Drama BA (Hons)

Explore the practical and theoretical aspects of drama, theatre and performance – whether improvised or scripted – through a wide range of dynamic modules available on this course.

Overview
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
more about your DMU
Contact us

Overview

Watch: Take a look at this stunning showcase of our performance courses and facilities at DMU.

Informed by a mix of contemporary methods of performance making, current scholarly thinking and historical theatrical traditions, this course is ideal for those seeking a career in a range of arts-related areas. You will engage both creatively and critically with a range of topics including acting, performing, directing and theatre for social change, while being supported to develop your own artistic vision, personal interests and aspirations.

The course offers you the opportunity to learn about Drama in a rich variety of ways by working with professional researchers, research-active academics and visiting practitioners.

You will benefit from great facilities that have contributed to DMU being recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts – an accolade that also reflects our commitment to innovative and excellent teaching and learning.

Real-life experience is offered through undertaking placements and internships, getting involved in professional performances, going on theatre trips at home and abroad, and showcasing your work to a variety of audiences.

Key features:

Benefit from our long-standing partnership with Leicester’s iconic Curve theatre. Opportunities include internships, work placements and the chance to work on or perform in an annual production, which have included A Clockwork Orange, The Crucible and Enron.
Extensive performance opportunities for all years of study, including Exit Souls: The Drama Festival, which showcases students’ diverse work to a public audience each year.
DMU is recognised as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts, with great facilities providing specialist studios and rehearsal spaces designed specifically for drama and performance learning activities.
100% of our Drama graduates from summer 2017 are in work or further study after graduating (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education 2016-17 report).
Our graduates have gone on to work in theatre companies, community arts organisations and have forged careers in various aspects of media and technical theatre production.
Take part in our international experience programme, DMU Global. Students have benefited from inspirational trips such as experiencing the world-renowned International University Theatre Reunion (RITU) in Liège, Belgium.

Scholarships:

DMU Sports Scholarship
Apply for the DMU Sports Scholarship, worth up to £6,000.

DMU Global High Flyers Award
Our dedicated DMU Global High Flyers Award offers ambitious students a discount of up to £1,000 towards a DMU Global opportunity (terms and conditions apply).

More courses like this:

Drama (Joint Honours) BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Performing Arts BA (Hons)

UK/EU
International

Key facts for UK/EU students

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W400

Duration: Three years full-time, six years part-time.

Fees and funding: For 2020/21 tuition full-time fees will be £9,250 per year.

Find out more about course tuition fees and available funding.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Key facts for international students

Duration: Three years full-time

Fees and funding international: For 2020/21 tuition fees will be £13,750 per year.

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Typical entry requirements

112 points from at least 2 A'levels or
BTEC Extended Diploma DMM or
International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit (or equivalent) and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above.

We will normally require students have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

Interview and Practical Workshop required: Yes

International students

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band, or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and Practical Workshop
UK applicants with relevant qualifications will be invited to a practical workshop and interview. Overseas applicants will be invited to send samples of their performance work. Please see our Practical Workshop Advice Drama BA (Hons) for full details.

Structure and assessment

First year

Acting and Performing
Drama Performance Project: Collaboration
Performance in Context: History and Analysis
Theatre for Social Change

Second year

Performance in Context: Culture and Theory

You will take the above module and choose from:

Directing
Curve Company 1
Popular Performance
Devised Theatre and Performance
Drama Performance Project: Staging
Drama and the Community

Third year

Drama Research Project
Performance as Research

You will take one of the above modules and choose from:

Live Art and Experimental Performance
Curve Company 2
Engaging with Creative Industries
Political Performance
Drama Performance Project: Production
Education and Performing Arts

Click here for more detailed module information: Year one - Year two - Year three

Note: All modules are subject to change in order to keep content current.

Structure

Our drama staff have expertise in a number of different fields, including: Shakespeare in performance, popular theatre, applied drama, directing, language and performance, performer training, performance and documentation, performance and the body, gender and performance, live art and contemporary performance practice.

Visiting lecturers, actors, practitioners, directors and theatre companies further enhance your learning. We are dedicated to the student experience more widely, and run extra and co-curricular activities and events throughout the year.

Contact hours
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, performances, essays and reflection). Your precise timetable will depend on the optional modules you choose to take, however, in your first year you will normally attend around 12 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures, seminars and workshops) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 25 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

Curve theatre

DMU and Curve theatre have a cultural partnership which gives you the opportunity to be involved in professional practice in a variety of ways.

An annual collaborative production allows Drama students from all years to participate in professional productions, working with in-house directors, lighting designers and producers on public performances.

Curve theatre website

Facilities and features

Performance facilities

We offer some of the finest facilities in the sector to support studies in Drama. The Performing Arts Centre for Excellence (PACE) building provides four studios and rehearsal spaces designed specifically for performance-based learning activities. Further studios are located in the Campus Centre. You will be able to book rehearsal space and equipment to support your work.

Library

The main Kimberlin Library is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (other than in exceptional circumstances) and offers a huge range of online resources, all of which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

The library is run by dedicated staff who offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching and reference management and assistive technology, and mathematical skills for non-maths students. There is also a Just Ask service for help and advice, available via email or telephone.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Placements

Placements are embedded into the Level 6 module, Engaging with Creative Industries, which allows students to set up a work placement as part of a wider research project, to engage with professional practice, to structure individual learning (with academic supervision), to explore potential career options, and to gain valuable practical experience. In addition to this, Drama and the Community students have the opportunity to work with various organisations in the local area (these have included schools, Age UK centres and HM Prison Leicester) and all Second Year and Third Year students are able to audition for the two modules that are based at Curve theatre and centre on professional theatre performance. Other placements opportunities may also become available.

DMU Global

During your studies you will be offered the opportunity to engage with a range of international experiences including trips organised by DMU Global, trips you can organise, and trips organised by Drama as part of modules and as co-curricular activity. DMU Global experiences offer you the chance to explore other countries and cultures, to engage with drama and performance practices from around the globe, to visit key cultural institutions, and to develop skills in communication. Previous DMU Global destinations in Drama include New York, Liege, Berlin and Montreal.

Graduate careers

Graduates in Drama have strengths in critical analysis, reflection and research, possess excellent oral and written communication skills, are able to collaborate, devise, organise and self-manage projects, and can deal confidently with public performance. Previous graduates have developed careers in teaching in primary, secondary and further education, media and technical theatre production, or gone on to work in theatres and community arts organisations, develop personal professional practice, set up a theatre company, or gone onto postgraduate studies such as DMU's Performance Practices MA.