University of Exeter United Kingdom

BA English and Drama

Integrated Masters with deeper specialization and research focus
Taught in English
Duration 3 Years
Mode On Campus
Level Undergraduate
Degree Bachelors Degree
Closing soon September 2026

Course Overview

The BA English and Drama at the University of Exeter is designed for those passionate about exploring the intricate relationship between literary expression and performance. You will delve into a rich tapestry of texts, from early modern plays to contemporary novels, developing your critical understanding through theoretical approaches and historical contexts. This undergraduate degree offers a unique opportunity to engage imaginatively and practically with the social, cultural, and historical dimensions of theatre and literature, preparing you for a dynamic intellectual journey.

This full-time, on-campus degree is studied over three years, allowing you to progressively build your expertise. Your first year establishes a strong foundation with compulsory modules in both English and Drama, introducing you to performance analysis and literary beginnings. As you advance, you will select from a wide array of optional modules, tailoring your studies in areas like creative writing, applied drama, or specific literary periods, culminating in a final-year dissertation in either English or Drama. You will graduate with a versatile skill set, ready for careers in the creative industries, education, publishing, and beyond.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This BA English and Drama program offers a comprehensive exploration of both literary and theatrical arts. Students will engage with foundational English literature, from pre-1800 texts to modern and contemporary works, alongside a diverse range of drama modules. These drama components cover performance analysis, acting techniques, playwriting, and various forms of applied and contemporary theatre practices. The curriculum encourages critical engagement with texts and performance, culminating in opportunities for independent research and creative projects.

1 Year 1

Performance Analysis
The Creative Actor
Beginnings: English Literature before 1800
Rethinking Shakespeare

2 Optional modules

The Novel
The Poem
Rethinking Shakespeare
Imagine This: Prompts for Creative Writing
Digital Cultures: Narrative, Creativity, Industry

3 Year 2

Applied Drama: Interactive Theatre
Puppetry and Object Theatre
Acting Shakespeare
Theatre and Health
Interpretive Acting
Digital Theatrecrafts
Culture in / as Performance
Playwriting
Theatre for Environmental Change
Intermedial Performance Practice
Activism and Performance
Popular Entertainment and Performance Documentation
Modernist Drama in Contemporary Theatre
Voices Across Stage and Screen
Approaches to Comedy
Eco-Theatre: Outdoor and Immersive Performance
Introduction to Creative Producing: Making Change and Shifting Cultures
Ensemble Acting: Co-Creation
Political Theatre: The 1980s
Live Art and Spatial Practices
Desire and Power: English Literature 1570-1640
Theatrical Cultures in Early Modern England
Chaucer and His Contemporaries
Renaissance and Revolution
Satire and the City: English Literature 1660-1750
Adaptation: Text, Image, Culture
Revolutions and Evolutions 19C Writings
Modernism and Modernity: Literature 1900-1960
Crossing the Water: Transatlantic Literary Relations
Romanticism
Empire of Liberty: American Literature of the Long Nineteenth Century
Comics Studies: Histories, Methodologies, Genres
Creative Writing: Building a Story
Creative Writing: Making a Poem
Creative Industries: Their Past, Our Future
Humanities after the Human: Further Adventures in Critical Theory
Culture, Crisis and Ecology in a Postcolonial World
Humanities in the Workplace

4 Final year

Theatre Dissertation
Dissertation
Creative Writing Dissertation
Practice II: Technical Specialisation
Theatre Practice I: Applied Drama
Creative Industries Management
Voice for the Actor
Practical Essay
Women and Theatre 1700-1928
Theatre for a Changing Climate
Theatre Dissertation
Music Drama
Physical Performance
Audio Dramaturgy: Theatre of the Ear
Approaches to Acting
Theatre for Environmental Change
Acting for Screen
Theatres Against Colonialism
Writing the Short Film
Advanced Critical Theory
Visual and Literary Cultures of Realism
Encountering the Other in Medieval Literature
Writing for Children and Young Adults
The Death of the Novel
Virginia Woolf: Fiction, Feeling, Form
'Reader, I Married Him': The Evolution of Romance Fiction from 1740 to the Present
The Rise of Science
The 21st Century Museum
Poison, Filth, Trash: Modernism, Censorship and Resistance
Piracy in Early Modern Literature, 1570-1730
Poetry and Politics
Jane Austen: In and Out of Context
The Development of British Childrens Literature
Feeling Bodies: Emotions in Early Modern Literature and Culture, 1500-1700
Sex, Scandal and Sensation in Victorian Literature
Staging Space: Dramatic Geography and Audience Experience
Picturing the Global City: Literature and Visual Culture in the 21st Century
Shakespeare and Crisis
Migration, Literature and Culture
Fiction Matters
Hardy and Women Who Did: the Coming of Modernity
American Counterculture in Literature
Surrealism and its Legacies
Romance from Chaucer to Shakespeare
From Pen to Printed Page: Exeter's Literary Archives
'Mad': cultures, histories, phantasies, imaginaries of mental distress
Adventures in Technique (Poetry)
Charles Dickens: Novelist, Journalist and Reformer

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 101,174.00

Currency note: Program costs shown in USD based on the available tuition breakdown.

Living Costs

Food & Groceries USD 2,417.00 - USD 4,028.00
Transport USD 645.00 - USD 1,289.00
Utilities & Bills USD 1,128.00 - USD 1,934.00
Estimated Total USD 4,190.00 - USD 7,251.00

Living cost estimates are based on Streatham Campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

92%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Accreditation & Assessment ServicesEducational Support ServicesGaming & Interactive MediaMedia Production & EditingMedia Research & AnalyticsSecondary & High School EducationSpecial & Inclusive EducationStreaming & Digital ContentTheme Parks & LeisureVocational & Technical Training

Top Employers Hiring for this course

BBC Studios

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

National Trust

University of Southampton

Why Study BA English and Drama at University of Exeter

What makes this program stand out

September 2026 Closing soon

Next intake is in September 2026

Life at University of Exeter in United Kingdom

What daily life looks like for international students

Language

English

Primary language everywhere

Climate

Mild & Rainy

10-20°C average, pack layers

Safety (Numbeo Safety Index)

Very Safe

Exeter is one of UK's safest cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BA English and Drama at University of Exeter

Can I work while studying?

International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time for degree courses, and full-time during breaks. No separate work permit is required, but freelance work is not allowed.

What English language score do I need for this course?

For the BA English and Drama, the English test requirements vary by test. For example, a minimum IELTS overall score of 6.5 is needed, along with specific scores in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Graduates can pursue careers such as drama teacher, literary analyst, content writer, editor, and publishing assistant.

What will I actually study in this course?

The BA English and Drama program explores the connection between literary expression and performance, covering topics like performance analysis and historical contexts. This three-year full-time degree allows you to select optional modules, culminating in a dissertation.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The BA English and Drama program at the University of Exeter has an intake month in September. Ensure you prepare your application well in advance to meet all deadlines.
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