BA (HONS) TOP-UP TECHNICAL PRODUCTION

Validated by University of East Anglia

Duration: 1 Year Full-Time
Application Deadline: Aug 18 2025 at 9:00AM

2025/26 Course Fees

Application fee : Free
UK/ROI students : £10,125
International students : £18,760
APPLY FOR THIS COURSE

Explore the course:

Course Overview
Course Content
Graduates
Entry
Fees
Auditions and interviews

Course Overview

Mountview also offers a two-year Foundation degree (FdA) in Technical Production which provides fast-track training – find out more here.

The BA (Hons) Top-Up is open to Mountview students currently studying on the FdA course, as well as non-Mountview graduates with relevant qualifications or experience.

Mountview produces over 20 in-house productions each year in our state-of-the-art theatres, giving Technical Production students a vast array of learning experiences, including:

  • Hands-on training with contemporary equipment
  • Technical stagecraft skills including rigging and flying and installation of live productions
  • Sound studio skills including recording and editing technology and techniques
  • Lighting studio skills including computerised drafting and visualisation software
  • Understanding and designing lighting and sound systems
  • Prepping, fitting, and monitoring radio mic systems
  • Planning, prepping and managing lighting equipment for live productions
  • Programming and mixing industry standard sound desks on plays and musicals
  • Programming and operating lighting desks, including working with generic and moving lighting equipment
  • Creating sound, lighting and video designs for live productions
  • Technical and maintenance skills such as power distribution, soldering and other skills needed by the modern production professional

Read about freelancing as a Production Arts student here.

 

Course Content

Mountview’s Technical Production training is primarily focussed on sound and lighting, while also incorporating video and technical stage craft. Course content includes lighting and sound studio skills, the preparation and management of technical equipment, lighting and sound system design, how to programme and operate desks, video mapping and design, as well as core technical and maintenance skills.

Mountview is internationally recognised for the quality of its Musical Theatre training and produces at least eight large-scale musicals in-house every year, providing Technical Production students with extensive experience of the musical format.

As part of the BA (Hons) Top-Up, students have the option to select a specialism in which to develop a greater depth of experience.

2025/26 Term Dates
Autumn term 8 September – 14 December 2025
Spring term 5 January – 19 April 2026
Summer term 20 April – 19 June 2026

*Please note – All Production Arts students will not have a two-week break over Easter. All students will have a two-week break but they are scheduled around show roles. All students must speak with their course leader before booking any holidays/travel.

delivery

The BA (Hons) Top-Up course is a full-time one-year course with 30 contact hours per week over 36 weeks in each year. With continuous assessment across all the compulsory modules, students work alongside professional lighting and sound designers, technicians and programmers.

Students have the option to select a specialism in which to develop a greater depth of experience. All specialisms are built on a robust foundation of transferable skills and strong emphasis is placed on learning through practice.

Please note that work on in-house productions requires attendance in the evenings and weekends.

Students also undertake work placements with external organisations, allowing them to develop a network of professional contacts and gain valuable experience. Previous placement destinations have included Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Globe, Wiltons Music Hall, National Theatre, Cabaret, Park Theatre and the Barbican.

Advanced Production Roles

Design opportunities and lead role/s on public production/s

Industry Research

Further career development training

Our Graduates

Mountview Technical Production graduates enter a strong network of successful professionals working in lighting, sound and technical production. Their work spans large-scale national, West End and regional theatres, international touring productions, festivals and events, as well as TV, film and media companies.

Production Arts graduates have gone on to work with a diverse range of companies including the National Theatre, Secret Cinema, Hamilton, Mamma Mia, Eurovision, Les Miserables and the Olympics.

Entry Information

Applicants must be aged 18 or turn 18 within the first term of the course, and have achieved 240 credits (120 per year) from an equivalent technical theatre or production arts course. You do not need to have completed these credits at Mountview.

Entry is based on an interview at which you will be invited to talk about previous experience, interests and inspiration.

If an applicant requires a student visa and their first language is not English, they will need to prove their knowledge of the English language before applying for their student visa. This must be demonstrated by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider or, having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that they began when they were under 18

Mountview welcomes applications from people with disabilities and is keen to support all applicants to achieve their best. If applicants have any special requirements or access needs, these should be discussed with the course leader/administrator.

Mountview is committed to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities for students in which individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. No applicant will receive less or more favourable treatment on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion and marital/parental status or any comparable grounds.

Upon offer, students must be sure that they are prepared to engage with a wide range of material that may challenge their personal ethical, religious, spiritual or moral beliefs, and present it in a wide range of settings.

Fees

Application feeFree
UK/ROI students£10,125
International students£18,760

Students may apply for a maximum Student Tuition Fee Loan of £6,000. For more information, please refer to our Funding and Scholarships page below.

Additional costs may include a basic tool kit and transport.

Funding and Scholarships

Interview Information

All Production Arts candidates will take part in a first-round interview with senior course tutors, at which you will discuss your interests, influences and production arts experience. You will be required to submit examples of work. This will be either online or, if possible, at Mountview with the opportunity to meet staff and students and tour our building and theatres.

Auditions and Interviews