BFA Music Theatre at University of California, Irvine

Programme overview

B.F.A. offering high-level training in song repertoire, audition technique, dance, singing for the stage and the history of the American musical.

Faculty: Claire Trevor School of the Arts | Department: Department of Drama | Study mode: full-time | Location: Irvine, CA, United States

What you will study

Drama core (DRAMA 10, 30A-C Acting, 40A-C Development of Drama), a design course, music theatre courses (Music Theatre Acting, Workshops II-IV, Singing, History of American Musical Theatre, Song Repertoire), dance technique, dramatic literature, and ballet, tap and jazz classes; includes a New York Satellite Program.

Career pathways

Graduates perform, stage manage or design on Broadway, national tours, regional and summer theatres, film and television, and work as artistic directors, business managers, designers and faculty.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

School of the Arts BFA (Drama): Entry to the B.F.A. track: complete one quarter of Music Theatre Workshop III (DRAMA 143A, 143B or 143C), earn a 3.0 GPA in music theatre courses before auditioning, and pass an audition (held three times a year: Welcome Week and finals week of fall and winter quarters). Freshman applicants also meet UC Irvine general freshman admission: 15 UC-approved a-g courses with a 3.0 GPA (3.4 for nonresidents), SAT/ACT not considered; international applicants whose schooling was not in English need e.g. TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.5+.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,202 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for California residents entering Fall 2026 (Tuition Stability Plan, held flat for that entering class). Tuition line only; excludes Student Services Fee, campus fees and health insurance. Applies to all undergraduate majors. Nonresi Source

UCI operates on a quarter system (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer quarters). First-year and transfer applicants apply for Fall entry; the UC Application for fall 2027 admission is open for submission from October 1 to November 30.

UC Application submission period for fall 2027 admission and scholarships: October 1 to November 30 (application opens August 1). Application fee is $80 for domestic applicants and $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants, payable by credit card or by mail; fee waivers are available for up to four campuses for qualified students. UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

Dance, B.Mus. and Arts applicants complete an audition/portfolio process, December 1 to January 31; Drama applicants may submit an optional portfolio or audition. Priority deadline for transfer and second baccalaureate applicants to submit the Transfer Academic Update (TAU) is January 31.

Graduate applications are submitted online through the UCI graduate application portal; the non-refundable application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents and $155 for all other applicants. Deadlines are set by each programme. GRE is required by some programmes only; TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency is required of graduate applicants unless waived.

Apply through the official page: https://uci.edu/admissions/

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