Drama and Literature (Including Placement Year)
- BA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 10/2026
- Undergraduate
- Colchester Campus
Course summary
Study a wide range of dramatic texts, from Ancient Greek times to the present day, and develop an understanding of the principal developments in European Theatre.
You can benefit from our Lakeside Theatre, which has been established as a major venue for excellent drama, known for a commitment to new writing for the stage. Not only do many professional touring companies bring their productions of new plays to our Lakeside Theatre but there has been a wealth of new work produced by our own staff and students. An essential element of our Lakeside Theatre’s programme has been the opportunity it gives you to write or direct new plays, as well as re-define classics and re-discover neglected masterpieces.
Topics covered in our modules include:
-
Transforming dramatic texts into dramatic performance
-
Comedy, tragedy and the development of genre, both in theory and practice
-
Gender and sexual politics on stage
-
Writing for theatre
-
Translating novels for the screen
-
Writing of the US South
Our commitment to the student experience is why we are ranked third for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2021 and top 20 for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. Our students love us too; we're Top 20 for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021.
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- QW25
- Institution code:
- E70
- Campus name:
- Colchester Campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 4
Chat to student ambassadors
Discover what it's like to study Drama and Literature (Including Placement Year) at University of Essex: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 112 - 120 points
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Contextual admissions
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. We make Contextual Offers, of up to two A-level grades (or equivalent) below our standard conditional offer, to applicants from underrepresented groups residing in the UK.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| EU | £21500 | Year 1 |
| International | £21500 | Year 1 |
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
Fees displayed are for the 2026-27 academic year. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
Visit our website Visit our course page
Course contact details
Undergraduate Admissions Office
Email:admit@essex.ac.uk
Phone:01206 873666
Fax: 01206 872808

