Drama and English Literature with International Study, BA Hons
Study in the USA for a year as part of your degree and develop, from the course, the skills needed for success as a global professional in the Creative and Performing Arts or in a literary career.
On our innovative Drama and English Literature degree, you'll be taught by world-leading academics and theatre practitioners. On the UK-delivered elements of the course, you’ll spend half of your time at the Bathway Theatre in Woolwich - a specialist drama facility with six studios and a flexible theatre space - and half at Greenwich Maritime campus.
As part of this course, you'll study literature, visual narratives, fiction and poetry. You can hone your performance skills through large-scale public productions and create your own Theatre Company in the final year.
You’ll also get the chance on this course to study - in your third year - for a year in the USA, enhancing your global profile.
UCAS points
104 (full requirements below)
Course/institution codes
WQ42 G BA/DrEngIS
School
Location
Duration
4 years full-time
Start month
September
Home* /international fees 2025/26
£9,535 /£17,500
What you should know about this course
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
What you will study
YEAR 1
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Literary Forms of Representation (30 credits)
- Critical Contexts for Performance (30 credits)
- Documentary Theatre (30 credits)
- The Canon: A Short History of Western Literature (30 credits)
YEAR 2
Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.
- Stage Production (30 credits)
- Immersive Performance (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Poetry and Drama in Context (30 credits)
- Prose Fiction in Context (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- American Fictions (30 credits)
- International Bestsellers (30 credits)
- Poetry and Drama in Context (30 credits)
- Prose Fiction in Context (30 credits)
- Shakespeare, Then and Now (30 credits)
YEAR 3
- Professional Practice (International Study: Drama) (no credits)
YEAR 4
Students are required to study the following compulsory module.
- Literature and Publishing Since 1820 (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- The Literature of the Gothic (30 credits)
- English in World Literatures: Postcolonial and Transnational Writing (30 credits)
- Contemporary Writing and Critical Theory (30 credits)
- Dissertation (LLT) (30 credits)
- Modern Identities: Literature of the Global Eighteenth Century (30 credits)
- British Theatre since 1995 (30 credits)
- Work Placement (Level 6) (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Directing for Theatre (30 credits)
- Theatre and Young Audiences (30 credits)
Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.
- Theatre Company (30 credits)
- Solo Performance (30 credits)
About the course team
Greenwich's staff team are all creative practitioners and/or scholars involved in original research projects. At Greenwich, you will be taught by an experienced team of experts in a supportive environment. We connect with other artists and academics through the Bathway Theatre Associate Artists’ Scheme. Our Industry Partners include Punchdrunk, Greenwich Theatre, Woolwich Works, and a variety of professional theatre companies, writers and performers.
Come and meet us
We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- 104 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, Access to HE and all other qualifications with UCAS Tariff points.
Contextual Admissions
- We make Contextual offers to this programme. Applicants that meet specific eligibility criteria will be made a contextual offer with a reduced tariff of up to 16 UCAS Tariff points. Other entry requirements such as GCSEs, Interview, etc., will still need to be met. For further information, please see our Contextual Admissions Policy.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
- Application and selection: Suitable applicants will be required to attend an audition workshop or a virtual interview event depending on location/circumstances.
PLEASE NOTE: Students are usually required to demonstrate evidence of at last a 2:1 classification (i.e., a year average of 60% or higher) at the end of their first year to be considered for the degree's Study Abroad year.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
For entry: applicants with non-traditional qualifications or appropriate professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For exemption: If you hold qualifications or courses from another higher education institution, these may exempt you from modules of this degree.
How you will learn
Teaching
Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.
You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.
Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
On the UK-delivered modules (i.e. in Years 1, 2 and 4), workshops are usually no larger than 25, although lectures may be larger. In Year 3 (i.e. the Study Abroad year), class sizes will be determined by the partner institution but will usually be no larger than 25.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions on the UK-delivered elements of the course, you are also expected to dedicate sufficient time for self study and group work - you will carry out practical and theoretical research, undertake set reading, and work in small groups towards assessments, performances, and presentation. You can reserve studio space at Bathway for this and use the computers and other technical resources on site, plus the Stockwell Street library in Greenwich.
In addition, during the week at Greenwich you can also:
- Join student societies including the FPS (Film and Photography Society) and Performing Arts.
- Attend guest lectures from industry experts and take part in employability and enterprise workshops.
Overall workload
Drama requires both independent study and a large amount of group work. You should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. Each of the UK-delivered 30-credit modules should take 300 hours in total including staff contact time; 15 credits need 150 hours.
Learning to work independently and as part of a creative project team makes our graduates highly desirable employees, whether they pursue careers in theatre or in other fields.
Assessment
You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.
Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.
Feedback summary
We aim to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The UK academic year runs from September to June and, in the USA, usually from August to May. Full teaching timetables are not usually available until a term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Official statistics on Discover Uni
Full time
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home* | £9,535 | N/A | N/A |
| International | £17,500 | N/A | N/A |
University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
* The Department for Education has indicated that it intends to raise the Home tuition fee limit from £9,250 to £9,535 for 2025/26.
Other costs
Students will incur additional costs as part of their year abroad.
Some of these costs can be covered through funding sources such as Student Finance, the Turing Scheme and other university and external scholarship and bursary funds. Students will pay a registration fee to the University of Greenwich of circa £1,000 pounds for the year. Students should expect to budget around £1,800 a month to cover living expenses, including flights and accommodation, while in the USA. More information on these costs will be given during the "Considering Study Abroad?" introductory talks for registered students.
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.
EU Bursary
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, we are supporting new EU students by offering a substantial fee-reduction for studying.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
All students on the degree do have the option to select a module for which you will be required to undertake* a short-term placement (*note this is NOT during the Study Abroad Year). The module will be assessed on your reflection on this placement and how you can apply your knowledge to the workplace. Many placements are found through our network of industry contacts, and students are supported in securing these.
How long is my placement?
Work-based learning module placements are normally one-three days a week for one term.
What are the financial arrangements?
Work-based learning module placements are normally unpaid.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
Many students who take a year abroad describe it as a transformative experience. The skills you acquire through studying our courses, and on the year abroad, will prepare you for careers in a wide range of industries and international jobs. Many graduates of our drama course go on to careers in the theatre, in film and education.
Are internships available?
Students are encouraged to take up Summer internships during the Summer holidays, though it is up to the student to find them. Support is available to students from the Employability and Careers Service when applying for placements and internships.
Do you provide employability services?
Employability activities take place all the time at Greenwich and students are encouraged to take part in as many opportunities as possible. Greenwich's central Employability and Careers Service provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Support from the department
Throughout the degree you will be supported by your Personal Tutor, the Programme Leader and members of the teaching team and wider Professional Services staff.
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Visit our drama degrees page.
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