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Drama and Creative Writing

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 29 September 2025
  • Undergraduate
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Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

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.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 29 September 2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
WW48
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
WW48
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level AAB

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.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DDM

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).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 32 points

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.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

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)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

For this programme we make alternative offers through our contextual admissions schemes. These are typically 1 or 2 grades below the standard offer. You can find information on these schemes using the link below.
You can check your eligibility to receive an offer for this course using our Offer Calculator using the same link.

Learn more on the University of Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.
If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

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