Drama 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

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Different course options
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Qualification

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

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Location

Main Site

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

time
Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

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

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

SELECTED

Subjects

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Drama, Dance & Cinematics
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Exam type

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A level
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Scottish Higher
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Scottish Advanced Higher
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Access to HE Diploma
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AS
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Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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Extended Project
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
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OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
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Course info

BA Drama embraces all forms of drama across stage, screen and beyond.You will explore everything from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing, and experimental film cultures.You will benefit from teaching informed by recent innovations in theatre, performance, and film studies, as well as by historical practices.Our comprehensive facilities include the purpose-built Martin Harris Centre, home to the John Thaw Studio, a ...Read more

BA Drama embraces all forms of drama across stage, screen and beyond.You will explore everything from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing, and experimental film cultures.You will benefit from teaching informed by recent innovations in theatre, performance, and film studies, as well as by historical practices.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.You will also be able to draw inspiration from the creative beating heart of the city itself, 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.You can also take advantage of strong links to partner organisations throughout the city, including TiPP (Theatre in Prisons and Probation Research and Development Centre), based here at the University, and Community Arts North West.You also can engage with professional practitioners working in the cultural industries through your coursework and through extracurricular events.

Key stats

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
1st
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
89%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Drama graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK Drama 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:

D3,D3,M2 Grades / Points required

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 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, including a Grade A in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics. 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 including A in an essay based subject plus the Extended Project at Grade A.Typical Contextual Offer: Grades BBB, including an essay-based subject 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.

We typically require grades AABBB in Scottish Highers.Applicants offering a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers should contact ug-filmstudies@manchester.ac.uk for further advice. 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).

We typically require grades AABBB in Scottish Highers.Applicants offering a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers should contact ug-filmstudies@manchester.ac.uk for further advice. 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).

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.

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.For admission to this programme we require D3 as equivalent to A Level grade A or M2 as equivalent to A Level 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.

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 A Level at grade A in an essay based subject.

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 A Levels at grades AB, one of which must be in an essay based subject.

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 A Level/A Level at grade A in an essay based subject, 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 an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.

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 an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.

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 an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.

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 an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics, 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

Drama

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

Drama
80%
English Literature
68%
History
29%
Psychology
11%
Religious Studies & Theology
10%
HESA

Latest reviews

Latest Drama Studies reviews

Drama Studies
Drama Studies
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
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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) 1,653 reviews
5 star
30%
4 stars
55%
3 stars
14%
2 stars
1%
1 star
0%
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University of Manchester
University Recruitment And Adm Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Manchester Piccadilly  0.3 miles away
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