Next Open Day - 22 March

Book now

Next Open Day - 22 March

Book now

You are viewing entry year 2025/26.

Drama with International Study, BA Hons

Study in the USA for a year as part of your degree and develop, over the course’s four-years, the skills needed for success as a global professional in the Creative and Performing Arts.

Drama at Greenwich is an innovative and practice-led course where, on the UK-delivered elements of the course, you’ll learn and work out of the Bathway Theatre in Woolwich - a specialist facility with six studios and a flexible auditorium. At Greenwich, you'll be taught by world-leading academics and theatre practitioners and we have great partnerships with organisations working in the creative industries at local, national and international level.

Take part in a range of modules from devising to technical theatre, directing and writing. Hone your performance skills through large-scale public productions and create your own Theatre Company in the final year to kick-start your professional future.

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 (view full requirements)(full requirements below)

Course/institution codes

W401 G BA/DrwIS

We received Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. This recognises our outstanding performance in student experience and outcomes.

Location

Greenwich Campus

Duration

4 years full-time

Start month

September

Home* /international fees 2025/26

£9,535 /£17,500

What you should know about this course

  • This course includes an embedded Study Abroad year at one of our partner institutions in the USA, allowing you to experience living and learning in the States.
  • The course's UK-delivered modules combine theory and practice, so you can acquire expertise in performing, theatre-making, critical writing and public speaking.
  • Specific performance practices such as applied drama, physical theatre and contemporary performance allow you to show your work in different contexts and platforms.
  • Have a look at our BA (Hons) Drama course (3-years in duration), if you're looking for a Drama course without a year abroad.

* 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.

Home tuition fee limits: Find out more

What you will study

YEAR 1

Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.

  • Production and Technical Theatre (15 credits)
  • Creative Futures (15 credits)
  • Critical Contexts for Performance (30 credits)
  • Improvisation and Devising (15 credits)
  • Documentary Theatre (30 credits)
  • Acting the Contemporary Text (15 credits)

YEAR 2

Students are required to follow either Option Set 1 or Option Set 2.

Option Set 1

Students are required to study the following compulsory modules:

  • Stage Production (30 credits)
  • Immersive Performance (30 credits)

Students are also required to choose 60 credits from this list of options.

  • International Study (Drama) (1 Semester) (60 credits)

Option Set 2

Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.

  • Stage Production (30 credits)
  • Immersive Performance (30 credits)

Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Applied and Socially Engaged Drama (15 credits)
  • Performance Laboratory (15 credits)

Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Industry Placement (Drama) (15 credits)
  • Teaching Drama (15 credits)

Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Intercultural Performance (15 credits)
  • Physical Theatre (15 credits)

Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Technical Theatre Practice (Accredited) (15 credits)
  • Stage Combat (Accredited) (15 credits)

YEAR 3

Professional Practice (International Study: Drama) (no credits)

YEAR 4

Students are required to study the following compulsory modules.

  • Research Project (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 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Performing Technologies (15 credits)
  • Writing For Theatre (15 credits)

Students are also required to choose 30 credits from this list of options.

  • Theatre Company (30 credits)
  • Solo Performance (30 credits)

Students are also required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

  • Advanced Acting (15 credits)
  • Advanced Placement (15 credits)
  • British Theatre since 2005 (15 credits)

About the course team

Greenwich's Drama staff are all creative practitioners and 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

If you are

[Edit/delete as required. Sample text below]

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.

The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses. If you cannot find your country on this list, please contact international@gre.ac.uk.

Choose your country:

Further information about entry

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.

For more information, call us on 020 8331 9000. You can also read our admissions policy.

Available to overseas students?

Yes

Can I use Prior Learning?

Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.

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. 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:

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.

Home tuition fee limits: Find out more

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.

The Greenwich Bursary

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.

The EU bursary

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.

Funding your studies

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

All students on the degree 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 to 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.

More about careers.

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. Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.

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.

Accommodation information

Skip image gallery

Not quite what you were looking for?

We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate courses or check our related courses below.....

Drama at the University of Greenwich

Make your world a stage with one of our Drama degrees - join a university-based course and hone your craft in our own 100-seat theatre. Or choose to study dance and musical theatre at our partner, Bird College.

Visit our drama degrees page.

More critical acclaim for Drama graduates’ show


The Fruity Theatre Company have enjoyed further success with their production, 'Nail Polish', earning them a 4-star review from a recent five-show-London-run.

Mode of study

Select from the dropdown below.

Course level
UCAS code
Duration
Location

Apply now

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study full-time then you apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study part-time then you can apply directly via our online application form.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply via UCAS, directly via our online application form or via one of our in-country representatives. If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.