Drama and Creative Writing
University of Birmingham
UCAS Code: WW48 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
University of Birmingham
UCAS Code: WW48 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
We prefer applications from students offering at least one A level from our list of preferred subjects: English Language, English Literature English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Law, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies.
Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects. We prefer applications from students offering at least one Higher Level from our list of preferred subjects: English Language, English Literature English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Law, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A-level in the required subject/s mentioned above. BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A-level in the required subject/s mentioned above. BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A-level, including the required subject/s mentioned above. Please note: we can only accept BTEC qualifications in Performing Arts, Performing Arts (Acting), Performing Arts (Dance) and Performing Arts (Musical Theatre).
Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
Studying Drama and Creative Writing allows you to explore many aspects of culture, performance and society.
Your Drama modules will develop your practical theatre-making skills, as well as giving you an understanding of the historical and political context of theatre. On the Creative Writing side of your programme, you will explore and hone your creative skillset in imagining and communicating narratives across genres.
At Birmingham you will benefit from internationally renowned research and teaching in both disciplines, as well as unparalleled resources, including those for the study of Shakespeare, through our world-leading Shakespeare Institute.
**Why study this course?**
**Study, rehearse and perform in a professional setting** – with its own library, study areas, studio spaces and a 200-seat theatre, boasting design, lighting, sound and stage management work areas, the Selly Oak Campus, where the Drama Department is based, provides everything you need to get the most out of your degree.
**Learn from bestselling authors and theatre industry experts** – including artistic directors, freelance performers and live artists, as well as 2021 Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize winner Professor Ruth Gilligan, 2021 Forward Poetry Prize winner Professor Luke Kennard and one of Granta magazine’s 2023 best young novelists Dr Anna Metcalfe.
**Get on board with the bard** – where better to study Shakespeare than in the town where he was born! Make use of our internationally renowned Shakespeare Institute based in Stratford-upon-Avon and collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and take part in fun and interactive study trips, such as this choreography workshop with Movement Director Tom Jackson Greaves.
**Join a vibrant campus community** – write for our newspaper, present for our TV and radio stations or join one of our many writing or drama societies, including everything from musical theatre groups to societies who take their work to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
**A City that Values Literature as Much as You Do** – get involved in the city’s numerous literature and theatre festivals and explore Birmingham’s many theatres, from big establishments such as Birmingham Hippodrome to quirky institutions such as The Old Joint Stock, plus Europe’s largest regional library.
**1st for Creative Writing in the Complete University Guide 2024**
**Top 20 for Drama, Dance and Cinematics in the Complete University Guide 2024**
Modules
First-year modules cover a broad base of the subject and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying at university. By the final year the modules you take will become more specialised and reflect the research expertise of the academic staff. More detailed module information can be found on the ‘Course detail’ tab on the University of Birmingham’s coursefinder web pages.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Birmingham
Department of Drama and Theatre Arts
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Creative writing
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Drama
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Creative writing
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
The jobs market for this subject - which includes creative writing and scriptwriting courses - is not currently one of the strongest, so unemployment rates are currently looking quite high overall, with salaries on the lower side. But nevertheless, most graduates get jobs quickly. Graduates often go into careers as authors and writers and are also found in other roles where the ability to write well is prized, such as journalism, translation, teaching and advertising and in web content. Be aware that freelancing and self-employment is common is common in the arts, as are what is termed 'portfolio careers', having several part-time jobs or commissions at once - although graduates from this subject were a little more likely than many other creative arts graduates to be in conventional full time permanent contracts, so that might be worth bearing in mind.
Drama
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Creative writing
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£26k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Drama
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£16k
£23k
£26k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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