BADrama and English

Study location	United Kingdom, Birmingham
Type	Bachelor courses, full-time
Nominal duration	3 years
Study language	English
Awards	BA
Course code	WQ43

Entry qualification

High school / secondary education (or higher) For the English Literature pathway, A-Level English Literature or English Language and Literature grade A is required. For the English Language pathway either English Language, English Language and Literature or English Literature is desirable but not essential; if taken it will be required at grade A. We also consider other candidates who demonstrate an interest in and aptitude for the study of language. In this case an A-Level in a modern language would be an advantage. A-Level Drama or Theatre Studies is desirable but not essential. If taken it will be requested at grade B. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill) CAE: 176 (with a minimum of 169 in each skill)

Other requirements	At least 1 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	birmingham.ac.uk/../drama-and-english.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

First year

Drama: In your first year, you will be given a foundation in the core study and practical aspects of the Drama and Theatre Arts by taking two compulsory modules – ‘Performance: Theory, Practice and Critique’ and ‘Theatre Practice’.

First year Drama modules
English Language : Your first year modules will introduce you to many different aspects of language and its use. You will take three compulsory modules: ‘English Language: Sounds, Structures, and Words’, ‘Investigating Language’, and ‘Theories of Language’. These modules combine to create an excellent foundation for your study and research in subsequent years.

English Language first year modules
English Literature: Your first-year modules in Joint Honours English will introduce you to the key genres of English Literature across a wide historical and international span, and train you in new ways of thinking about literature. By studying compulsory modules on ‘Poetry’, ‘Prose’ and ‘Plays and Performance’, you will develop the close reading skills needed to analyse all kinds of texts, from medieval plays and early modern poetry to contemporary drama. You will also develop new understanding of how the historical and cultural contexts in which literature is produced and read can shape its meaning.

English Literature first year modules

Second year

Drama: Here you will build on the foundation work of the first year and also have opportunities to develop a wide range of practical specialisms and undertake study options. You will take ‘The Politics of Performance’ as a compulsory module and if you take 80 credits in Drama, you will also have another compulsory module: ‘Theatre/Performance Lab’.

Drama second year modules
English Language : In your second year you will take two compulsory modules: ‘Research Skills in English Language’ if taking 60 credits and ‘English Grammar’ if taking 80 credits, as well as a range of optional modules.

English Language second year modules
English Literature : The second year of your degree is an excellent opportunity to build on the new interests and passions that you discovered in your first-year modules. You can choose between modules in ‘Histories of Literature’ to deepen your knowledge and understanding of all literary periods from medieval to the present day. If you take 80 credits in English you will take the Shakespeare module – ‘Shakespeare: Elizabethan and Jacobean’ – as a compulsory module.

English Literature second year modules
Year abroad
You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year then you will be invited to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year. Find out more.

Final year

Drama: In your final year, you will have the opportunity to choose different options taking an ‘Extended Essay’(compulsory if you will take 80 credits in Drama), or a ‘Study Option’ or a ‘Practical Option’.

Drama final year modules
English Language : Your final year modules are mainly optional and you can choose from a wide range of modules. If you will take 80 credits in English, you will complete either a Dissertation or Language Investigation, the culmination of your development as an undergraduate researcher.

English Language final year modules
English Literature : Depending on whether you elect to take 80, 60 or 40 credits in English Literature, you will take a number of the Special Subject modules plus either a 12,000-word Dissertation or a 6,000-word Extended Essay on a subject of your choice, for which you will be supervised by an expert in the field.

English Literature final year modules

Career opportunities

These are skills that last a lifetime and qualify you for many possible careers. Over 90% of our students enter work or further study within six months of graduation (DLHE 2017). Our graduates start careers with various employers including:

The BBC
The RSC
The National Theatre
Headline Publishing Group
Birmingham Hippodrome
Mirror Group Newspapers
The Royal Court Theatre
Roles include theatre choreographer, editorial assistant, marketing assistant, performing arts tutor, TV production assistant director and events co-ordinator.

The Department of Drama and Theatre Arts has a long-established relationship with the BBC and Heartbreak Productions which regularly leads to work experience placements for our students.