UCAS code | W400 |
---|---|
Duration | 3 years |
Entry year | 2025 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Drama |
Contact | Web: Enquire online |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
UCAS code | W401 |
---|---|
Duration | 4 years |
Entry year | 2025 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Drama |
Contact | Web: Enquire online |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
UCAS code | W402 |
---|---|
Duration | 4 years |
Entry year | 2025 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Drama |
Contact | Web: Enquire online |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
UCAS code | W403 |
---|---|
Duration | 4 years |
Entry year | 2025 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Drama |
Contact | Web: Enquire online |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
Overview
- Develop your performance skills alongside your understanding of the social, historical and cultural content of theatre and performance
- Advance your practical skills through public performance and community-based activities
- Studio-based work will equip you with communication and organisation skills and will enhance your creative development and analytical skills
- Throughout the programme you will get equal opportunities and challenges to act, direct, write or create dramatic events
2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics
2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025
Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
For Drama, Dance and Cinematics
Professional standard performance spaces
State-of-the-art production facilities for video, sound and scenic design
2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics
2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025
Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
For Drama, Dance and Cinematics
Professional standard performance spaces
State-of-the-art production facilities for video, sound and scenic design
Since studying Drama at Exeter, I have been academically and practically challenged with creating new work that has led me to develop my own skills and research.
I am also lucky to have been involved with the common purpose study which allowed me to travel to Philadelphia to experience culture for my developing projects and studio-based work.
The lecturers in the Drama department are world leaders in academic research and industry development and are always encouraging and nurturing with any issues or ideas you may have, personal or industry related.
Beth
BA Drama
Entry requirements (typical offer)
Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
---|---|---|
A-Level | ABB | n/a |
IB | 32/655 | n/a |
BTEC | DDM | n/a |
GCSE | C or 4 | English Language |
Access to HE | 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade. | N/A |
T-Level | Distinction | n/a |
Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBC |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
Other accepted qualifications | ||
English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
Drama Workshops
We plan to run optional workshop sessions for our offer holders. At these workshops, offer holders will have the opportunity to participate in a practical workshop with a member of the Drama team, getting a flavour for the research-led studio practice that we undertake at Exeter and seeing us work in our spacious and high-tech studios.
Offer holders will be contacted directly with invitations for the workshops. If you have any questions, please contact hums-ugadmissions@exeter.ac.uk
Course content
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
The first year comprises four core modules. In the first term you will study a studio-based module and a lecture/seminar-based module, which will introduce you to collaborative creation and global theatre history, respectively.
In the second term your practical work will focus on staging a dramatic text and your other module will equip you to do performance analysis.
120 credits of compulsory Drama modules
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
DRA1015 | Theatre Histories | 30 |
DRA1016 | Performance Analysis | 30 |
DRA1017 | Staging the Text | 30 |
DRA1018 | The Creative Actor | 30 |
The second year comprises all optional modules. You can take a studio-based module and a seminar module in each term, choosing from a broad range of options. This is where you can develop your own degree pathway, choosing modules that interest you and that will help you to gain expertise.
You can integrate work experience into your degree in the module HUM2000 Humanities in the Workplace.
120 credits of optional modules - Students can only take one practice module and one Drama seminar module per term.
Optional modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
Drama Stage 2 Option Modules 2024-5 | ||
DRA2026 | Applied Drama: Interactive Theatre | 30 |
DRA2042 | Puppetry and Object Theatre | 30 |
DRA2044 | Acting Shakespeare | 30 |
DRA2045 | Theatre and Health | 30 |
DRA2047 | Interpretive Acting | 30 |
DRA2061B | Digital Theatrecrafts | 30 |
DRA2072 | Culture in / as Performance | 30 |
DRA2076 | Playwriting | 30 |
DRA2077 | Theatre for Environmental Change | 30 |
DRA2083 | Intermedial Performance Practice | 30 |
DRA2087 | Activism and Performance | 30 |
DRA2089 | Popular Entertainment and Performance Documentation | 30 |
DRA2092 | Modernist Drama in Contemporary Theatre | 30 |
DRA2096 | Voices Across Stage and Screen | 30 |
DRA2104 | Approaches to Comedy | 30 |
DRA2105 | Eco-Theatre: Outdoor and Immersive Performance | 30 |
DRA2108 | Introduction to Creative Producing: Making Change and Shifting Cultures | 30 |
DRA2109 | Ensemble Acting: Co-Creation | 30 |
DRA2110 | Political Theatre: The 1980s | 30 |
DRA2111 | Live Art and Spatial Practices | 30 |
Typically, any placement year will take place in Year 3. If you are not taking a placement year please see the Final Year modules for year 3.
With Study Abroad
120 credit compulsory placement module
For your year abroad you will agree a suite of modules in your host institution with the Faculty Study Abroad Coordinator. Details of individual modules that may be taken whilst abroad can be found by accessing the partner institution’s factfile at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/international/abroad/where/ and navigating to the “Course Requirements” section of that factfile where a link to the modules on offer in the partner institution is displayed.
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
HAS3999 | Study Abroad (HASS) | 120 |
With Employment Experience
With Employment Experience Abroad
In your final year you can choose another seminar module and a studio-based module in Term 1, building on what you learned in Year 2 and exploring new areas of interest. In your second term you will draw on all that you have learned throughout your degree in two core modules. In these modules you will (a) conduct research and complete an original dissertation in a topic of your choosing from within the field of theatre and performance studies and (b) complete a major practice-based project of your own devising.
60 credits of compulsory Drama modules and 60 credits of optional modules - Students can only take one practice module and one Drama seminar module per term.
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
DRA3061 | Practical Essay | 30 |
DRA3094 | Theatre Dissertation | 30 |
Optional modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
Drama Final Stage Option Modules 2024-5 | ||
DRA3011 | Practice II: Technical Specialisation | 30 |
DRA3012 | Theatre Practice I: Applied Drama | 30 |
DRA3050 | Creative Industries Management | 30 |
DRA3051 | Voice for the Actor | 30 |
DRA3061 | Practical Essay | 30 |
DRA3088 | Women and Theatre 1700-1928 | 30 |
DRA3092 | Theatre for a Changing Climate | 30 |
DRA3094 | Theatre Dissertation | 30 |
DRA3095 | Music Drama | 30 |
DRA3100 | Physical Performance | 30 |
DRA3102 | Audio Dramaturgy: Theatre of the Ear | 30 |
DRA3104 | Approaches to Acting | 30 |
DRA3105 | Theatre for Environmental Change | 30 |
DRA3106 | Acting for Screen | 30 |
DRA3107 | Theatres Against Colonialism | 30 |
Course variants
UCAS code: W401
Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.
Why Study Abroad?
Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.
Where can I Study Abroad?
We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.
Does it count towards my degree?
Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your College Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.
How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?
For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.
UCAS code: W402
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK as part of your degree.
Why choose to include Employment Experience?
Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career. A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.
Where will I do my work placement?
The sector you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.
How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?
For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.
Find out more
Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities.
UCAS code: W403
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.
Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?
Spending up to a year living and working in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.
Where will I do my work placement?
The sector and country you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.
How does it affect my tuition fee?
For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.
Is the placement paid?
You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.
Find out more
Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
We teach mainly through studio sessions, which means you will practise the subject as you learn. At the start of the programme, the emphasis is on group collaborative work which becomes the basis for the development of your individual interests and skills. Practical class sizes are limited to around 20.
As well as attending sessions and writing essays and assignments, you will be expected to deliver presentations and lead workshops. We encourage presentation work because it involves you actively in the teaching and learning process as well as developing important life skills such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment of each module varies and may include continuous assessment, essay, performance and portfolio or viva interview. In the first year, most work is assessed continuously through studio practice, seminars and essays. There are currently no written exams for Single Honours Drama students. You are required to pass your first year in order to progress, but these results do not count towards your final degree classification. The assessments in the second year and final year will contribute to your final degree classification.
Facilities
Drama is based on two sites on the Streatham Campus. All the practical spaces we use are reserved solely for Drama students, giving us a high degree of flexibility.
Our facilities include two digital media suites and upgraded technical facilities. We have six studios fully equipped for stage lighting and sound, 10 other studios and seminar rooms, two sound studios, a video and multimedia studio, state-of-the-art computer facilities for lighting and sound design, costume and props stores and workshops for set construction, costume and prop-making.
Research-inspired teaching
Teaching that is inspired by research ensures lectures are up-to-date and relevant; you will benefit from access to the latest thinking, equipment and resources. All staff teach second and third year options which are linked to their own interests, including areas such as theories of actor training, non-Western performance, 20th and 21st century theatre practitioners, site-specific performance, applied performance, gender and performance, theatre history, music theatre, arts management and the politics of culture.
Other opportunities
The Term Three Festival is a fringe-style experience, providing Drama students with exciting opportunities to showcase additional self-directed, non-assessed work. Students produce their own performances, take part in workshops, receive technical and practical training, participate in careers and employability sessions and watch over 50 brand new performances as part of the event. All students have the option to get involved with the Drama Society and a number of student-run theatre companies supported by the Students’ Guild.
Academic support
You will have access to an academic tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There are also several services on campus where you can get advice and information, including the Students’ Guild Advice Unit.
Taking modules outside your course
Depending on your programme you can take up to 30 credits each year in another subject, for instance a language or business module, to develop career-related skills or widen your intellectual horizons. If you achieve at least 60 credits in a language via our Language Centre you may be able to have the words ‘with proficiency in’ and the language added to your degree title.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
Your future
Employer-valued skills this course develops
Studying Drama will equip you with valuable skills for graduate-level work in a great range of sectors. Alongside your performance skills, you will learn to critically engage with the social, historical and cultural contexts surrounding theatre. Through studio-based work, you will become a highly capable communicator, who will be able to adapt to individual and teamwork scenarios.
You will also develop a range of professional transferable skills in time management, team-working, accurate note taking, research and IT. In addition, you’ll gain valuable critical, analytical and communication skills.
Career Zone
The services offered by the Humanities careers and employability team are complimentary to the services offered by our central Career Zone, where you can participate in practical sessions to develop your skills; access paid internships and volunteering opportunities; explore postgraduate study options; meet prospective employers; get one-to-one advice and learn how to secure the right job for you.
Career paths
Our graduates progress to a broad range of job roles: Here are just a few examples of what our recent graduates are doing now:
- Academic
- Actor
- Artistic Director
- Associate Producer
- Casting Director
- Multimedia Designer
- PR Account Manager
- Producer
- Project Manager
- Self-employed
- Practitioner
Further study
Recent graduates have progressed to postgraduate courses in:
- MA Acting (Classical & Contemporary Text)
- MA Advanced Theatre Practice
- MA Film Studies
- MA Theatre Practice-Open Pathway
- MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism
- MA Stage and Event Management
- MA Dramatherapy
- PGCE Drama
- ISTD Dance Instruction