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Drama and Psychology

BA/BSc (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - combined honours

Award
BA/BSc (Hons) Drama and Psychology
School/s
Bath School of Music and Performing Arts, School of Sciences
Campus or location
Newton Park
Course length
Three years full time. Part time available.
UCAS codes
Institution Code: B20
Course Code: CW8L
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.

Explore the human mind and discover your creative identity with our Drama and Psychology degree.

  • Research and analyse biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology.
  • Produce, perform, direct and write in collaboration with your fellow Drama students.
  • One of only a few combined courses accredited by the British Psychological Society.

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) 

Drama and psychology are complementary disciplines that share a core concern in analysing, interpreting, representing and understanding humans and the world we inhabit. Our combined Drama and Psychology degree exposes you to a wide variety of methods to explore and understand the human mind and behaviour, from both scientific and artistic perspectives.

In your study of Psychology, you’ll learn about research methods, data collection/analysis and critical thinking, while your Drama focus will be on creativity, working as part of a theatre company to develop your performance, writing and production skills.

Why study Drama and Psychology?

Drama and Psychology have their specific career paths, but they also give you transferable skills that are sought by employers in a broad range of jobs and industries.

Psychology develops your skills in research, critical analysis and communication, while Drama offers opportunities to learn about theatre, media, arts therapies and education.

By combining the two subjects, you’ll develop highly valuable people skills and gain experience in communication and planning, project and event management, and working in diverse situations with a variety of collaborators and clients.

If you’re not yet sure what career you want to pursue, our British Psychological Society accreditation means you can keep your options open – you’ll be able to study Psychology at postgraduate level if you decide to become a professional psychologist.

“The best thing about Bath Spa is that everyone really cares about you as an individual. The lecturers and tutors always go the extra mile to make sure that you get the most out of your degree, and the amount of contact time we had with them was brilliant.”

Madeleine Carter, Psychology graduate

Accreditation

Both our single and combined honours Pyschology courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) providing Graduate Basis for Registration with the BPS to gain Chartered Psychologist status, provided you achieve a 2.2 overall and pass the final year dissertation.

The logo for a British Psychological Society accredited Psychology course

 

What you'll learn

Overview

You'll focus on the core areas of study for Drama and Psychology, enabling you to take on a variety of practical roles within Drama while also completing the components needed to gain BPS accreditation in Psychology.

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.

In your study of Psychology, you'll explore the five main psychological perspectives: biological, cognitive, developmental, individual differences and social. You'll learn how to use research methods to ask psychological questions, engage with the historical and conceptual underpinnings of the subject, and explore contemporary concepts and their application.

Course structure

Year one
Build the foundations and develop the core knowledge and skills you’ll need in both strands of your course. You’ll explore the main areas of psychological science, with an introduction to research and data analysis skills. During your Drama modules, you’ll work with other students as part of a theatre ensemble, with opportunities to perform, direct and produce.

Year two
In your second year you’ll take on further depth and challenges. In your Psychology modules, you’ll take a closer look at biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and advance your understanding of research design and analysis. In Drama, you’ll explore topics such as performance-making, applied theatre, playwriting, acting and directing, musical theatre and theatre production, with opportunities to work with students, specialist staff and visiting professionals and artists.

You can choose to take a professional placement year between your second and third years.

Year three
In your final year, real-world application of your skills becomes the focus of your study. In Drama, you’ll have the flexibility to choose optional 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. You’ll explore how Psychology is applied for the wider good but also used in business and enterprise for profit. Your consultancy project enables you to take what you’ve learned and apply it in a collaboration with an external organisation.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment varies across the two subjects and includes essays, debates, research reports and projects, presentations and performance, playwriting and script analysis, and exams.

How will I be taught?

You'll be taught through a range of activities including lectures, workshops, group seminars and 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.

"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

Work placements, industry links and internships

Our Psychology students have access to corporate-sponsored internship and placement opportunities. These offer experience in areas such as marketing, multimedia and product design, filming and editing, business management, HR, customer services, research and analysis, project management and events.

For your Drama studies, you’ll benefit from visits from industry professionals. Previous visitors have covered a range of specialisms including: playwriting, directing, acting, television production, theatre in education, and children’s theatre. We also 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 students. This event typifies our way of teaching, which is to enable you to experience a wealth of roles and approaches so that you can find your passions and choose to specialise in them if you wish. You'll create the material for Dramafest, then perform and produce it. You'll help to design and construct the sets, and have the opportunity to take on roles in stage management, publicity, and health and safety. You'll gain transferable skills such as project management, collaboration and teamwork, that you can use in a range of careers. You'll discover your strengths and define your own role within a project; an invaluable skill in the workplace.

Careers

This combined course will equip you with a huge variety of scientific, creative, collaborative, presentational and communication skills that are useful in many professional and vocational areas.

You’ll be well placed to take on roles in counselling, arts therapy and education, management and human resources (HR). You may choose to work with theatre and media companies. You could continue your education at Master’s and PhD level, or you may wish to complete a PGCE and begin a career in teaching.

The BPS accreditation of your Psychology studies means you can work towards becoming a professional psychologist.

Competitions and awards

At the end of the academic year, we award prizes to recognise achievements in academic success and reward effort and excellence. Prizes specific to Psychology are:

  • The British Psychological Society Graduate Award
  • Oxford University Press Prize for best dissertation.
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.   

“Because of the staff and resources at Bath Spa University, I feel confident that I will reach my potential.”

Ashley McGinty, third year Drama student

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

Drama and Psychology is taught at our Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities including:

Facilities used by Drama include:

Resources

Teaching resources for Psychology include EBSCO (online access to over 400 Psychology-related journals), statistical computer software for analysing quantitative data and NVivo for qualitative data analysis. We also have a biopsychology lab where we make use of "biopac" equipment (computerised biological measures such as EEG) for practicals and project work as well as other shared and dedicated laboratory spaces for research.

Fees

2024 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,250
UK part time £4,625
International full time £16,675

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: £3,335

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

You'll be fascinated by human behaviour and the workings of the mind, and curious enough to ask questions that will help drive our science forward. We’re also looking for dynamic individuals with an interest in exploring a wide range of drama and performance forms.

On your application form you should refer to:

  • Your experience including shows in which you’ve performed, skills and interests
  • Performance work, plays or the books that have influenced your thinking
  • Some of the areas of psychology that you’ve explored
  • Why you think Drama and Psychology 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 Drama, Theatre Studies or Performing Arts preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
  • 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. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement in addition to evidence of involvement in drama or performing arts.
  • 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). Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement together with evidence of involvement in drama and performing arts.

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

Course leader: Dr Agnieszka Janik McErlean (Psychology)
Email: a.janikmcerlean@bathspa.ac.uk 

 

Three year course
With placement year

Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk