Drama

If you dream of running your own theatre company, applying your creative skills to community or educational work, or developing as a performer, stage manager or theatre technician our BA (Hons) Drama degree is for you.

With a strong focus on practice-based learning, you will explore contemporary theatre and screen performance making. You will be supported and inspired to develop a portfolio of professional skills for working in the creative industries through collaboration with other creative students, your specialist tutors, community partners and industry professionals. Making performance for a range of professional and public contexts will also give you the confidence and knowledge to transfer your talents into a wide range of career options.

We’ll encourage you to create innovative and daring performance practice as you develop specialist subject knowledge and an awareness of how you might fit into and lead contemporary trends. We recognise each Drama student’s unique gifts and experience, valuing everyone’s contribution to the work we make together and to the success of the course. We will enable you to explore your own talents and to shape our Drama degree to fit your aspirations.

Our Drama and Dance courses ranked 13th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025, with 92% for “satisfied with teaching”.

Join a course that scored 90% for “The Teaching on my course” and 92% for “Freedom of students to express ideas, opinions and beliefs” in the National Student Survey 2024.

Not only will you develop your performance skills during your time at ARU, our BA (Hons) Drama degree will give you practical experience as a stage technician, and the academic understanding you need to be a director or a teacher.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MA Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.