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Undergraduate Study

BA Drama - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code W400
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Drama
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: 0300 555 6060 (UK callers) 
+44 (0)1392 723044 (EU/International callers)

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: ABB
IB: 32/655
BTEC: DDM
All entry requirements

Contextual offers

A-Level: BBC
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DDM-DMM

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

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Second icon

2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics

2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025

Medal with star on icon

Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

For Drama, Dance and Cinematics

Drama mask icon

Professional standard performance spaces

Video Camera icon

State-of-the-art production facilities for video, sound and scenic design

Second icon

2nd in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics

2nd in the Complete University Guide 2025

Medal with star on icon

Top 5 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

For Drama, Dance and Cinematics

Drama mask icon

Professional standard performance spaces

Video Camera icon

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.

Read more from Beth

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
IB: 28/554
BTEC: DDM-DMM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View 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

CodeModule 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

CodeModule 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

CodeModule 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

CodeModule Credits
DRA3061 Practical Essay 30
DRA3094 Theatre Dissertation 30

Optional modules

CodeModule 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.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

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

Find out more about proficiency options

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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

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