COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) at the University of Melbourne is a full-time, immersive program that offers rigorous, studio-based training for aspiring 21st-century performers and theatre-makers. Designed to cultivate both performance and creative leadership skills, the course celebrates the role of the performer as a collaborative artist. Students receive intensive training in core areas such as acting, devising, movement, voice, dramaturgy, and ensemble practice. These foundational skills are applied through a variety of theatre-making provocations including solo and group work, site-specific and applied theatre, and contemporary performance.Throughout the course, students engage with historical and contemporary theatre-making methodologies, gaining a strong theoretical and practical foundation. They also have the opportunity to take part in national and regional projects, intensive residencies, and multiple public performance seasons. These experiences are designed to prepare students for the professional demands of the performing arts industry. The program culminates in a major collaborative project where students conceive, develop, and perform fully produced, original devised works, showcased to invited industry professionals.Students benefit from the guidance of experienced staff and guest artists and work alongside peers from other disciplines within the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), including Dance, Film and Television, and Production. This interdisciplinary collaboration reflects the realities of contemporary theatre and supports the development of well-rounded, adaptable artists.A distinctive feature of the program is the breadth study component. Students can choose subjects from VCA electives or across the wider University of Melbourne. This allows exploration beyond theatre, with options including music, visual art, languages, Indigenous studies, psychology, marketing, law, and more. These subjects help broaden creative perspectives and support career versatility.Graduates are recognised for their creative and collaborative strengths and contribute meaningfully to Australia’s theatre scene and related industries such as film, TV, education, and community arts.