BA Drama

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

The BA Drama at the University of Exeter gives you the opportunity to combine hands-on theatre practice with the study of performance, culture, and dramatic texts. Whether you aspire to become a performer, director, writer, producer, or creative practitioner, this course helps you build practical skills, creative confidence, and critical thinking through professional facilities, collaborative projects, and public performances.

Curriculum structure

Year 1

Your first year introduces the core principles of theatre and performance through a blend of practical workshops and academic study. You'll explore modules such as Theatre Histories, Performance Analysis, Staging the Text, and The Creative Actor, developing essential performance techniques while gaining a strong understanding of theatre from different historical and cultural perspectives.

Year 2

In your second year, you'll have the flexibility to shape your learning around your interests by choosing from a wide range of specialist modules. You may study Acting Shakespeare, Applied Drama: Touring, Directing and Facilitating, Writing for Stage, Screen and Across Media, Creative Producing: People, Culture and Collaboration, or Performance in the Age of Screens, allowing you to deepen both your practical and analytical skills.

Year 3 (Optional Study Abroad or Employment Experience)

If you choose the four-year route, you can spend your third year studying at one of Exeter's international partner universities or gaining valuable industry experience through an approved work placement. This optional year helps you broaden your perspective, strengthen your professional skills, and enhance your career prospects before returning for your final year.

Final Year

Your final year encourages you to specialise in the areas that interest you most while completing an independent Dissertation and Practical Essay. You can choose advanced modules such as Acting for Screen, Physical Performance: Actor, Director, Maker, Applied Drama: Community, Participation and Co-Creation Projects, and Creative Industries Management: Representation and Cultural Value, preparing you for a wide range of careers in the performing arts and creative industries.

Focus areas

Acting, directing, theatre-making, performance analysis, theatre history, script interpretation, creative writing, applied drama, community engagement, screen performance, creative producing, performance research, collaborative practice, contemporary theatre.

Learning outcomes

Develop strong performance and production skills, analyse theatre from historical and contemporary perspectives, create original performance work, communicate effectively through practical and written projects, conduct independent research, collaborate confidently in creative environments, and apply critical thinking to theatre and performance.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The programme combines research-led teaching with practical training, giving students access to professional-standard performance spaces, public productions, community projects, and optional Study Abroad or Employment Experience opportunities. The course does not hold a specific professional accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings)

5th in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics – Complete University Guide 2027.
6th in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics – The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Exeter, practical learning is at the core of the BA Drama programme. From your first year, you'll build your skills through studio workshops, rehearsals, live performances, and collaborative creative projects that mirror professional theatre practice. You'll work in specialist performance spaces, gain hands-on experience with industry-standard production equipment, and learn from academics who are both researchers and experienced theatre practitioners.

As you progress through the course, you'll continue to develop your creative and technical abilities using dedicated drama facilities while working on productions with your peers:

Take part in practical studio workshops, rehearsals, public performances, and community-based theatre projects throughout the programme.
Develop experience in acting, directing, scriptwriting, and devising original performances through collaborative group productions.
Train in six fully equipped performance studios with professional lighting and sound systems, along with 10 additional studios and teaching spaces dedicated to Drama students.
Use two digital media suites, two sound studios, and a video and multimedia studio to support creative production, recording, and performance projects.
Gain hands-on experience with specialist computer facilities for lighting and sound design used in theatre production.
Work with dedicated costume and props stores, as well as workshops for set construction, costume making, and prop making.
Learn to use industry-standard lighting control systems, including ETC EOS, ETC Ion, and Zero 88 FLX, together with professional sound and projection equipment.
Build digital production skills in the TV Studio using a professional Blackmagic production system for audio and video workflows.
Receive training and technical support from experienced production staff in lighting, sound, audiovisual technology, theatrical special effects, and stage equipment.
Access additional creative and research resources through the Digital Humanities Lab and the internationally recognised Bill Douglas Cinema Museum.
Enhance your employability through optional Study Abroad or Employment Experience pathways, alongside internships, volunteering opportunities, employer events, and careers support offered by Exeter's Career Zone.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A BA Drama from the University of Exeter equips you with the creative, practical, and transferable skills needed to succeed in a wide range of careers. Graduates build successful futures in the performing arts, media, education, communications, and the wider creative industries, with popular career paths including Actor, Producer, Artistic Director, Casting Director, Project Manager, and PR Account Manager:

Develop valuable skills in performance, communication, teamwork, leadership, research, organisation, creativity, and problem-solving that are highly sought after by employers.
Receive personalised career support through Exeter's Career Zone, including one-to-one careers guidance, CV and interview advice, employer networking events, postgraduate planning, paid internships, volunteering opportunities, and employability workshops.
Choose the optional Employment Experience pathway to complete a graduate-level work placement in the UK or overseas, helping you gain practical industry experience before you graduate.
Benefit from strong employer connections, with Drama graduates progressing to organisations such as BBC, Netflix, Chichester Festival Theatre, Theatre Royal Windsor, National Trust, Ministry of Defence, Red Bull, and VCCP.
Join a global alumni community working across theatre, film, television, broadcasting, education, marketing, public relations, business, and many other creative sectors.
Graduate with a research-led degree that combines academic knowledge with practical experience, helping you build a strong portfolio and professional profile for long-term career success.
Graduate outcomes are monitored through the national Graduate Outcomes Survey, with many graduates moving into professional employment or postgraduate study shortly after completing the programme.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the BA Drama, you can continue your studies through a range of postgraduate programmes in performance, theatre, media, and education. Popular progression routes include MA Acting (Classical & Contemporary Text), MA Advanced Theatre Practice, MA Theatre Practice, MA Film Studies, MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism, MA Stage and Event Management, MA Dramatherapy, and PGCE Drama, allowing you to further specialise and expand your career opportunities.