BA (Hons) Drama
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- W400
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Drama is a powerful, captivating and collaborative artform. It allows us to reflect on ourselves and the world, to tell important stories, and to explore bold new ideas. Whether on page, stage or screen, Drama shapes our imaginations. It gives us forms of expression and models ways of understanding – and changing – the world.
Drama at UEA combines practical, historical, and critical study, with an emphasis on practical skill and exploration. You’ll be taught by artists and researchers, who will help you develop your understanding and your artistic skills as an actor, director, designer, technician, and theatre-maker.
Through the degree, you can follow specialist pathways in acting, theatre-making, or in technical theatre, or you can explore a mixture of them all. You’ll study a range of theatre from around the world, engaging with major theoretical approaches, with actor- and director-training, and with techniques for creating your own work. You’ll learn about cutting-edge theatre companies and innovative writers. Through all this, you’ll become an engaged, reflective, and creative thinker and theatre-maker.
You’ll work in our professional Drama Studio and will benefit from our highly regarded student-run Minotaur Theatre Company. This will give you the chance to gain even more performance, technical, and scriptwriting experience. Studying in Norwich means you’ll have access to a rich arts scene, including Norwich Theatre, Norwich Arts Centre, and Maddermarket Theatre.
You’ll develop skills for a fulfilling career in the creative industries, such as in theatre, film, or radio. Or you might take your skills in collaboration, presentation, and critical thinking into a host of other professions.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
You have the option to apply to study abroad for one semester of your second year. Studying abroad is a wonderfully enriching life experience – you’ll develop confidence and adaptability and will have the chance to deepen your understanding of drama while learning about another culture. At UEA, you’ll also be surrounded by the many students we welcome from around the world to study with us.
For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you will begin your training in technical theatre, allowing you to work independently in the Drama Studio throughout the rest of your degree. You’ll develop your on-stage skills through actor- and performer-training and will learn how to make your own collaborative theatre projects. This will be enriched by your study of theatre and performance from across history and around the world, where you’ll learn about different theatre traditions, exciting writers, and innovative theatre companies.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Your Drama tutors combine a wealth of practical experience in all kinds of performance with deep academic knowledge of the history, theory, and contemporary practice of theatre. You'll benefit from visiting artists' workshops and the chance to hear from renowned, award-winning playwrights. You'll hone your practical drama skills in workshops and technical classes, and learn the fundamentals of the actor's craft (such as movement and breath control). You'll study plays and get to grips with the contemporary theatre landscape in seminars. But at UEA there's no division between 'academic' and 'practical' study of theatre – in those seminars, you'll find yourself workshopping parts for performance in order better to understand them!
If you’d like to get a sense of what sorts of texts and performances you might study in your first year, take a look at our list of suggested (but entirely optional) reading for incoming Drama students!
Independent Learning
You'll spend time doing everything from reading plays to rehearsing parts for the stage to discovering the theatre scene in Norwich. All the while benefitting from the student-run theatre company, Minotaur, where you can gain even more experience in practical performance. Your technical training will qualify you to work independently in our professionally equipped Studio.
Assessment
Assessment
Our BA Drama modules do not have written exams (apart from one technical theatre test). The technical skills you're developing will usually be assessed through tasks such as making a 3D model of a set, designing a costume, or placing mics on a soundstage. Your performance work will be graded, and so will the rehearsal process, capturing your development in full. You'll also write analytical essays, creative responses, or pieces where you reflect on your own practice in the theatre. You only need to pass your first year and your marks do not form part of your final degree result, which makes it the perfect opportunity to take risks and develop as a performer and thinker.
Feedback
You're given constant feedback on your practical work, helping you to deepen your craft as a performer. When it comes to written work, you'll often submit 'formative' work which leads towards your final submission and on which you receive feedback. You'll be supported by an academic adviser, who oversees your whole journey as a Drama student at UEA.
Structure
In your second year, you will deepen your understanding and develop your practical, creative, and professional skills. You will learn about the theatre industries and the creative industries more widely, the range of work done in theatre both within and outside of traditional theatre buildings, and how theatre is funded, programmed, and advertised. You may also take up an internship with a professional venue or company and focus intensively on your performance or practical skills. You’ll have the option to explore directing and develop your technique in acting. Other options allow you to study drama from the traditional repertoire, like Shakespeare, right up to new, cutting-edge contemporary theatre, popular performance, filmmaking, or technical theatre. You can also try your hand at scriptwriting, under the supervision of our leading creative writers, or branch out into other literature or writing modules.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 80, Max Credits: 100)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
In your second year, you'll continue to explore and discover new areas of practice, and you might decide to specialise in areas such as directing, acting, devising, or technical theatre. You'll have a wealth of opportunities to make your own theatre with the support of our staff. If you choose to produce screen work, you'll be mentored by a well-regarded independent filmmaker. If you take a scriptwriting workshop, you'll benefit from the guidance of a published, practising writer.
Independent Learning
As you make theatre and performance work with greater confidence, you'll naturally work with greater independence. This might mean deepening your collaborations with your peers or making solo projects. You might choose to take a supervised short-term industry placement to build up your professional experience, preparing you to enter the working theatre world after you graduate.
Assessment
Assessment
You'll continue to be assessed on your practical work in all its forms, whether that's acting, directing, filmmaking, or technical theatre. This year, you’ll have lots of chances to create your own performances. Your writing will be assessed, too, but this year you might also submit creative writing inspired by one of our celebrated scriptwriting workshops. You’ll have the opportunity to devise your own pieces of theatre, and you'll write essays reflecting on your process.
Feedback
Your practical work is constantly enriched by your drama tutors' feedback during rehearsals, and you'll continue to receive advice on 'formative' writing, too. In a scriptwriting workshop, you'll benefit from the constructive critique of your workshop's leader (a published, practising writer), and of your peers. Your collaborative work with your peers will be informed by the regular advice of your drama tutors, and you'll receive feedback from your tutors and each other.
Structure
In the final year, you will engage with advanced practical and theoretical study, exploring the intersection of identity and performance, learning about experimental and bold practice or honing your work as an actor. If you wish, you may write a dissertation, which can be an extended piece of critical analysis or an original script. The last year of your drama degree brings together all the skills you’ve developed so far in a major production in the Studio. You and your peers will work together on all aspects of the production process, from the earliest planning stages, through rehearsal and publicity, to taking your final bow.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 30, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 30)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
In the first semester of the final year, you will be working closely with Drama staff on your advanced study of acting and performance. You might find yourself in a creative writing workshop, literature seminar, or working one-on-one with a member of our Drama team on your dissertation (which can take the form of your own original script, if you wish). You'll spend the whole second semester of your final year working as a near-professional theatre company. You'll be led by a member of our core BA Drama teaching team and mentored by professionals in stage management, costume design, set building, movement, and marketing.
Independent Learning
As well as collaborating with your peers in the final-year production, you'll also bring together everything you've learnt across your degree by working independently on projects in each of your modules. You will be doing research and spending time in rehearsals, developing your independent skills in understanding and making theatre.
Assessment
Assessment
In your final-year drama production, one of the capstones of your degree, your rehearsal and technical work will be continuously assessed by your mentor and the drama tutor who's leading the whole project. Your final performance will be marked and moderated by multiple examiners to ensure robust fairness and transparency. In the third year, you might find yourself writing reflections on your performances, academic essays, scripts, or pieces of creative-critical writing, where you fuse critical and imaginative writing.
Feedback
As well as constant advice on your practical work as it develops, you'll receive full written feedback on your work. Written work in your third year – which may also include a choice between research-led seminars or a full-length dissertation in either a creative or a critical mode – continues to be supported by feedback on formative writing.
Employability
After the Course
Some of our BA Drama graduates go into careers in theatre, film, television, or radio, as performers, writers, directors, developers, agents, casting directors, or artistic directors of their own companies. Recent graduates from our drama degrees include the actor Matt Smith (famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who and his leading roles in Netflix's The Crown and HBO’s House of the Dragon) and the presenter of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Greg James.
For others, the BA Drama degree is a stepping-stone towards careers in the arts, media, publishing, politics, charities, NGOs, teaching and the commercial sector. Our award-winning Careers Service is here to support you in launching your career by advising with CV writing, internships, and much more. Every year we run an event, ‘Working with Words’, which gives current students the chance to meet and hear from successful UEA alumni from across the creative industries. UEA also has its own in-house student publishing project, Egg Box, along with many other exciting initiatives that give you opportunities to turn your love of drama into a foundation for your future career.
Careers
Examples of careers you could enter include:
- Theatre and film
- Journalism
- Media
- Teaching
- Finance
- Publishing
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual: BBC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual: DMM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BC at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers.
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Not accepted
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as BA Drama with a Foundation Year
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
A levels
ABB
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
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Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: