Drama and English Literature BA (Hons)
University of Manchester
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.1) View reviews

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days?

Different course options
academic-cap
Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

location-pin
Location

Main Site

beaker
Study mode

Full Time

calendar
Start date

SEP-25

time
Duration

3 Years

Course info

Select a course option


Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

SELECTED

Subjects

Select a subject


English
SELECTED

Drama, Dance & Cinematics
SELECT

Exam type

Select a an exam type


A level
SELECTED

Scottish Higher
SELECT

Scottish Advanced Higher
SELECT

Access to HE Diploma
SELECT

AS
SELECT

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
SELECT

Extended Project
SELECT

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
SELECT

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
SELECT

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
SELECT

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
SELECT

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
SELECT

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
SELECT

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
SELECT

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
SELECT

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
SELECT

Course info

Our BA Drama and English Literature course embraces all forms of drama across stage, screen and beyond, while exploring a wide range of texts from a variety of periods.In your Drama units, you will explore everything from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing and experimental film cultures.For English Literature, youll explore written forms ranging from illuminated manuscripts and graphic novels to poetry and postmodern ...Read more

Our BA Drama and English Literature course embraces all forms of drama across stage, screen and beyond, while exploring a wide range of texts from a variety of periods.In your Drama units, you will explore everything from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing and experimental film cultures.For English Literature, you'll explore written forms ranging from illuminated manuscripts and graphic novels to poetry and postmodern fiction, covering areas from the Anglo-Saxon period to American literary and cultural studies, from the Renaissance to the contemporary.You will benefit from teaching informed by recent innovations in theatre, performance and film studies, as well as by historical practices. You will also become part of a thriving community of students, lecturers and writers at The University of Manchester, based in the heart of a UNESCO City of Literature that has produced some of the world's greatest writers and has a thriving literature and arts scene, including major events like Manchester Literature Festival.Our comprehensive facilities include the purpose-built Martin Harris Centre, home to the John Thaw Studio, a fully staffed, adaptable performance, rehearsal and workshop space.Drawing inspiration from the creative beating heart of the city itself, you will study in a city that is home to countless ground-breaking arts organisations and events - from Manchester International Festival, the world's first festival of original work, to HOME, the largest multidisciplinary arts centre outside of the capital.

Key stats

English
WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
63/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
14th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
22nd
Drama
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 95 = 5% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
5%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
70%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Drama graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK Drama graduate salary
£18,000
Literature in English
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 95 = 5% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
5%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
70%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Literature in English graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK Literature in English graduate salary
£18,000
What students say
C
Cameron
29 Feb 24

I love the facilities my course provides and the social life I have here, but I feel the actual content of my degree is often confusing and difficult to..Read more

J
Julz
05 Feb 24

Best: social life Worst: student support for therapy..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

AAB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Advanced Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Access to HE Diploma:

D:39,M:6 Grades / Points required

AS:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Extended Project:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

35 Grades / Points required

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma:

DD Grades / Points required

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate:

D* - D Grades / Points required

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma:

DD Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DD Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016):

D Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDD Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

D Grades / Points required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Grades AAB. This should include grade A in English Literature (or Language and Literature, but not Language alone). General Studies is welcomed but not normally included as part of the standard offer.The University recognises the benefit of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. We strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. For this programme, as well as the regular conditions of offer, we may make students who are currently taking or completed the EPQ an alternative offer. For this course it would be ABB at A level including A in English Literature plus the Extended Project at Grade A.Typical Contextual Offer: Grades ABC. This should include grade A in English Literature (or Language and Literature, but not Language alone) for applicants who meet our contextual offer criteria. For further information and to check eligibility visit our Contextual Offers page.General Studies is welcomed but not normally included as part of the standard offer.

Grade A in Advanced Higher English, plus AABB in Scottish Highers in distinct subjects.English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade Credit level grade 3).If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.

Grade A in Advanced Higher English, plus AABB in Scottish Highers in distinct subjects.English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade Credit level grade 3).If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.

We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3), with merit or distinction in a subject area relevant to the chosen course.The specific course requirements are a minimum of 39 credits with a Distinction grade, plus 6 credits with a Merit grade, all in a Humanities-related subject. Where possible, 15 of the Distinction credits should be in the pre-requisite subject required for A-levels.Applicants to Languages programmes are also required to have a minimum of GCSE grade B/6 in a modern language or in English Language.

AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.

We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken.We accept Pre-U grade D3 in place of A Level grade A or M2 in place of grade B.If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. We strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement (and at interview, if  relevant).  We may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account, should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.For this programme, you will be made the standard offer plus an alternative one, if you are studying for an EPQ.  The alternative offer will be one grade below the standard offer but you will also be asked to achieve a Grade A in your EPQ.

35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects including 6 in English Literature or English Language and Literature.

We consider the Technical Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level at grade A in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone).

We consider the Technical Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Extended Certificate with grade Distinction, plus two additional Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels at grades AB, one of which must be in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone).

We consider the Technical Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Foundation Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level/A Level at min. Grade A in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone ), PLUS an EPQ or AS Level at grade B.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: we consider the National Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus one A-level at Grade A in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone ).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: we consider the National Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Certificate with a Distinction grade, PLUS two A-levels at Grades AA; one of which must be in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone ).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: we consider the National Extended Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Diploma with grades Dist, Dist, Dist, plus one A-level at Grade A in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone ).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma: we consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with a Distinction grade, PLUS one A-level at Grade A in English Literature ( or English Language and Literature, but not English Language alone ), PLUS an EPQ or AS at Grade B.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this. The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A Level entry requirements.If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Popular A-level subjects

Literature in English

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

English Literature
74%
History
37%
English Language
32%
Psychology
15%
Religious Studies & Theology
14%
HESA
Drama

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Drama
80%
English Literature
68%
History
29%
Psychology
11%
English Language
10%
HESA

Latest reviews

Latest Drama Studies reviews

Drama Studies
Drama Studies
English Literature
C
Cameron
29 Feb 24
Drama BA (Hons)
I love the facilities my course provides and the social life I have here, but I feel the actual content of my degree is often confusing and difficult to...
Read more
J
Julz
05 Feb 24
Drama BA (Hons)
Best: social life Worst: student support for therapy...
Read more
Review breakdown
University rating
University rating
Students' union
Societies and Sports
University halls
Facilities
Lecturers and teaching quality
Local life
Career prospects
Student support
Location
Campus look and feel
Student life
Course rating
Course content
Work placements and internships
Tutor contact time
Subject facilities
University location
Cost of living
Safety
Public transport
Part-time work opportunities
Graduate employment opportunities
Diversity
Location
Safety
Room allocation
Internet/wifi
Value for money
Property management

How Drama Studies students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 10 reviews
5 star
30%
4 stars
50%
3 stars
20%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 1,655 reviews
5 star
30%
4 stars
55%
3 stars
14%
2 stars
1%
1 star
0%
Search reviews that mention

Uni info

University of Manchester
University Recruitment And Adm Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Manchester Piccadilly  0.3 miles away
Thinking of studying in Manchester?

Check out our

Manchester city guide

Find a course

  • Undergraduate
  • HND / HNC
  • Foundation degree
  • Access & foundation
  • Postgraduate