plans available

Important: Private sector training hours are optional and are not required to complete the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree.

What are Private Sector Hours?

Private sector hours make up 15–18 additional hours per week of studio-based training across the 3-year course. These include:

• Weekly 1:1 singing technique lessons (plus repertoire lessons in years 2 & 3)
• Ensemble singing, guest masterclasses, commercial, contemporary, acting, cardio, acting through song, song and dance, and performance class

Scholarships for Private Sector Hours

We’re proud to offer full and part scholarships for private sector hours.

These are awarded based on:

• Audition results, and
• Means testing (we ask for detailed financial info when you apply)

Scholarships are limited, not guaranteed, and not funded externally — so careful assessment is required.

3. Maintenance Loan for Living Costs

Students may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan to help with living expenses:

• Living with parents: Up to £9,118 per year
• Living away from home, outside London: Up to £10,830 per year
• Living away from home, in London: Up to £14,135 per year

Actual loan amounts depend on your household income and personal circumstances.

Use the Student Finance Calculator to estimate what you may receive.

Here at Emil Dale, we appreciate that this will be the first time that many students will be away from home which can be daunting – we have a Welfare Officer as well as a Head of Student Experience who can help students cope with independent living.

There are two options for accommodation - privately let houses/flats with other students or host accommodation.

EDA sets up a private EDA Facebook "accommodation page" which allows new students to be contacted by existing students with information on houses and rooms that are available. This private web page is also constantly updated by EDA with links to prospective housing.

Host families are available in the local area who rent out their rooms. EDA has a referral scheme to local hosts, and we require them to hold a valid DBS check.

Costs

• Rent is approximately £120-150 a week (depending on property)
• Council tax is exempt for students for the period of the course that they are on.
• Students usually set up a house account which they pay approximately £40 each per month into to cover utility bills.

We are driven by results! Take a look at student destinations by CLICKING HERE

If you are applying to Emil Dale Academy as an international student, please see further information below and contact admissions@emildale.co.uk before applying.

Currently, international students must have an eligible visa to reside in the UK that does not require Tier 4 sponsorship. The visa must not depend on student status but rather must carry a different status to allow you to reside in the UK.

If you have a British passport, you may qualify for the degree programme, but you must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the course.

We currently cannot accept applications from International or EU students as we cannot assist with obtaining the necessary Student Permission study visa. To see if you are eligible to apply, please refer to the definition of "Home" status below.

International Students – distance learning

International applicants to the BA (Hons) Professional Arts Practice (Top-Up) are exempt from this process, as this is an online distance learning course, that does not require residency or physical attendance in the UK, and we are able to welcome applications.

Home status

You may qualify as a "home" student if any of the following apply:

• You are a British or Irish national who has lived in the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands for three full years immediately before the first day of your course
• You have settled or pre-settled status through the UK's EU, EEA or Swiss settlement schemes
• You hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) or Right of Abode and have lived in the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands for three full years immediately before the first day of your course.
• You have been granted refugee status or have humanitarian protection in the UK
• You live in the UK, you are the spouse, civil partner, or child of a British national and you have lived in the UK for three full years immediately before the first day of your course
• You are a British national (or the child or spouse of a British national) and have lived in a British Overseas territory for three full years immediately before the first day of your course. This also applies if you have lived in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands for some part of these three years
• You have been living legally in the UK for an extended period (usually half your life)
• You are the child of a Turkish worker, and you and your parent have been living in the UK since before 31 December 2020

You may also qualify for "Home" fee status if you would have met one of the above criteria but:

• You have been living outside the UK because you or your parent, spouse or legal guardian is temporarily employed abroad
• You usually live outside the UK, but you also maintain ongoing connections and residency in the UK (and so can be considered resident in multiple places)

In most cases, you will not be eligible for "Home" fees if the main purpose of your residency in the relevant area has been to receive full-time education (for example, because you are studying away from home at a boarding school or university).