Overview

The Graduate Musical Theatre Writing programme at New York University offers an intensive environment for artists to master the complexities of musical storytelling. This master’s degree brings together a diverse cohort of collaborators to push the boundaries of opera, musical theatre, and experimental music-theatre across various media platforms.

Students engage in a rigorous two-year journey that emphasises the essential relationship between music, lyrics, and bookwriting. By participating in specialised writing workshops, participants refine their craft through a continuous process of creation and rewriting. The curriculum is designed to help each artist discover and strengthen their unique creative voice while working alongside peers from around the globe.

Why Graduate Musical Theatre Writing at New York University?

New York University provides an unparalleled location for aspiring musical theatre creators, offering direct access to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and major opera houses. The programme is recognised for its global reach, with alumni and faculty hailing from over 40 countries and winning prestigious industry awards. Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaborations across the Tisch School of the Arts, utilising world-class resources to support their creative research and original productions.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 76646 per year
National fee: USD 76646 per year
Local fee: USD 76646 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is delivered through a non-traditional format that prioritises collaborative labs and team-taught seminars. Modules may include:

Writing Lab
Storytelling in Music, Lyrics, and Book
Collaboration
Rewriting Process
Musical Theatre Seminars
Master Classes
Creative Research

Careers with Graduate Musical Theatre Writing

Graduates of the programme are highly successful in the global entertainment industry, securing roles as composers, lyricists, and bookwriters. Alumni work is frequently seen on Broadway and in regional theatres across the United States and internationally. Beyond the stage, graduates find opportunities in film, television, and recorded audio, with many receiving critical acclaim and major industry honours for their contributions to the form.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Music for Wordspeople

Collaboration Class with New Studio on Broadway

Composer/Lyricist Class

Choreographers, Composers, & Designers

Film Scoring

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

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Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

New York City, United States

Disciplines

Music Creative Writing Drama View 381 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

125

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Copies of academic transcripts from any schools in which you received a college degree or attended for two or more years.

Two letters of recommendation from academic, artistic or professional references

Professional or artistic resume

Statement of Purpose

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

76646 USD / year

≈ 76646 USD / year
Out-of-State

76646 USD / year

≈ 76646 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

76646 USD / year

≈ 76646 USD / year

Living costs

New York City

United States

1819 - 3968 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Graduate Musical Theatre Writing.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

New York City

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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