- UCAS course code
- W400
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Drama
Study a wide range of drama - on stage, screen and beyond - including options to work with our acclaimed centre for applied and social theatre.
- Typical A-level offer: AAB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBB
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
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Overview
Course overview
- Study theatre, performance, and screen media.
- Ranked 1st in the UK for Drama and Cinematics (Complete University Guide 2026).
- Select from a wide range of course units to expand both your theoretical and practical understanding of drama.
- Create and deliver practical theatre work in prisons and community settings.
Open days
Join us on campus to learn more about your course, grab a chat with current students and academics, and explore our campus with its fantastic facilities.
It’s an invaluable opportunity to explore, discover, and enjoy some of the vibes that attract so many students to Manchester.
Find out more about our upcoming open days .
Not in the UK or can’t make it? Not a problem. Check out our virtual open day content .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-drama@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/drama/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Related courses
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Compare this course
Entry requirements
A-level
AAB including one essay based subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
A-level contextual offer
BBB including one essay based subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
BBC including one essay based subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Grade 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see Accepted entry qualifications from your country
Still need help? Please contact ug-drama@manchester.ac.uk for further advice
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;
IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each subtest, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2026 will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £29,900 for the 2026/27 academic year. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year and £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).
The Government has also announced that the fee cap will then increase on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee you pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
Learn more about student finance options for UK students .
Learn more about fees and finance for international students .
As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.
Application and selection
How to apply
I didn’t think I was going to go to University until I came to my interview day at UoM.
As soon as I got here, I got a good feeling, and I knew it was going to be the right place for me.
Velvet Hebditch / BA Drama Student
Home-schooled applicants
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
Returning to education
Deferrals
We welcome applications from candidates who intend to defer entry.
We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possibleif they are intending to defer. This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in orderto achieve the required number of students in a given year.
Re-applications
Transfers
We welcome applications from candidates transferring from other institutions. Each application will be considered on merit, providing we have enough places to accommodate them. Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details). We will require transcripts and a reference from your tutor.
Course details
Course description
I love the variety of modules available at UoM.
Not a lot of drama courses offer so many film related modules as well, and a lot of the content even on the theatre courses feels unique and is really interesting to read about.
Velvet Hebditch / BA Drama Student
BA Drama embraces all forms of drama across the stage, screen and beyond.
You may explore everything from literary adaptation to performance in public spaces, performance curation to audio design, playwriting to directing, and experimental film cultures.
Benefit from teaching informed by recent innovations in theatre and performance, alongside historical methods, and practices.
Our comprehensive facilities include the purpose-built Martin Harris Centre, home to the John Thaw Studio - a fully staffed, versatile area for performances, rehearsals, and workshops.
You will also find 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.
Take advantage of strong links to partner organisations throughout the city, including TiPP (Theatre in Prisons and Probation Research and Development Centre), Manchester Museum and Contact Theatre, all based right here at the University.
Immerse yourself in the cultural pulse of the industry by engaging with professional practitioners during your coursework and extracurricular events.
Special features
Placement year option
Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in your third year of study. This will enable you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals, and build your external networks.
Study abroad
You may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during Year 2, with exchange partners including those in Europe as well as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Societies
Join The University of Manchester Drama Society, which is for anyone with an interest in drama, be that acting, directing, writing, filmmaking, costume, set building, stage managing or just watching. One of the largest in the Student Union, the society has links with many of Manchester's award-winning theatrical venues, including the Contact Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre. Each summer the society showcases at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Join The University of Manchester Filmmaking Society, which exists to provide a platform for aspiring filmmakers attending the university to meet, exchange ideas and create their own cinematic productions.
Teaching and learning
Manchester is distinct from an acting conservatoire; rather than offering purely vocational training, we bring together theory and practice in the study of Drama as cultural process and artistic discourse.
Your studies will encompass drama on stage and page, the ancient and the contemporary, the mainstream and the avant-garde.
