Skip navigation
Design for Theatre and Live Performance at Nottingham Trent University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

Nottingham Trent University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

8Mar
Nottingham Trent University - open day event
Undergraduate
26Apr
Nottingham Trent University - open day event
Undergraduate

Course summary

Explore all aspects of contemporary design practice for theatre and the live performance, including set and costume design; construction; digital technologies and design; lighting design and audio visual; site-specific design; puppetry; heritage installation; and design for community and education. The course is facilitated by the highly skilled team of staff and technicians who have years of professional and academic knowledge. Key features

  • This course is a member of the Performance Design Education Collective (PDEC), and the Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD). Through these, we are also a member of the International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT).
  • As a dedicated art and design school, our facilities promote collaboration and innovation. You’ll be working alongside artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and filmmakers.
  • All first-year students within the School of Art & Design will work together on a joint project.
  • Study in dedicated facilities, including a studio theatre, construction and paint workshops, and large teaching spaces.
  • Work on live projects with industry such as The Royal National Theatre, Birmingham Opera Company, The National Trust and Nottingham Playhouse.
  • Go on study visits for inspiration, research and experience, including live performances, museums and heritage and educational organisations.
  • Enter competitions set by organisations such as The Royal National Theatre’s Connections festival, and the Linbury Prize.
  • Opportunity to apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as Ryerson University in Canada.
  • We're ranked 12th best University for Art and Design in the UK. (The Complete University Guide 2021).
  • NTU is ranked the top 15 universities in the UK for Design and Crafts (14th). (Guardian University Guide 2021)
  • NTU is ranked joint 30th in the UK for Art and Design. (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021)
  • 100% of BA (Hons) Theatre Design (FT) students would recommend studying at NTU to others. (National Student Survey 2020).
Assessment Assessment is 100% through coursework. You’ll receive feedback throughout each module and will be awarded a grade. Employability Graduates have been employed as designers and assistant designers on a multitude of live productions or have gained employment in specific production roles with companies such as: the English National Opera (drawing room), National Theatre (scenic art) and Cameron Mackintosh (model-making). Graduates have also freelanced alongside internationally renowned designers in and out of the UK and worked on gallery installations, festivals, in film and TV, and for events and as community artists and practitioners. Your space to create at NTU We’re committed to helping you explore, expand and refine your craft, as you discover new creative horizons with some truly great tools, equipment and workspaces. Visit our facilities hub at www.ntu.ac.uk/artfacilities to find out more. Our students’ work – ‘We Are Creatives’ Explore our online showcase ‘We Are Creatives’ - celebrating the work of the School of Art & Design students. You will find a sneak peak of some of our students’ work and gain a real insight into what it’s like to be part of the NTU creative community at wearecreativesntu.art

Modules

[Year One]

  • Design for Stage and Screen: Introduction (80 credit points)
  • Contextual Studies: Introducing Research (20 credit points)
  • Skills Passport (20 credit points)
[Year Two]
  • Exploration (Design for Theatre and Live Performance) (60 credit points)
  • Contextual Studies: Research and Impact (20 credit points)
  • Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking (20 credit points)
  • Optional module - You will also choose one 20-credit module from:
Model Making: Object and Narrative Character Ideation Telling Stories Materials and Making Ethical Design 3D Materials and Exploration Millinery: Object and Narrative Storyboarding: Visualising the story, enhancing the narrative [Final year]
  • Exposition (Design for Theatre and Live Performance) (100 credit points)
- Contextual Studies: Research and Professional Practice (20 credit points)

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W460
Institution code:
N91
Campus name:
City Campus
Campus code:
1

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other, and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here, but may have faced barriers that can make it more difficult to access university. We also consider equivalent qualifications and combinations. Please contact Nottingham Trent University Admissions team for further information.

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

The UK Government recently announced an increase to the Home Undergraduate tuition fee from £9,250 (the 2024 entry fee) to £9,535 for 2025 entry. This is subject to Parliamentary approval and is therefore still to be confirmed. The current expectation is that the NTU tuition fee for 2025 entry will be £9,535.
Design for Theatre and Live Performance at Nottingham Trent University - UCAS