Whether you want a career performing on stage or behind the scenes, a degree in Music, Theatre or Performance combines specialist teaching with entrepreneurial skills in self-promotion to prepare you for the performing arts industry. 

Career options

Career opportunities for performing arts graduates are diverse and varied. You could become a professional musician, actor or dancer; either performing in a band or company. Alternatively, you could be self-employed and work as a freelance artist or performer. You may use your creative talents to inspire others by working as a teacher or by running creative workshops as a community arts practitioner. 

The career opportunities are much more varied for modern music, theatre or performance graduates, and don’t all revolve around traditional acting or performing for stage or screen.

A degree also gives you the chance to gain skills in a variety of backstage and technical roles - from directing and producing to lighting, sound and stage design, these jobs are vital for the smooth running of a show. With the rise of music and theatre productions using emerging technologies to create immersive experiences for audiences, there is an increasing demand for skilled technical roles in the industry.

Job opportunities

Our Music, Theatre, and Performance degrees prepare graduates for a broad range of careers in the creative industries. You could become a: 

  • Songwriter 
  • Session Musician 
  • Music Manager 
  • Music Producer 
  • Music Journalist 
  • Tour Manager
  • Corporate Event Manager 
  • Film or Television Actor 
  • Stage Performer 
  • Voiceover Artist 
  • Lighting Technician
  • Lighting Designer 
  • Stage Manager 
  • Production Manager 
  • Sound Technician 
  • Sound Designer  

Graduates in the spotlight

Our graduates have gone on to carve successful careers in the following roles: 

  • Visual Creative Coordinator at Warner Brothers Records  
  • A&R Coordinator at Island Records  
  • Music Video Executive Producer at Stink Films 
  • Senior Label Manager at The Orchard 
  • Founders of the music and sound design studio, The Soundery 
  • Freelance Dancer 
  • Dance Production Consultant 
  • Community Arts Practitioner 
Catherine Hillier BA Music Graduate wins a BAFTA Award

Graduate Spotlight: A journey from Falmouth University to a BAFTA Award

05 June 2024

Catherine Hiller graduated from Falmouth University with a BA in Music in 2018, and her career has s...

Graduate Spotlight: A journey from Falmouth University to a BAFTA Award
Benjamin Woods of band The Golden Dregs leaning on a fence
The Golden Dregs

Benjamin Woods on his Cornwall-born music project The Golden Dregs

15 March 2023

We recently chatted to Falmouth graduate Benjamin Woods about his new album On Grace & Dignity, the ...

Benjamin Woods on his Cornwall-born music project The Golden Dregs
Graduate Eva Gadd wearing a bright green tank top and leaning against a red brick wall, with large block of flats in the background.
Eva Gadd_Popular Music Graduate_Falmouth University

Popular Music graduate signs to Blue Adventure Records

18 November 2022

2021 BA Popular Music graduate Eva Gadd has been signed by Blue Adventure Records less than two year...

Popular Music graduate signs to Blue Adventure Records
Kelly Morris on stage playing the bass guitar
Six bassist

From Falmouth to the West End

12 April 2022

Popular Music graduate Kelly has landed her dream role as a bassist for Six the Musical. In Augus...

From Falmouth to the West End
Digital image of a keyboard cube wearing a cap and sunglasses
The Soundery

The Soundery: Graduates making big sounds for big brands

02 February 2022

Graduates Luke Brown and Liam Iliffe set up their audio composition agency The Soundery in 2017. Tod...

The Soundery: Graduates making big sounds for big brands
Hockeysmith single cover with girl sat on the floor
Hockeysmith

Popular Music graduate takes The Guardian Playlist top spot

02 December 2021

BA Popular Music graduate Annie Hockey-Smith, who makes fascinating techno-infused tunes under the m...

Popular Music graduate takes The Guardian Playlist top spot
Head shot of Falmouth graduate Dom Mckiernan
Dom Mckiernan

Falmouth graduate joins Stink Films as music video executive producer

23 September 2021

BA(Hons) Popular Music graduate Dom Mckiernan has joined the independent production network Stink Fi...

Falmouth graduate joins Stink Films as music video executive producer
Textiles factory workshop with fan
2020 Rhythms film still

Dance & Choreography graduate produces 2020 Rhythms

12 January 2021

Commissioned by East London Dance through their The Fi.ELD (Future Innovators. East London Dance) pr...

Dance & Choreography graduate produces 2020 Rhythms
R&B artist and graduate Tony Njoku
Tony Njoku
R&B artist and graduate Tony Njoku. Image - Lennon Gregory

Music Graduate One to Watch

21 January 2020

Picked as 'one to watch' by the Guardian in late 2019, life has been a whirlwind for rising&nbs...

Music Graduate One to Watch
R&B artist and graduate Tony Njoku
Tony Njoku
R&B artist and graduate Tony Njoku. Image - Lennon Gregory

Music Graduate One to Watch

21 January 2020

Picked as 'one to watch' by the Guardian in late 2019, life has been a whirlwind for rising&nbs...

