BA Art History & Visual Culture and Drama

The BA Art History and Visual Culture and Drama at the University of Exeter combines academic study with practical creative experiences, giving students the opportunity to develop both critical and professional skills. Throughout the course, students engage in studio-based learning, field studies, research projects, museum visits, and performance work, helping them understand how art, visual culture, and theatre come together in real-world creative and cultural settings. Learning is supported through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, group projects, and independent research using specialist facilities on the Streatham Campus.

Students also benefit from Exeter's vibrant arts environment, with access to professional performance spaces, museums, galleries, and creative resources that strengthen practical, research, and communication skills. Key experiential learning opportunities include:

• Professional Performance Facilities: Students train in six fully equipped drama studios with professional lighting and sound systems, alongside sound studios, a video and multimedia studio, digital media suites, costume and prop stores, and workshops for set construction and costume production.

• Studio-Based Practical Learning: Drama modules include practical studio sessions where students gain experience in acting, directing, devising performances, and collaborative theatre-making in small teaching groups.

• Art History and Visual Culture Field Study: Students take part in the Art History and Visual Culture Field Study module, which includes an intensive study trip to a European cultural destination. Previous study visits have included Florence, where students explore world-famous artworks, architecture, and cultural heritage in their original settings.

• Museum and Gallery Learning: Students engage with museums, galleries, and art collections to gain first-hand experience of exhibitions, curation, conservation, and the interpretation of artworks and cultural objects.

• Bill Douglas Cinema Museum: Students have access to the University's Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, one of the UK's leading collections dedicated to film, visual culture, photography, and media history, providing valuable resources for research and learning.

• Research and Creative Projects: The programme includes independent research projects, presentations, creative assignments, and collaborative group work that help students develop analytical thinking, creativity, and professional communication skills.

• Digital Learning and Technical Resources: Students use digital media suites, multimedia production facilities, web-based learning platforms, and technical equipment that support creative production, research, and performance work.

• Term Three Festival: Drama students have the opportunity to take part in the annual Term Three Festival, where they create and present original performances while gaining experience in production, technical theatre, workshops, and industry-focused careers sessions.

• Student Theatre Opportunities: Students can join the Drama Society and other student theatre groups, providing additional opportunities to perform, direct, produce, and collaborate on productions outside the classroom.

• Employment Experience Option: Students choosing the four-year pathway with Employment Experience can spend a year working in a graduate-level placement in the UK or overseas, gaining valuable professional experience before completing their degree.

The BA Art History and Visual Culture and Drama at the University of Exeter equips students with a unique combination of creative, analytical, research, and communication skills that are valued across a wide range of industries. Graduates go on to build careers in museums, galleries, theatres, publishing, media, heritage, and the creative industries, with potential roles including museum assistant, collections officer, editorial assistant, events planner, arts administrator, and communications professional. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree also provides the flexibility to pursue careers in marketing, business, education, and cultural management.

Students benefit from a wide range of career development opportunities throughout their studies, including:

• Dedicated Careers Service: Students have access to the University of Exeter's Careers Service, offering one-to-one careers advice, CV and interview support, mentoring, employer networking events, careers workshops, and guidance on graduate opportunities.

• Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award: Students can strengthen their employability by taking part in leadership programmes, volunteering, skills workshops, and work-related activities that help develop valuable professional and transferable skills.

• Employment Experience Pathway: Students can choose the four-year degree with Employment Experience, allowing them to spend a year on a graduate-level placement in the UK or overseas. This provides valuable workplace experience, expands professional networks, and enhances career prospects before graduation.

• Industry and Cultural Connections: The programme benefits from links with museums, galleries, arts organisations, and cultural institutions, giving students insight into professional practice and opportunities to engage with the wider creative and heritage sectors.

• Graduate Career Outcomes: Graduates have progressed into careers across museums, galleries, heritage, theatre, publishing, journalism, education, marketing, creative industries, business, and management, reflecting the broad range of opportunities available after graduation.

• Employment Statistics: The University of Exeter does not publish programme-specific graduate employment rates or salary figures for this course on the official programme page.

• Long-Term Value: The degree develops highly transferable skills in creativity, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, and cultural analysis, providing a strong foundation for long-term career success across both creative and professional industries.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, students can continue their studies through postgraduate programmes in subjects such as Art History, Drama, Theatre Studies, Museum Studies, Arts Management, Cultural Heritage, Publishing, Journalism, Marketing, Creative Advertising, Education, Law, and related humanities disciplines. Graduates have also progressed to specialist master's degrees in publishing, multimedia journalism, fine and decorative arts, international management, creative advertising, and stage and event management.