Drama BA (Hons)

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A group of students learning to perform musical theatre under two lit stage spotlights where the background is dark.

Available with:

  • Foundation Year

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Course Summary

Are you ready to step into the spotlight and bring stories to life on stage? Our unique BA (Hons) Drama course is designed to inspire your creative identity and equip you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence for a wide range of careers in the theatre industry.

The course will allow you to master the fundamentals of drama – from technology to directing to performance – and unleash your inner artistic passions through original projects, productions, and collaborative work. This will allow you to build a strong portfolio, showcasing your work through auditions, performances, and online platforms.

Whether you want to be a director, theatre technician, arts educator or facilitator, the course explores the boundless possibilities of theatre through a unique blend of traditional and alternative approaches.

With a diverse range of modules, this course allows you to personalise your study, whilst showcasing your talent in live performances and productions, and build a strong foundation in the art of theatre.

Immersing you in a thriving performance environment with regular productions and performances, you will work with highly experienced professionals, as well as a wide range of specialised practitioners and visiting industry professionals.

Interested in other performance-based programmes? We also offer BA (Hons) Performing Arts, BA (Hons) Professional Dance, and BA (Hons) Acting.

Your spotlight awaits!

What Our Students Think

What You'll Study

The Creative Industries, Media and Performance Foundation Year route encourages you to operate as a creative community, developing new skills while learning from each other. You will build knowledge of your chosen area alongside transferrable practical and academic skills to support future employment.

Students have access to a wide range of specialist facilities. The performing arts and media students are introduced to our television studios, music production studios, editing facilities, green screen, the ‘black box’ and the ‘white box’. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The BA Drama course contains core modules at each level of study.

Year 1 (Level 4):

  • An introduction to performance and production principles.
  • Explore how technology plays a role in creating performances.
  • Learn about the industry and what it takes to succeed.

Year 1 will introduce you to acting, voice and movement techniques, theatre making, production skills, performance technology and professional working practice. You will develop performance skills, contextual theatrical knowledge, and creative practice through performance projects.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Year 2 (Level 5):

  • Build upon your foundation with more advanced learning.
  • Combine technical skills with creative approaches.
  • Engage in collaborative and inclusive performance design.

Year 2 will extend your technical abilities and develop your creative approaches to performance making through directing and dramaturgy. Placements and study abroad options further expand your horizons and develop industry links.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Year 3 (Level 6):

  • Engage in performance projects that bring together everything you have learned.
  • Focus on artistry and creativity - express yourself as a drama practitioner.
  • Embrace the possibilities of technology as a powerful tool within and for performances.
  • Enhance your critical thinking and analytical skills demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of how theory informs practice.

Year 3 will allow you to take greater responsibility for planning and managing your own studies, aligned to your personal artistry and future drama aspirations. Independent projects enable you to deepen your areas of practice, preparing you to launch into your career, or postgraduate study.

Throughout your journey you will also explore professional practice which will prepare you for industry and a successful career in the creative industries and beyond. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How You'll Learn

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The majority of teaching takes place in classes, workshops, lectures, seminars and tutorials

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You will be assessed in a variety of ways

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This course is designed around in-person study

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There may be some online learning activities

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term students typically study 40 credits comprised of one overarching module which may cover a variety of topics. This will be made up of scheduled classes, workshops, lectures, seminars and tutorials as well as group work and independent study or practice.

Independent study might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers, rehearsing and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by passionate, experienced academics and practitioners in their field. This is likely to be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of tasks they might encounter in the industry. These could include:

  • Practical activities (group and/or individual)
  • Performance
  • Production and/or technical outputs
  • Workshops (applied, educational, creative)
  • Experiential/work-based learning
  • Industry and professional live briefs
  • Digital outputs (for example, podcasts, web pages, social media platforms)
  • Scriptwriting
  • Verbal and non-verbal presentations

We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Creative Campus, Kingsway Tours

Study at our Creative Campus, Kingsway, home to some outstanding art, design and performance-based courses for the University’s School for the Creative Industries. Scroll through our 360 tours to explore our state-of-the-art facilities.

Fashion Design Industrial Workshop

A student stood next to a mannequin

TV Studio

A person operating a camera in a broadcasting studio

Music Performance Studio

A group of music students performing on stage.

Music Recording Studio Control Room

Students in music production studio

Photo Studio

student taking picture of someone in costume in studio

Music Rehearsal Studio

Student singing in performance studio

Music Production Suite

Music editing equipment

Animation Suite

Photography Darkroom

student taking a picture with camera

Workshop

Student holding a globe shaped glass and pencil

Studio

Professional Dance students performing

Outdoor Ampitheatre

A group of students taking part in an outdoor performance with people watching

Common Room

Entry Requirements

104UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff

104 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – CCC-BCC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

28 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H4 H4

Scottish Highers: BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: DMM

Extra Information

Applicants will be invited to audition.

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. We accept the UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma. 

Candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements, or who have non-standard qualifications and/or relevant experience, are encouraged to apply and will be considered if they can demonstrate appropriate ability through their audition.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff

72 points

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in A level

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4

Scottish Highers: CCDD

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall

T Level

T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: MMP

Extra Information

Applicants will be required to attend an audition. 

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. We accept the UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma. 

Candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements, or who have non-standard qualifications and relevant experience, are encouraged to apply and will be considered if they can demonstrate appropriate ability through their audition.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop; where students choose to do so, the cost is likely to be around £800-£1000.

Additional costs are likely to be small and infrequent, but there may occasionally be optional trips and small specialist equipment may need to be purchased.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Your Future Career

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

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