Course
Overview
This highly practical course enables you to advance and develop your skills as a creative designer for performance.
By working on our extensive programme of public performances, you become a versatile practitioner, who feels equally at home designing for theatre, film and TV, dance, music and site-specific performances. Our approach allows you to create your own pathway and curate a compelling CV and portfolio that matches your ambitions.
Accredited By:
What You Will
Study
Design and Making Skills
This module develops your awareness of the importance of research in the design process and how it can be applied in relation to a finished design. A highly practical module, you are introduced to a wide range of design and costume and prop making skills. It involves individual and collaborative work and culminates with a design-led presentation/performance.
Design and Fabrication
This module introduces you to a wide range of practical design and fabrication skills needed for set design and creation. You also develop a firm knowledge and understanding of the design and fabrication processes associated with performance, exhibition, installation, and live events. A practical project, in collaboration with first year Theatre and Production Technology students, enables you to experience the complete production process, from concept to realisation.
Production Process
This highly practical module gives you the opportunity to work on a LIPA production or productions in the areas of set and costume realisation. It enables you to develop a keen sense of what it takes to get a show on, how it runs (particularly in relation to costume) and how to safely dispose/salvage elements in an organised and an environmentally friendly way.
Design From Text
This module provides you with the opportunity to develop and apply many of the skills acquired in the modules Design and Fabrication and Design and Making Skills, through an individual hypothetical design project. You design for a given text, for a specific space, in collaboration with a professional theatre director. This enables you to develop your understanding, knowledge and skills in set design, costume design, technical drawing, and lighting design in a production context.
Research Project 1
This module is designed to ensure you can place your work and the work of others in both a broad socio-cultural context and within the context of the theories and practice of your own practical discipline. You develop your understanding by taking part in debates and seminars, extending your cultural reference points and developing vocational critical analytical skills.
Making and Design Practice A (Option)
Depending on what you would prefer to focus on, you choose between Making and Design Practice A and Making and Design Practice B. In Making and Design Practice A you have an opportunity to develop and refine the design and making skills you acquired in your first year by working on a practical project. The project is designed to suit the group or individual’s need but includes at least one of costume construction/deconstruction, costume props, live art, puppetry and scenic art. Throughout you experiment with new ways of working and are introduced to areas of specialist study.
Making and Design Practice B (Option)
Depending on what you would prefer to focus on, you choose between Making and Design Practice A and Making and Design Practice B. In Making and Design Practice B you have an opportunity to develop and refine the design and making skills you acquired in your first year, with an emphasis on advanced making skills, by working on a practical project. The project is designed to suit the group or individual’s need but includes at least one of costume construction/deconstruction, costume props, live art, puppetry and scenic art. Throughout you are encouraged experiment with new ways of working and are introduced to areas of specialist study.
Hypothetical Design Project
This module enables you to develop and advance the skills you learnt in your first year Design from Text module by working on two contrasting hypothetical projects. One is a text based in collaboration with a director and one is independent. With both, there is an emphasis on the development and presentation of innovative ideas.
The Assistant Designer
This module enables you to gain a greater understanding of the role of a designer by working as an assistant to a third-year designer on a LIPA or external production. You are part of the design process from conception to get-out. This module prepares you for taking on the role of designer in your third year.
Industry Placement
This module is a chance for you to gain industry experience in your chosen field of work. Guided by the module leader, you research suitable placements within the performance, design and production industries before selecting and securing your own placement. This module enables you to increase your understanding of industry practices, develop your CV and employability while expanding your professional network.
Research Project 2
This module further expands and deepens your awareness of cultural context by understanding how the performing arts are influenced by the social and political environment in which they operate. Through a series of lectures, masterclasses, field visits and research study you develop an appreciation of key theatre practitioners, directions, genres and national and local contemporary cultural, social and political issues in related areas of study.
The Designer
In this module you undertake at least two senior production roles on a LIPA public season production, an external production or an independent project which reflects your own career aspirations. This enables you to apply your specialist skills to realise a production or project in full, strengthening your self-management skills and working practices as you experience simulated industry practice.
Portfolio and Professional Career
In this module you consider your personal and professional skills and strengths as you prepare for your career. You cover management and financial skills, including tax self-assessment, indemnity and public liability insurances, unions and organisations. You identify and complete a professional development activity to support your personal career plan. The module culminates in the creation of a professional portfolio.
Research Informed Practice
This module builds on the research projects of your first and second years and offers you the chance to undertake research that includes practical work. This area of practice-led research can be of your choosing and relevant to your professional needs, aspirations and interests. You create a piece of practice as research, critically reflecting on and analysing your findings as you present your conclusions.
How You Will
Study
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars
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Workshops
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Practical Productions
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Independent Study
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Group Work
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Masterclasses
How You Will Be
Assessed
You are continually assessed on your practical work and contribution to projects – both on your working process and your realised design. There is written work in the form of evaluations of your practical work and a final research project at the end of your third year when you explore an area of your choice.
Practical/written work ratio
80% practical work / 20% written assignments
Validation
LIPA aims to have probationary degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, allowing us to take full control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event LIPA does not achieve probationary degree awarding powers, our degrees will be validated by Liverpool John Moores University.
Our
Facilities
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Theatre and Performance Design students work closely on costumed performance projects with students from other courses for up to 15 productions throughout the year.
The airy and spacious workshops provide inspirational spaces for realising designs through building shows.
The Costume Workroom is fully equipped with industrial and domestic machinery, a multitude of tailor’s mannequins and a range of hand tools. LIPA also has a well-equipped Laundry and Dye room with industrial washing machines and tumble driers, a drying cabinet, dye-vats and spray booth.
The Wardrobe Store contains a wide range of costumes and accessories ranging from Medieval to modern day, uniforms to dance wear, which can be accessed by LIPA students for shows and independent projects.
Prop Making Workshop
There are two rooms dedicated to prop making, which include sinks, an extensive range of tools, a large walk-in spray booth and a small table top spray unit.
Scenic Workshop
Situated behind the Paul McCartney Auditorium, the workshop is equipped with metalworking and woodworking machinery and is used for set and prop construction and painting for productions. It is also a practical teaching area for Theatre and Performance Design and Theatre and Production Technology students.
Lighting
LIPA’s venues and teaching spaces hold up-to-date professional lighting equipment, allowing students to experiment and practise using tungsten, discharge and LED source generic and intelligent fixtures.
LIPA also has a range of industry-standard lighting desks which includes ETC Eos, Gio and Ion, Avolites Pearl, Wholehog, Strand and Jands Vista consoles. Our new lighting programming suite has three-dimensional computer visualisation software, such as AutoCAD, Vectorworks and Cast WYSIWYG. This dedicated suite provides students the freedom to practise and perfect their lighting programming and operation skills for theatre and performance.
Performance Venues
When working on productions in either the Paul McCartney Auditorium or the George Harrison Workshop Studio, you will get the opportunity to use high-spec, industry-standard equipment for lighting and special effects. The PMA is a 350-seater traditional proscenium arch theatre and our largest performance space. It is equipped with counterweight flying facilities. The George Harrison Workshop Studio seats around 100 people and is a fully equipped experimental performance space that offers creatives a 'blank canvas' for productions.
Technical Services
LIPA’s Technical Services team can help with general technical queries and booking out equipment for short-term loan. Loan equipment includes musical instruments, microphones, various recording and playback equipment, digital video and stills cameras and AV equipment.
Term-time opening hours allow you access to Technical Services from 9am until 11pm every weekday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. Outside of term time it is open on weekdays from 9am - 5pm.
Learning Resources Centre
LIPA’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is a specialist creative and performing arts library with an extensive collection of books, e-books, scores, CDs, DVDs, e-resources, print and electronic journals. Whether you are looking for individual songs or scripts, background research or creative inspiration, the LRC Team will be able to help. The LRC offer support sessions in ICT and study skills through subject specific lectures, as well as one-to-one and drop-in sessions, ensuring you get the most out of your study. The LRC website provides the gateway to LIPA’s online catalogue and electronic resources and includes links to a wide selection of help sheets and video guides.
In addition, LIPA’s virtual learning provision which includes Moodle, holds a variety of subject-specific learning materials, such as lecture notes, useful web links and module information. The majority of these services are available off-campus. LIPA’s integrated learning environment has a variety of study spaces, including individual and group work areas, and an open-access computer suite. Facilities include printing, copying and scanning, plus binding and laminating equipment.
A range of stationery is available for purchase to support your studies. Opening hours during term time are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. The LRC may be closed for some weeks in June and is also closed during July and August.
ICT Services
LIPA's Information, Communications and Technology Department provides the infrastructure and services framework that enable students to exploit the latest information and communication developments. Industry-standard computer resources are running the latest productivity software on high specification workstations in dedicated computer suites. LIPA also has a colour A0 plotter, ideal for floor plans. All PCs are installed with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office & Project as standard.
There is also access to a range of additional specialist software installed on selected workstations. These include AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, EarMaster, Sibelius, MindManager, Vectorworks and WYSIWYG. All workstations have access to the Internet, email and other electronic resources.
There is free Wi-Fi access throughout our buildings for students and staff members via the Eduroam network which provides a world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. Specialist ICT staff are available to answer questions, give assistance and advise on ICT issues.
LIPA Bar & Canteen
As well as serving food and drink, the bar and canteen are the hub of social activity within LIPA with both spaces licensed for performances.
The canteen is the venue for LIPA’s weekly gig night, The 2ube. Most Fridays the 2ube features live performances, showcasing musicians from LIPA and Liverpool’s music scene. The event is a collaboration between Management, Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Production Technology students.
The canteen also hosts open mic and jukebox shuffle nights, and independent student organised performances and benefit nights. The bar hosts regular quiz nights and Student Event Board parties.
The bar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 3pm - 11pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm - 10pm, with extended hours for special events.
The canteen is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm, serving food and drink at student-friendly prices.
LIPA is also home to a 92 Degrees Coffee shop. The popular Liverpool independent has a number of coffee stores and roasteries across the north west. It serves up barista coffee and cakes in the Art School Atrium during term time.
Sheryl-Lynne Valensky
Head of Theatre and Performance Design and Production Technology
Sheryl-Lynne has over 20 years of experience in stage management. Specialising in Musical Theatre and Circus she worked for Cirque Du Soleil for 10 years as artistic director, assistant artistic director and general stage manager, touring internationally with five shows. Sheryl-Lynne's other stage management credits include Disney Presents The Lion King and Phantom of The Opera, both in Toronto as well as numerous music and award ceremonies both live and broadcast. An experienced educator, she has previously worked at Guildford School of Acting and East 15 Acting School.
Sheryl-Lynne teaches the roles of stage manager, deputy stage manager and assistant stage manager. As Head of Department, she works closely with production teams to help ensure the quality of shows and performances is maintained and that it is the students who are driving the production process.
Sheryl-Lynne's extensive and varied experience enables her to bring a unique perspective to her teaching, highlighting to students how they too can create their own individual career path that matches their passions and strengths. Her international work means she is well equipped to give insights into practice outside the UK and highlight global opportunities.
Lois Maskell
Programme Leader - Theatre & Performance Design
Lois has been shortlisted for the Linbury Prize for Stage Design and was a finalist in the BBC Design Vision competition. Recent collaborations as a set and costume designer include Action Transport Theatre, 20 Stories High, Royal Exchange in Manchester and the BBC comedy series The Mighty Boosh. In 2012, her site-specific designs for renowned company dreamthinkspeak were selected to represent UK design for performance in an exhibition at the V&A Museum in London. She believes that giving students the freedom to learn is essential for them to develop new skills. Her continued professional practice ensures her teaching is current and reflects industry standards.
Paul Halgarth
Programme Leader: Theatre & Performance Technology
Paul has worked as a freelance lighting designer, re-lighter, lighting control programmer and production electrician. He has worked for the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on drama, musical and dance productions, as well as co-productions with Birmingham Rep, Liverpool Everyman, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Slung Low, among many others. He exhibited a lighting design for Flight Paths at the exhibition, Make: Believe in 2015. Paul’s experience with some of the industry’s leading lighting designers and creative teams on different scale events means he can impart industry-standard practices and equip students with the skills needed to work in the field.
Emma Wright
Lecturer
Emma worked as a design assistant, scene painter, prop maker and production co-ordinator at a special effects creature workshop at Shepperton Studios, before becoming a production manager at the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse. She enjoys running explorative making workshops and using her breadth of experience to mentor students on their production work, encouraging them to apply and develop their skills on varied projects. Emma feels that learning on the job is a great way to nurture practical skills, as well as a committed work ethic and collaborative skills – and hopefully have fun at the same time.
Karen Berg
Lecturer
From a very early age Karen has been passionate about clothes and costume. Having trained in Fashion Design at Loughborough College of Art & Design, she began her career in costume, as a wardrobe assistant at the prestigious Haymarket Theatre Leicester (now the Curve Theatre), during which time she had the opportunity to work with some prestigious designers and actors. The following year she became head of wardrobe in Leicester at the Phoenix Arts Centre. Her costume design career took off in Liverpool, at the Everyman Theatre where she spent 10 years as costume designer and head of costume. Since the mid-1980s Karen’s career has been firmly based in the Northwest where she has also had the opportunity to work in most areas of the industry including theatre, Film, TV and commercials. In the early part of this century Karen, worked on the award-winning teen drama Hollyoaks, as art director. In more recent years Karen has returned to the world of costume and fashion, to teach within Liverpool Education Authority, City of Liverpool Community College and now LIPA. Karen is a fully qualified teacher at post 16 years with a Cert Ed & a PGCert. Karen is also a member of The Costume Society & the teaching union, UCU and sits on LIPA’s Green Team committee, whose aim is to make LIPA a more sustainable and environmentally active institution.
What Our
Graduates Do
Our graduates work in theatre (regional, West End, UK and international touring productions), film and TV. Their career achievements have included:
Lisa Jones (2019)
Freelance designer and maker. Dresser on The Nutcracker for Birmingham Royal Ballet, costume trainee for Netflix and Sky 1, wardrobe assistant for Welsh National Opera.
Kirsty Barlow (2018)
Finalist for The Linbury Prize in 2019. Work includes assistant set and costume designer for Sweeney Todd at the Liverpool Everyman, Seagulls at The Bolton Octagon and Ugly Bucket’s streamed performance Good Grief.
Alfie Heywood (2016)
Assistant to leading stage designer Christopher Oram on Garsington Opera’s The Turn of the Screw, Bitter Wheat, West End and Geisha for Northern Ballet.
Heledd Rees (2016)
Recent costume design credits include an immersive production of The Wolf of Wall Street in the City of London and a socially-distanced The Great Gatsby at ImmersiveLDN.
George Leigh (2016)
Winner of European Opera Prize with director Karolina Sofulak and designed Manon Lescaut for Opera Holland Park. Associate designer to Charles Edwards on productions for La Scala, Opera North and Santa Fe Opera.
Jasmine Swan (2016)
Nominated for The Stage Debut Award for Best Designer in 2018 for her debut season of work. Finalist in the Linbury Prize.
Jess Imrie (2015)
Production buyer working in TV and film. Credits include Sanditon (ITV), Silent Witness (BBC) and It’s a Sin (Channel 4).
Kathryn Nolan (2015)
Senior consultant with leading international theatre, acoustic and digital consultancy company Charcoal Blue, based in New York.
Frankie Bradshaw (2014)
Set and costume designer. She won the 2019 Stage Debut Award for Best Creative West End Debut, alongside director Lynette Linton, for Sweat at the Donmar Warehouse and Gielgud Theatre.
Grace Smart (2014)
Set and costume designer. Credits include Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual at Curve theatre, Leicester; Good Vibrations at Lyric Theatre, Belfast and Killer Joe at Trafalgar Studios, West End. Winner of the Linbury Prize 2015
Morgan Large (2003)
Award-winning West End set and costume designer
Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.
Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.
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"Students being able to have their designs realised in full productions is absolutely invaluable. It means that not only is LIPA training imaginative, creative, designers but also giving their students a real sense of the collaboration and practical skills required in the professional world of Theatre and Performance."
Bunny Christie
Set designer working in the West End and Broadway and film. Winner of four Olivier Awards and one Tony Award.
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"You have an amazing institution that gives the students the possibility to grow in a warm and nourishing incubator."
Felice Ross
International lighting designer working in theatre, opera and dance in Europe, Israel, South Korea, South Africa and the USA
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"I’ve worked with LIPA students and graduates. One of them has even joined our team. She has proved beyond doubt that LIPA can deliver."
Patrick Woodroffe
Lighting designer, awarded OBE and Royal Designer for the industry
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"It has been my great privilege and pleasure to have learnt so much, benefited so greatly from my experience working with the many LIPA graduates that have assisted me over the last few years."
