University of Bristol United Kingdom

BA Theatre and English

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

Embark on a dynamic exploration of narrative and performance with the BA Theatre and English at the University of Bristol. This undergraduate degree is crafted for students passionate about understanding how stories shape our world, both on the page and on the stage. You will delve into the rich traditions of English literature, from medieval texts to contemporary works, while simultaneously engaging with the critical analysis and practical creation of theatre. This course is ideal if you seek to develop a nuanced understanding of dramatic arts and literary expression, preparing you for careers that demand strong communication, critical thinking, and creative insight.

This full-time, on-campus programme spans three years, offering a comprehensive blend of theoretical study and practical application. You will explore diverse literary periods and genres, alongside core theatre units focusing on performance analysis and creation. Throughout your studies, you will have opportunities to engage with professional theatre makers and the university's unique Theatre Collection archive. In your final year, you will undertake an independent research project, choosing between a dissertation, a performance project, or a practice-as-research project, allowing you to deepen your expertise in a chosen area and graduate with a well-rounded skill set.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This BA Theatre and English program offers a comprehensive exploration of both disciplines. Students will engage with core modules in performance analysis, theatre making, critical literary studies, and various poetic and historical literary traditions. Subsequent years allow for specialization through a wide range of optional modules in theatre, performance, and diverse areas of English literature, culminating in independent research projects or dissertations.

1 Year 1 (2024/25 entry cohort)

Analysing Performance Mandatory
Making Theatre Mandatory
Critical Issues Mandatory
Approaches to Poetry Mandatory
Literature 1550-1740 Mandatory

2 Year 2 (2024/25 entry cohort)

Performance Histories Optional
Politics of Performance Optional
Performing the Archive Optional
Clowning Through History Optional
Site-Specific Performance Optional
Applied Theatre Optional
Age of the Actress Optional
Popular Performance Optional
Devised Performance Optional
Interpreting Plays Optional
Choreography for Theatre Optional
Literature 1740-1900 Optional
American Literature: 1945 to Present Optional
Creative Writing, Prose Fiction: Representing the World Optional
Revenge Tragedy Optional
The Fairy Tale in English Optional
Literature and Trauma: 1900 to the present Optional
Paradise Lost: Inception and Reception Optional
Border-Worlds Optional
The Art of Grief Optional
Utopian Literature Optional
Shakespeare Optional
Early Modern Women Writers Optional
Literature 1900-present Optional
Arthurian Literature Optional
Chaucer and Chaucerians Optional
Old English Language and Literature Optional
Black British Literature Optional
Creative Writing: Poetry Optional
Dangerous Books Optional
Drinking in the words: The pleasures and pains of alcohol in British fiction and culture Optional
Gender, Desire and the Renaissance Stage Optional

3 Year 3 (2024/25 entry cohort)

Research Project Optional
Practice-as-Research Project Optional
Performance Project Optional
Independent Study: Dissertation Optional
Independent Study: Practice-as-Research Project Optional
Independent Study: Performance Project Optional
Professional Development in Theatre and Performance Optional
Independent Study: Extended Essay Optional
Victorian Fiction: Art and Ideas in the Marketplace Optional
Novel Territories: Eighteenth-century Prose Fiction Optional
Hero or traitor? Outlaws in Literature Optional
Illness Narratives Optional
Literature's Children Optional
Representing HIV/AIDS Optional
Shakespearean Tragedy: Textual and Literary Criticism Optional
Women on the Verge: Gender and Experimentation in the 20th/21st Century Optional
Homing Desires/Imaginary Homelands: Representing South Asia and its Diasporas Optional
Writing the Anthropocene 1945-Present Optional
American Revolutions Optional
Literatures of Decolonisation Optional
Celebrity Culture: Icons, Industry and Aesthetics Optional
Literature - Enslavement - Liberation Optional
Creative Writing Dissertation Optional
Dissertation Optional
Dissertation (English) Optional
Literature and Medicine Optional
Modernist Writers Optional
Victorian Poetry: Belief, Doubt, and Dissent Optional
Victorian Materialities Optional
Medievalism in the Modern Age Optional
Caribbean Literature Optional
Modernism and the Movies Optional
Writing the Self: Literature and Autobiography Optional

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 42,308.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 42,308.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 42,308.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 126,924.00

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

Living Costs

Accommodation
USD 1,285.00 - USD 2,164.00
Food & Groceries USD 1,048.00 - USD 1,402.00
Transport USD 355.00 - USD 693.00
Utilities & Bills USD 10,471.00 - USD 13,967.00
Estimated Total USD 11,874.00 - USD 16,062.00

Living cost estimates are based on Clifton campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

95%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Accreditation & Assessment ServicesCloud Computing & InfrastructureDefense & Military SecurityEconomic Research & PolicyEducation Policy & AdministrationPerformance & Growth MarketingQuality Assurance & TestingSocial Media & Community ManagementSpecial & Inclusive EducationVocational & Technical Training

Top Employers Hiring for this course

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Deloitte

EY

Epigram

University of Exeter

University of Oxford

sony interactive entertainment

Why Study BA Theatre and English at University of Bristol

What makes this program stand out

September 2026 Closing soon

Next intake is in September 2026

Life at University of Bristol 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 Theatre and English at University of Bristol

Can I work while studying?

International students in degree courses can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during breaks. No separate work permit is needed, but part-time students cannot work.

What English language score do I need for this course?

For the English test requirements, a TOEFL overall score of 95 with specific subscores is needed, as well as equivalent scores for IELTS and PTE. Ensure you meet these requirements to qualify for admission.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Graduates can pursue careers as Theatre Directors, Dramaturges, Literary Critics, Playwrights, and Educators.

What will I actually study in this course?

This course combines the studies of Theatre and English, focusing on historical frameworks and practical workshops. Students will engage with professional theatre makers and explore a wide range of literature from the medieval period to the present day.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The intake month for the BA Theatre and English course is September. Be sure to prepare your application ahead of this date to secure your spot.
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