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Drama BA(Hons)

2023-24 (also available for 2024-25)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

18 September 2023

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year
5 years part-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBB-BCC

BTEC - DMM-MMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

50

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. We're ranked 8th in the UK for 'Performing Arts' (QS World University Subject Rankings 2021).
  2. You can enhance your learning through talks, masterclasses and visits from distinguished practitioners. Past guests include Sir Patrick Stewart and Natalie Gavin.
  3. You'll learn in the Sir Patrick Stewart Building with state-of-the-art facilities including three sprung floor studios and the latest multimedia projection equipment.

Perhaps you love going to the theatre and you have a natural ability to perform and entertain. You also have a desire to investigate and understand how performance works in all its various settings. You want to get behind the scenes to know more about what goes into making a performance successful. You might even have ideas for a script that you want to develop. We’ll look at drama, theatre and performance from every angle, investigating and analysing the subject to help you go on to be successful in your chosen field.

Why study Drama at Huddersfield?

  • QS World University Subject Rankings 2021 ranked the University of Huddersfield 8th in the UK for 'Performing Arts'.
  • 96.4% of graduates from this subject are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 17/18, UK domiciled graduates).
  • State-of-the-art facilities including three adaptable studios with sprung floors and state of the art multimedia projection equipment.
  • Teaching by industry professionals and guest appearances from the likes of Professor Sir Patrick Stewart, Natalie Gavin, John Britton, Nicolás Núñez, Chloe Beale, Nicci Topping, Anna Helena McLean, and David Crowley.
  • Production based programme along with visits from practitioners and residencies from internationally known companies like Slung Low, IOU Productions and Northern Broadsides.
  • You'll investigate everything from contemporary theatre to historical performance practice.

Course detail

Core modules:

Creative Devising

You’ll have the opportunity to experience a range of workshops in creative and performance practices which are intended to develop your ability to create performance material collaboratively and from a range of starting points other than traditional play scripts.

Text into Performance

You’ll have the opportunity to explore the ways in which a play script can form the basis for a live theatre production through working together as a company to stage a short text. Training in acting, voice, and the physical can be explored through the challenge of staging the work.

Option modules:

Choose two from a list which may include:

Models and Theories of Performance Practice 1A

What is performance? How do we read performances? What place do performance and theatre have within the broader culture? This module is designed to introduce you to a range of important analytical and theoretical perspectives used in the interpretation of performance. The module aims to help you to be able to critically analyse a variety of theatrical and performance practices, and their relationship to different cultural, economic, historical and political contexts. A weekly workshop/lecture/seminar will introduce you to the theories that will underpin the rest of your studies.

Models and Theories of Performance Practice 1B

This weekly workshop/lecture/seminar introduces you to a range of historical performance practices from the late-Victorian period to the present. The seminars are designed to encourage you to probe and debate the issues raised with reference to texts taken from a range of cultures and periods. Each week you will be asked to examine theatrical play texts and performances in historical context using theories of performance.

Entry requirements

BBB-BCCat A Level .

120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level.

DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
  • 120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Applicants will be invited to attend a Selection Day, at which they will participate in a workshop by way of audition. Read our guidance for more information. Some applicants may also be invited to interview.

You must provide evidence of practical and theoretical interest in drama.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent will be considered acceptable. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Placements


Each year our first year students work with a professional theatre company which develops a project exclusively with our students for a two-week intensive period at the University, culminating in a performance on the University campus. If you’re studying full-time, this course also offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects.

Throughout the course I gained a lot of experience working with professional theatre companies. I developed many essential skills and gained insight into how real companies create and develop work. This has had a lasting impact on how I work and create theatre today.

kat thumbnail

Kathryn Blackburn, Drama BA(Hons) completed placement at IOU

Gallery

 

Your Career


Drama graduates have gone on to work in the performing arts, award-winning films, television, touring theatre, teaching and running their own performance companies.

A selection of companies that have employed Huddersfield graduates in recent years include BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Lawrence Batley Theatre, BBC 6 Music, Royal National Theatre and Point Blanc Theatre Company.** Some students have chosen postgraduate study or additional vocational training in specialist areas, whilst a significant number successfully gain teaching qualifications and enter the teaching profession.

*Percentage of our undergraduate students from this subject area go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

**Source: LinkedIn.

85% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Research excellence

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up-to-date with the latest developments in their field, which means you develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant to industry. Our staff are recognised as leading figures in their fields, as evidenced by, publications and performances.

Over the past seven years, Drama, Theatre and Performance (DTP) at Huddersfield has gradually developed its research culture, attracting a range of internal and external funding for research projects and developing international contacts. DTP at Huddersfield is home to three peer-reviewed Open-Access academic journals: The Journal of Embodied Research(JER), Performance Magic, and Performance and Mindfulness and staff regularly contribute to a number of other journals including Theatre, Dance and Performance Training as well as various edited collections.These research outputs are firmly rooted in various the performance practices of the team which include, but aren’t restricted to,performance magic, psychophysical performance training, disability and performance, and performing aging, Over the past three years our staff and students have presented performances, workshops, and papers in the UK, Chile, Poland, Canada, USA, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, China, Malta, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Australia, Republic of Ireland.

For more information, please refer to our research pages.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

Equal opportunities

The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

Data protection

The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

Students’ Union membership

Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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