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Music, Drama and Performance

Study Music, Drama, and Performance at USW and explore where creativity meets craft. From stage to studio, from story to song, you’ll find inspiration and gain the hands-on experience to compose, perform, direct, or produce your way into the creative industries.

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With access to professional studios, performance spaces, and expert guidance, you’ll develop the confidence, skills, and industry insight to bring your creative vision to life.

Discover Your Creative Stage

Cardiff, the UK’s first Music City, is alive with music, theatre and live performance. You will be part of a thriving creative community and find endless chances to connect, collaborate and develop as a performer.

Practical, hands-on learning

From live shows and theatre productions to recordings and original music projects, every course gives you the chance to develop your craft through real experience.

Create in Professional Facilities

Our facilities are designed to match professional standards. You will work in theatres, black box studios, rehearsal and recording spaces, and fully equipped sound and lighting rooms. Everything you need to perform, produce and create is right here.

Shape your path

Whether you are passionate about acting, writing, directing, music production or live sound, our courses allow you to focus on what matters most to you.

Make your mark at Immersed Festival

Immersed Festival is USW’s award-winning music and arts event, created and run by students. It’s your chance to work with big names, showcase your talent, and be part of something that brings the whole creative community together.

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The side of musician with long blond hair playing a yellow semi-acoustic guitar on a stage with a blurred out audience in the background watching

Music and Drama at USW

drama and performance students in a drama studio

A group of students playing instruments together.

Musicians play on stage at immersed festival

music producing students working at a mixer desk on campus

Music at USW

Music Engineering and Production - MSc

An important element of the music engineering masters is the practical application of your knowledge to generate highly creative work. Allied areas are also examined, which allows graduates to apply their skills in many other media-related fields, including film and animation.

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Music Producing - BA (Hons)

Create, Collaborate, Innovate. Lay the foundations for a successful career in music and sound with our groundbreaking BA Music Producing course.

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Music Production and Songwriting - MA

This innovative Songwriting and Production programme will inspire you to develop your own artistic voice and make lasting connections within the world of songwriting.

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Performance and Media - BA (Hons)

Learn how to be a content creator and producer for live performance and recorded media.

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Popular and Commercial Music - BA (Hons)

The ideal course for anyone passionate about music of all genres or looking to explore their musical talent further.

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Sound, Lighting and Live Event Technology - BSc (Hons)

Learn how to deliver high-quality, safe, reliable systems that make performances technically amazing.

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Theatre and Drama - BA (Hons)

The stage is yours in this immersive and broad ranging theatre and drama degree, built around a theatre festival and performances in all three years of your study. 

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Theatre and Performance - MA

Whether you are an experienced artist wishing to have the time and space to develop your practice or starting out in your career as a theatre maker, drama practitioner, story-teller or educator, the MA Theatre and Performane course will help you fulfill your potential.

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Did you know?

Music producing students in a recording studio.

91% of USW BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama students were satisfied with their course. (National Student Survey 2025).

Did you know?

Music at USW is top in Wales for Teaching Quality

(The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

91% of USW BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama students were satisfied with their course. (National Student Survey 2025).

Inside the Subject

drama and performance students sitting in a drama studio

Step Into the Spotlight

Our Cardiff Campus is built for performance. You’ll have access to a 160-seat auditorium with a sprung stage floor and full lighting rig, plus dance studios, drama spaces, four black box studio theatres and two professional film studios. Everything you need to bring your creative vision to life.

A student sitting at a desk with recording equipment in a recording studio

Create in the Gus Dudgeon Suite

Named after legendary Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon, this professional radio studio is packed with analogue mixing and editing desks, just like those used to produce some of Elton’s most iconic records. It’s a space designed to inspire the next generation of sound innovators.

Record. Stream. Share

Our purpose-built Podcast Studio makes it easy to record or live stream your content with professional quality. The soundproof space includes two Sony Z150 cameras, a Blackmagic Production Studio, lighting rig and professional microphones, giving you everything you need to produce broadcast-ready audio and video podcasts.

Immersed Festival

Immersed is a multi-media Festival curated by Creative Industries students at USW, working in partnership with the local community in aid of climate change charity, Music Declares Emergency.

Immersed Festival

Creative Graduate Festival

Creative Graduate Festival is an online showcase of final-year work from students across the University of South Wales’ creative courses. It highlights the ideas, skills, and projects developed by students as they prepare for careers in the creative industries.

Creative Graduate Festival

Connected to the Industry

Our Music, Drama and Performance courses are developed in partnership with industry experts and delivered by professionals who work in the field. USW Music and Sound is part of the UK Music Academic Partnership (MAP), a collaboration that connects education, research and the wider music industry, giving you direct links to real creative networks.

BA (Hons) Music Producing is endorsed by Grammy-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda. USW partners with Sound Progression to boost opportunities for young musicians.

Pursuing my passion for Music Producing – why I switched courses and came to the University of South Wales

John-Joe Flynn

Music student

Drama student, Tom, takes a selfie against a white wall

I can leave university knowing I'm far more employable

Tom

Performance and Media student

Making a name for myself within the music industry

Foxxglove

Music graduate

Student Zoe, takes a selife whilst wearing camera equipment during her placement at Storm and Shelter

Making the most of my work experience opportunity

Zoe

Performance and Media student

Engaging with industry and starring in a Netflix production

Niamh Davies

Performance and Media student

Building a future in Live Event Technology

Louis Miles

Live Event student

Music student, Joe, sits with his back to a mixing board in a music studio

Music Producing student’s collaboration goes gold in the UK charts

Joe Ridgeway

Music Producing student

Shaila poses for a photo surrounded by lighting equipment. The image is a black and white photograph

Stepping into the spotlight during my studies

Shaila Mudhoo

Theatre and Drama student

Matteo looks intensely at the camera, wearing a denim jacket

I’ve achieved my dream of working in the arts

Matteo Depares

Songwriting and Production graduate

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Study in the heart of Cardiff

Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK too, so it’s perfect for cash-strapped students. There’s always something happening or new places to discover.

Cardiff Campus