Music Graduate One to Watch

Postgraduate study

An undergraduate degree in the performing arts may also lead you down the path of postgraduate study. A master’s degree gives many people the opportunity to gain skills in a particular field and develop a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Explore more
Monette Allison playing guitar

Knowledge and skills

Depending on your specific area of interest, a degree in Music, Theatre or Performance will help you to build the skills, knowledge and creativity to become a confident practitioner.  

Our Academy of Music & Theatre Arts (AMATA) is a purpose-built live venue and a vibrant hub that’s home to performers, technicians and managers in the making. Our students have access to 11 performance and rehearsal spaces, over 650m2 of sprung dance floors, state-of-the-art digital and analogue recording studios and a professionally- staffed live theatre venue. 

On our Performance-focused degrees, you’ll learn specialist skills such as vocal and accent training, microphone techniques, improvisation, character development and training in ballet, jazz and tap. You’ll also study a range of self-marketing tools for building a successful career as a performer, such as CV writing, creating an online artist profile and professional audition techniques. 

Guided by academics and technical course teams, you’ll learn practical and design skills such as scenography, stage rigging, sound and lighting production. You’ll explore emerging digital practices and work with computer-based technology such as projection mapping and motion capture, digital audio, video editing and post-production techniques. 

Students adjusting mixing table
AMATA students

Transferable skills

Students also develop a variety of transferable skills that are desirable to a range of employers. These include: 

  • Ability to articulate ideas and communicate information both visually and verbally 
  • Team working skills with the ability to work collaboratively to pursue shared goals 
  • Skills in time management and self-directed study 
  • A strong work ethic and tenacity to move projects forward 
  • Innovative solutions to problem solving and a willingness to take creative risks 
  • Entrepreneurial skills in marketing your work and building professional networks 

Career support

Our Music, Theatre and Performance degrees are underpinned by practical and collaborative work, so you’ll gain real-world experience while you study. You’ll be involved in organising live performances as well as working at our summer schools, events and artist residencies.  

You’ll build professional networks through guest lectures and visits led by industry VIPs; previous visits have included Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Island Records President Darcus Beese, Gecko Theatre and The Young Vic. A range of expert masterclasses also take place at our annual Enhancement Week, where students can skill-up and learn directly from prominent professionals in a variety of genres. 

Our courses also help students to develop skills in self-promotion and marketing through assessed work on portfolios, social networking and CV writing. 

When you study at Falmouth, you have access to our dedicated Employability Service. Students can sign up for weekly career workshops and events, take practice interviews and get support on finding work or going freelance. 

Our Music, Theatre and Performance courses

Person at piano playing
Music 2024

Music BA(Hons)

Prepare for a career as a professional musician with this industry-focused music degree. Based withi...

Music BA(Hons)
Blonde singer with sunglasses stood at microphone
Shannon Rose Pop music

Popular Music BA(Hons)

Whether it’s underground or mainstream, DIY or commercial, acoustic or electric, this course is fo...

Popular Music BA(Hons)
Acting course page image depicting students performing on stage
Acting

Acting BA(Hons)

Push boundaries to become a progressive actor in a highly creative and collaborative environment. Ba...

Acting BA(Hons)
Students dancing on stage
Eulogeo from whose lips - Katie Butt

Theatre & Performance BA(Hons)

Embrace a world of opportunity to become an original and distinctive theatre maker and performer. As...

Theatre & Performance BA(Hons)
Actors on stage with arms spread
Musical Theatre - Steve Tanner

Musical Theatre BA(Hons)

Combining training in acting, singing and dance, this practice-led degree will empower you for a car...

Musical Theatre BA(Hons)
Dance & Choreography lead image
Dance & Choreography lead image

Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)

Launch your career as a dancer and an artist with this skills-focused dance degree. You’ll train i...

Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)
Student working at computer
Student working at computer

Technical Theatre Arts BA(Hons)

This course will provide you with the practical knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the exciti...

Technical Theatre Arts BA(Hons)
Close up of hands on keyboard and mixer
Sound design

Sound Design BA(Hons)

Explore the boundaries of sound and its potential to transport an audience in different contexts, fr...

Sound Design BA(Hons)
Music students at desk on mixers and laptop
CMT

Creative Music Technology BA(Hons)

Develop the creative and technical abilities needed to thrive in the music industry. Exploring compo...

Creative Music Technology BA(Hons)
Camera shooting student playing guitar
Music business

Music Business BA(Hons)

Get ready to shape the music business by mastering the skills needed to manage, create and innovate....

Music Business BA(Hons)
Band on a stage warming up with blue lighting
Music practice - AMATA

CertHE Music Courses

Take your first steps towards becoming a skilled creative music artist with one of our three CertHE ...

CertHE Music Courses

Get in touch

Any questions? 

If you have any questions about undergraduate study at Falmouth, get in touch with our Future Studies team.  

T: +44(0) 1326 254350 
E: futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk 

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