Christopher Oram
Olivier, Tony and Critics Award-winning theatre designer
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Many of these are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Equipment
There are a number of things you will be required to have at the beginning of your course. We understand that most students have to work to a very tight budget so we have limited the required tools to those that are absolutely essential for you to be able to start work here. We will send you a list of essentials before you enrol but items you are likely to need will include comfortable safety (steel toe cap) shoes as well as rulers, including a scale ruler, craft knives, a junior hacksaw and a good set of drawing pens and pencils.
You may need other equipment as you progress through your studies, but in addition to these standard items, designers will also need dressmaking scissors, a hot glue gun and a collection of paint brushes but more specific requirements will be sent to you before enrolment. One of the main costs is cardboard and paper for individual design projects, though these are only once per teaching year.
At the very end of the course each designer is required to create a professional standard portfolio. There are inevitably printing and binding costs associated with this task, but most people see it as an important investment for their future career.
Trips and training courses
As part of the various modules on the programme, some class trips may be offered to help support your learning. Some of these will form part of the curriculum but most will be important additions to your work. Some trips may be free or subsidised but you may be required to cover some costs yourself. There is usually a compulsory trip to Manchester in term one for designers for which we charge around £15 to £20.
Throughout your studies there will also be opportunities to attend training courses that will help you enhance your skills and employability. These are not compulsory but you will have to make a contribution towards the cost of the training courses you choose to attend. The opportunities offered vary each year but past courses have included First Aid training and Cueing to Music.
Seeing shows
You should see live performances as often as you can. This is not a compulsory, but it will help your development as a designer. Theatre visits are not covered by your tuition fees, so you’ll need to cover these costs yourself. Most theatres offer student discounts for tickets (becoming a member of YEP means you have access to cheap tickets at the Liverpool Playhouse and Everyman Theatre) and we are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. We also encourage you to see all LIPA shows. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible. Every year we organise trips to theatres in Manchester. In these cases, ticket costs and travel needs to be met by each individual.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool is one the UK's cheapest student cities. Accommodation costs are relatively low, particularly compared to the south east of England, and the city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts.
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Many of these are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Equipment
There are a number of things you will be required to have at the beginning of your course. We understand that most students have to work to a very tight budget so we have limited the required tools to those that are absolutely essential for you to be able to start work here. We will send you a list of essentials before you enrol but items you are likely to need will include comfortable safety (steel toe cap) shoes as well as rulers, including a scale ruler, craft knives, a junior hacksaw and a good set of drawing pens and pencils.
You may need other equipment as you progress through your studies, but in addition to these standard items, designers will also need dressmaking scissors, a hot glue gun and a collection of paint brushes but more specific requirements will be sent to you before enrolment. One of the main costs is cardboard and paper for individual design projects, though these are only once per teaching year.
At the very end of the course each designer is required to create a professional standard portfolio. There are inevitably printing and binding costs associated with this task, but most people see it as an important investment for their future career.
Trips and training courses
As part of the various modules on the programme, some class trips may be offered to help support your learning. Some of these will form part of the curriculum but most will be important additions to your work. Some trips may be free or subsidised but you may be required to cover some costs yourself. There is usually a compulsory trip to Manchester in term one for designers for which we charge around £15 to £20.
Throughout your studies there will also be opportunities to attend training courses that will help you enhance your skills and employability. These are not compulsory but you will have to make a contribution towards the cost of the training courses you choose to attend. The opportunities offered vary each year but past courses have included First Aid training and Cueing to Music.
Seeing shows
You should see live performances as often as you can. This is not a compulsory, but it will help your development as a designer. Theatre visits are not covered by your tuition fees, so you’ll need to cover these costs yourself. Most theatres offer student discounts for tickets (becoming a member of YEP means you have access to cheap tickets at the Liverpool Playhouse and Everyman Theatre) and we are occasionally offered a limited number of free or discounted tickets for shows in the city. We also encourage you to see all LIPA shows. We offer discounted student tickets to make this as affordable as possible. Every year we organise trips to theatres in Manchester. In these cases, ticket costs and travel needs to be met by each individual.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool is one the UK's cheapest student cities. Accommodation costs are relatively low, particularly compared to the south east of England, and the city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
View the programme specification on the LJMU course catalogue here