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Performance and Contemporary Arts

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 29 September 2025
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
University of London
More about Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

The BA (Hons) Performance and Contemporary Arts is for aspiring artists and performance creators who want to shape the future of theatre, performance, and the arts. You’ll explore innovative ways to make performances and challenge traditional methods.

The programme covers various art forms, from visual arts to design-led practice, helping you become an expert in your chosen medium. Mentored by industry leaders, you’ll develop your artistic identity as a performance-maker, artist, producer, researcher and change-maker. You will be part of an inclusive, vibrant and supportive community and gain strong industry connections. Through studio-based learning and industry collaborations, you’ll have the chance to experiment with new ideas and receive feedback. You’ll also learn to critically analyse performance and its social impact, and gain skills in producing, activism, and cultural leadership. This course leads to the qualification of BA (Hons) Performance and Contemporary Arts.

For more detailed information please visit https://www.cssd.ac.uk/courses/ba-performance-and-contemporary-arts

Modules

Modules will explore a wide range of different vocabularies of experimental performance, grow your experience of performance at the intersection with other disciplines, explore materials in performance, and collectively curate and produce a festival. In their final year, students will explore different models of working, engage with questions of representation in and through performance, examine cultural infrastructures and consider the future of their practice.
For detailed module information, see the Course Specification document, available under the 'Course Details' heading on the course page on Central's website: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/courses/ba-performance-and-contemporary-arts

Assessment method

Assessment is carefully integrated into the experience of learning and you are encouraged to place your own experiences and practice at the heart of your studies. The assessment methods include presentations, practice, drama workshops, research projects, traditional essays, a dissertation and professional placement work, which is assessed by professionals working in the industry. For detailed assessment information, see the Course Specification document, available under the 'Course Details' heading on the course page on Central's website: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/courses/ba-performance-and-contemporary-arts

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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:
W440
Institution code:
C35
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London 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

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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:
W440
Institution code:
C35
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Please refer to guidance available at: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/student-transfer-procedures

International applicants

We welcome applications from international candidates. Applications must be submitted via the main UCAS undergraduate scheme. Applicants are welcome to attend an interview either in London or at one of our International Interview locations. In the past, International Interviews have been held in New York, San Francisco, Santiago, Singapore and Sydney. International Interview dates will be listed on Central's website once they are confirmed. Applicants who are unable to travel to one of our interview locations may undertake a Zoom 'Distance Interview'.

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
96 - 120 points

Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

A level
CCC

Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

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

Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

Access to HE Diploma

An overall Pass is acceptable for admission. Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

Scottish Higher
AAA

Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

T Level
P

An overall Pass (C+) is acceptable for admission. Grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview.

In all cases, grades alone will not determine whether an applicant may be offered a place. Offers are only made following successful interview. International qualifications and others not covered within the UCAS tariff can also be accepted. Please email admissions@cssd.ac.uk if you need further clarification.

Please note that we make lower offers (including unconditional) to exceptional candidates and those who have alternative or prior experience to offer.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
Places on this course can only be offered after successful interview. We will contact you shortly after you have applied to confirm an interview date. You can view the interview requirements at the following page on our website: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/How-to-Apply/Undergraduate-Applications/interview-process-ba-contemporary-performance-practice
Other
A review you have written of a live theatre production — this should be an example of critical writing completed within the last few months. It must be no longer than one sheet of A4 and it should feature your analysis and evaluation of a live performance you attended as an audience member. You might like to choose work that covers a relevant topic, is made by a particular artist/company you admire or takes place in an unconventional venue. We would love to see some examples of creative work from you; this can be a piece of music you composed, a script or poem or creative text you wrote, photography or video work, drawings or sketches, an artist book, podcast - anything that has been a space for you to play and dream in! This does not have to be for school or for a public, it can just be something you did in your own time. You’re also welcome to showcase more than one, or share something short. If you can send this to us in advance, we’d be grateful. You can view the interview requirements at the following page on our website: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/How-to-Apply/Undergraduate-Applications/interview-process-ba-contemporary-performance-practice

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7With no lower than 6.0 in an individual component (ie. Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking).

English language requirements are outlined on Central's website:https://www.cssd.ac.uk/english-language-requirements

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

Please note that the EU fee may not be applicable to students originating from an EU country who have settled/pre-settled status. Other criteria apply. See the gov.uk website for further details.
Students who are applying for an equivalent or lower level qualification (ELQ) to one they already possess, will be charged full fees, unless they are exempt. Please see the Office for Students' website for details.

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