You'll develop skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving, and the clear articulation of ideas, learning through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, masterclasses and group work.
You will engage with the theories and techniques of practitioners past and present in our dedicated studio spaces.
Practical work is generally workshop-based and not all projects culminate in public performance.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment includes:
- coursework essays;
- written examinations;
- research reports;
- practical tests;
- learning logs;
- web contributions;
- oral presentations;
- small-scale practical assignments;
- a final-year dissertation or research essay.
Course content for year 1
Study core units in the theory and practice of drama, focusing on historical, contextual, and theoretical analysis.
Learn from visiting artists and collaborate with fellow students in intensive practical workshops.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAM10071 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DRAM10072 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DRAM10101 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DRAM10102 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DRAM10031 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM13331 | 20 | Optional | |
| SALC11002 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
Explore drama practitioners in their historical, cultural, and political context from the birth of modernism to the present day.
Select from a range of options, which may include studying post-Thatcher British, performance in America or EcoTheatre. Develop practical skills in an area of creating theatre.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAM20051 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DRAM20032 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20041 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20092 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20102 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20221 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20632 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21042 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21091 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21141 | 20 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 20 course units for year 2 | |||
| Display all course units for year 2 | |||
Course content for year 3
Specialise in an area of practice, such as playwriting, directing, documentary filmmaking, applied theatre, or contemporary theatre-making (admission to these units based on successful application)
Continue to hone your critical and analytical skills in upper-level study options.
Research and write your dissertation or extended dissertation.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAM20032 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20041 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20092 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20102 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20221 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM20632 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21261 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21272 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM21902 | 20 | Optional | |
| DRAM30001 | 20 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 27 course units for year 3 | |||
| Display all course units for year 3 | |||
Facilities
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
Your teaching and performance home includes:
- John Thaw Studio Theatre – a fully equipped, flexible performance space with 150 seats
- Workshops, rehearsal rooms and screening rooms, plus sound and video-editing suites
- Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall – an acoustically designed auditorium with 350 seats
- The Lenagan Library – a dedicated performing arts library
World-Class Cultural Resources
You’ll also have access to some of the University’s most iconic cultural institutions:
- The Whitworth – a multi award-winning art gallery
- The John Rylands Library – home to rare books and beautifully illuminated medieval manuscripts
- Manchester Museum – with major prehistoric, classical and ethnographic collections
A City of Culture
Manchester is world-famous for its arts scene, with the second-highest concentration of theatres in the UK.
It’s also home to the Manchester International Festival and The Factory, a landmark £110 million arts centre.
Learn more about facilities
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Build Skills Employers Value
Studying with us helps you develop versatile, transferable and specialist skills, including:
- Theatre analysis, performance and film
- Creating original works for live performance
- Presentation and communication
- Creative problem solving
- Teamwork
- Leadership
Real-World Experience
Gain professional experience through a work placement year, or broaden your horizons with a semester abroad. You can also take courses across the University through Interdisciplinary Learning, broadening your expertise and career options.
Continue Your Journey
Our undergraduate degrees are designed to make it easy to progress into postgraduate study if you choose.
We offer a wide range of specialist master’s courses, with fast-tracked enrolment available for high-achieving undergraduate students.
You can also take part in our Stellify programme, developing leadership and professional skills while contributing to your community through volunteering.
Career Advantage
The University of Manchester is the second most targeted university in the UK by top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2025).
Our award-winning Careers Service offers tailored guidance, industry connections, and ongoing support for up to two years after graduation.
Degrees in Drama prepare you for careers in:
•Theatre, film, TV and radio
•Theatre Agency
•Journalism and media
•Applied theatre and community arts
•Teaching
•Arts administration
•Law
•Business management and other professional sectors
Proven Graduate Outcomes
Our graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as:
•BBC
•ITV
•Sky TV
•Contact Theatre, Manchester
•Tandem Theatre
•The Lowery Arts Centre
Find out more on our Careers and Employability page .
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.
