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Drama and English Literature

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - combined honours

Award
BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature
School/s
Bath School of Music and Performing Arts, School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
Campus or location
Newton Park
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: QW3L or SE90
Campus Code: A,BSU

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

Pursue your creative passions while gaining a professional skill set with our combined English and Drama degree.

  • Explore the diversity of literature and drama to develop your own critical and creative work.
  • Work beyond the university, with communities, internationally renowned playwrights and directors, theatre companies, venues, and local cultural projects.
  • Your projects – your way – with our support: from performances and devising plays to essays, digital work and producing podcasts.

On this combined English and Drama degree, you’ll explore your creative and artistic passions in a way that ensures you’ll graduate with the practical and professional skills to support your future goals.

Your English Literature studies will expose you to a wide range of genres, periods and approaches, encouraging you to think differently about what literature can be, and how it might apply to current challenges and debates in society. Your Drama studies provide opportunities to develop your creative skills, to work as part of a theatre company and to develop your performance, writing and production skills.

By studying these subjects together, you’ll gain a deep appreciation of how language can be brought to life to inspire and change perspectives – whether on paper, on the stage or on screen. Your combined studies will improve your ability to analyse, communicate and collaborate, and help you to develop a broad, practical skill set that will benefit you in many career paths.

What you'll learn

Overview

From classic texts to new and experimental writing, you'll be asked to think differently about what ‘literature’ can be and to explore original ways of reading and analysing it.

Making is at the heart of your Drama studies: you’ll work as part of a theatre company with other students from the Drama degree to develop skills in playwriting, musical theatre, production and media, performance-making and applied theatre.

Course structure

Year one
The first year introduces key concepts and skills that underpin the subjects of English Literature and Drama Education Studies and allows you to ask questions, challenge your own assumptions and interrogate a range of critical evidence, texts and authors.

You’ll gain skills in performing and directing, theatre production, performance, and working with play texts as part of a theatrical ensemble.

Year two
You’ll focus on developing your own critical voice through the study of texts and reading practices that speak to diverse audiences.

You'll get the opportunity to apply yourself in a variety of performance projects and create original work. You can explore particular areas such as physical theatre, applied theatre, musical theatre and theatre production.

You can also choose to take a Professional Placement Year between the second and third year.

Year three
In English Literature we enable you to focus your studies on particular topics. You can also opt for an extended piece of writing and research or choose from a variety of practical projects. Previously, students have created digital resources, worked at literary festivals, and produced educational materials, to name a few examples.

You’ll be able to choose from optional Drama modules in areas that are of particular interest to you, with an emphasis on collaboration, industry input, and creating work for a variety of audiences, including the general public.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment varies across the two subjects and includes essays, journals and magazines, presentations, performance, playwriting, script analysis, and exams.

How will I be taught?

You'll be taught through a range of activities including lectures, workshops, group seminars, one-to-one tutorials, practical classes, rehearsals, work placements and theatre visits.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

University of the Year for Social Inclusion

Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

Joint 2nd in the UK

and #1 in the South West for Value Added in Drama and Dance (Guardian University Guide, 2024) 

#10 in the UK

and #1 in the South West for Student Satisfaction in Drama, Dance and Cinematics (Complete University Guide, 2024) 

#12 in the UK

for Satisfied with Course in English (Guardian University Guide, 2023)


Open Days

Get a taste of life at Bath Spa – come to one of our Open Days.

Book your place


“The Drama department has been excellent in supporting us and offering advice and support when needed. The course was a springboard into the professional world of Drama.”

Simon Crispin, third year Drama student

"Through studying Drama I acquired the confidence to stand up in front of a group of young people and lead a workshop – a workshop that may include elements of creativity, or drama games to assist learning. And I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned is that I don’t have to do just one thing. I’m a teacher, a writer, a consultant, a facilitator, a project manager, an events organiser, a social media content producer and so much more."

From BA Drama to LGBTQIA+ sex ed: read Laura's career story
Person with a backpack and red-dyed curls walking up stairs decorated with a rainbow of pride colours

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Fieldwork and industry links

Your Drama studies will be enhanced by visits from industry professionals, who’ll help you to explore topics such as playwriting, directing, acting, television production, theatre in education, and children’s theatre. We have partnerships with local venues, local schools and local community groups. You'll also get the chance to take part in Dramafest – a festival of performance that's devised and run entirely by our students. 

Careers

Your combined studies will equip you with creative, collaborative, writing, presentational, analytical and communication skills that will prepare you for a wide range of career paths.

Many of our graduates find employment in the creative industries, including theatre, media and publishing. You’ll also be well-placed to progress onto postgraduate study or teacher training.

During and even after your studies, you’ll have access to our Bath Spa Careers team, who'll help you forge a fulfilling future.

Competitions and awards

There are annual prizes for the best overall performance in both core English Literature modules in years one and two, and a very special prize for the best final year English Project.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Facilities and resources

Resources

We have a wide range of high-quality online resources to complement the books and journals you have access to in our Library, as well as digital publishing facilities, historical and modern printing presses, and industry-standard broadcast media facilities.

Professional placement year

Overview

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

How will I be assessed?

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

Fees

2024 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,250
UK part time £4,625
International full time £16,905

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.

  • UK: £1,850
  • International: £3,381

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We're looking for students who share our passion for literature along with an interest in exploring a wide range of drama and performance forms. You should be inquisitive and willing to challenge yourself and to question shared assumptions. 

On your application form you should refer to:

  • Your experience, skills and interests
  • Performance work, plays and books that have influenced your thinking
  • Shows in which you have performed
  • Why you think Drama and English Literature at Bath Spa is the right course for you.
Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

  • A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in English or a related subject, and a grade B in Drama, Theatre Studies or Performing Arts preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement and evidence of experience in Performing Arts.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
  • International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required with a minimum of grade 5 in English at Higher Level.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries
For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

Course contact: Roy Connolly (Drama)
Email: r.connolly@bathspa.ac.uk

Course contact: Dr Stephen Gregg (English Literature)
Email: s.gregg@bathspa.ac.uk

 

Three year course
With placement year

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk