Drama and Theatre Studies
Drama and theatre studies is a discipline that examines performance as an art form, a cultural practice, and a subject of scholarly inquiry. It asks what theatre has been across different historical periods and cultures, what it is in the many forms of contemporary practice, and what it might become as artists continue to explore and expand what live performance can do. The combination of theoretical understanding and practical engagement is what makes theatre studies distinctive: you learn to think about performance at the same time as you develop the skills to make it.
At Aberystwyth University, this four-year, full-time programme includes an integrated year in professional practice, which gives you hands-on experience in a professional theatre or creative industry setting. This placement is a distinctive feature of the programme, providing real-world exposure and key professional contacts before you graduate that many drama degrees cannot offer. Through an innovative combination of theory and practice, you will develop your skills as a theatre-maker and creative thinker, studying the history and theory of drama alongside practical work in performance, direction, and devised theatre.
Aberystwyth's long tradition in drama and its strong connections to the Welsh arts sector provide a distinctive and stimulating context for the work. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.
Graduates from drama and theatre studies programmes with professional practice experience are well placed for careers in performance, theatre-making, arts administration, community arts, education, cultural journalism, broadcasting, and the wider creative industries. The integrated year in professional practice significantly strengthens the graduate's profile in a competitive sector by providing both experience and industry connections. The communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills developed during the degree are valued across many professional contexts beyond theatre.
Postgraduate options include theatre directing, performance practice, applied theatre, and arts management.