Drama and PerformanceBA Hons

Take the stage and go behind the scenes to discover the process of making theatre on our BA (Hons) Drama and Performance degree course.

You'll study the theory and history of theatre and drama, and explore drama in many forms: performance through plays, production through devising new shows, techniques in voice, movement, criticism and analysis. After your first year, you can tailor the course to your preferences, from choosing modules you’re most interested in, to designing your own path in your final year project.

At Portsmouth, we give you the power to choose how you’ll create a career in drama and performance – whether it be as an actor, designer, technician, teacher, or working in the community. The world is your stage.

The skills and experience you gain on this course will set you up for a career in all areas of the drama and performing arts industry, whether you want to be on stage or backstage.

And because the art of performing is embedded in daily life – from business negotiations to people's behaviour in the workplace to marketing communications – you can also apply the skills you learn in roles in other industries.

Graduate roles and destinations

Previous graduates have secured roles at prestigious theatre companies including the Barbican, Chichester Festival Theatre and Marlowe Theatre and performed at events including the Edinburgh Fringe and Brighton Fringe.

Typical roles graduates go onto after the course include:

• actor
• director
• playwright
• stage/theatre manager
• arts administrator
• producer
• drama teacher (with further training)
• event coordinator

While studying at Portsmouth, graduates have received seed funding to make their own work, taken that work to local venues such as Guildhall Studio and New Theatre Royal, then performed their new productions at Edinburgh.

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing, or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second year, you can do a year-long placement in the industry. This lets you put your knowledge and skills to work, while developing professional links and building your network.

Previous students have taken placement years at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, as attractions cast members.

You can also do a summer internship, or shorter-term work experience placements. Previous students have done the following short-term placements:

• Stage and production crew at Rock Challenge
• Running and stage management at Hip Hop International
• Stage management at the Groundlings Theatre
• Dance teaching at Upbeat Music
• Journeys Festival

Interested in running your own business on your placement year instead? You can start up and run your own company for a year as an alternative to a work-based placement. You'll work alone or with fellow students to build and launch a successful venture.

Whichever option you choose, you'll get support from Creative Careers.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

• Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
• Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
• Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
• Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching methods on this drama degree include:

• workshops
• seminars
• lectures
• one-to-one tutorials

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a web connection.

Teaching staff profiles

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

• Practical productions
• Dramatic writing
• Essays
• Video productions
• Group presentations
• Examinations
• Dissertation/project

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your drama degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as acting lessons for 4 hours per week and lectures and seminars for 4-6 hours per week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting your learning

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Tuition fees

2023 start

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

2024 start

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
• International students – £18,100 a year (subject to annual increase)

You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.