BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre at RHUL. Royal Holloway's Drama and Theatre degree harnesses your passion for performance through rigorous study of history, critical theory, and hands-on creative work.
About this course
Match your own passion for performance with a wealth of history, critical theory, and experience. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at RHUL, based in Egham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Drama graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 5 modules
- Performance MakingCore
Module details
Students will be introduced to a wide range of performance making skills and disciplines, providing a toolbox for generating creative work across the degree.
- Storytelling & DramaturgyCore
Module details
Students will explore ways that stories have been and can be told in different forms of plays and performances, developing both analytical and creative skills in telling the stories they want to tell.
- Performing PlaceCore
Module details
Students explore the relationship between performance and place – which could be anything from site-specific work to exploring theatre's relationship to culture and society.
- Thinking TheatreCore
Module details
Students will explore how theatre generates ideas and how we might use a wide range of analytical tools and interdisciplinary ideas to explore the complexity of theatre.
- Skills LabCore
Module details
Skills Lab offers a broad introduction to key working methods and research approaches in theatre and performance studies.
Year 2 5 modules
- Performance PracticesOptional
Module details
Students will choose from a range of creative theatre skills which may include: Playwriting, Theatre Directing, Scenography, Devising
- Theatre ProductionOptional
Module details
Students will choose from a range of theatre production-focused options which may include: Verbatim theatre, Immersive theatre, In Yer Face theatre, Black British theatre, Multimedia performance, Greek tragedy, Chinese Opera theatre, Japanese Noh drama, Shakespeare
- Staging SocietyOptional
Module details
Students will choose from a range of options exploring the relationship between theatre & society which may include: Theatre for young people, Political theatre, Theatre in education, Theatre in prisons, Feminist theatre, Queer theatre, Theatre & war, National and international theatre practices
- Ideas LabOptional
Module details
Students choose from a range of options exploring the ideas embedded in and expressed by a wide range of theatre forms, which may include: Tragedy, Adaptation, Musical theatre, Memory studies, Money in society, Casting, Live Art
- Creative ProducingCore
Module details
Students will get hands-on experience and training in how to produce a theatre or performance event, including commissioning, financing, grants, marketing, and more.
Year 3 5 modules
- Research SeminarOptional
Module details
Students will choose from a range of theatre forms, period or debates for intense discussion and study, which may include: Shakespeare, Naturalist Theatre, Black and Asian theatre, Contemporary British theatre, American Drama, Theatre and Power, Theatre and the Environment, Media in Theatre
- Professional Workshop 1 & 2Core
Module details
Students will choose TWO from a range of intensive, professional modules in practical theatre & performance making, which may include: Creative Learning, Physical theatre, Storytelling, Radio drama, Noh Theatre, Shakespeare on camera, The actor's voice, Actor training in a globalised world, Performing with new technologies
- Final Year PerformanceCore
Module details
Students on this module will work in groups to devise and publicly perform an original piece of theatre drawing on all their learning across the degree
- Creative DissertationOptional
Module details
Students will work on an individual creative project – anything from playwriting to scenography, installation to dance – and write about what they have learned.
- Research DissertationOptional
Module details
Students will embark on a process of intensive research and thinking, producing a substantial piece of original writing about some area of drama, theatre and performance.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines your passion for drama and theatre with rigorous study of history, critical theory, and practical experience. You'll typically begin with foundations in performance, theatre history and analysis, then move toward specialised options and a substantial final project. A course like this normally progresses from core skills, acting technique, script analysis and contextual study, through intermediate work in areas such as performance, composition, or dramaturgy, to advanced independent work in your chosen specialism. Throughout, you'll develop both creative practice and intellectual understanding of theatre traditions, from classical to contemporary forms. The final year usually emphasises professional preparation alongside your specialist focus.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to performance and want the intellectual rigour to back it up, you'll read widely, think critically about drama's history and meaning, and create work of your own. You'll thrive if you're curious about how theatre operates as an art form and a cultural force, and if you're comfortable learning both in seminar rooms and rehearsal spaces. The blend of theory and practice means you might pursue performance professionally, or take your analytical and creative skills into directing, dramaturgy, arts management, or beyond.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 90% of graduates in Music and Performing Arts are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Among working graduates, 55% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National earnings data shows drama graduates typically earn £20,000–£28,000 in their first year after graduation, rising to £19,975–£28,200 by the fifth year, though individual outcomes vary widely depending on sector and role.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is studied full-time over 3 years at Royal Holloway, University of London, a higher education college located on the Egham Campus. Instruction is in English. The degree is recognised by the UK degree-awarding body, and the university holds Silver in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. Most recent entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with a typical UCAS tariff of 144–159 points.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W440). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at RHUL →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,000 | £25,000 – £30,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £21,500 | £13,000 – £27,000 | 85 |
| 5 years after | £28,500 | £23,000 – £35,000 | 80 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Music & Performing Arts courses at the same study level.
Compared with 527 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 79% · in work or study 75% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Egham Campus
437 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to RHUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £26,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check RHUL’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with RHUL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at RHUL
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
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BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
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