BA Drama
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
About this course
BA (Hons) in Drama, a drama degree centred on performance training, theatre production, and critical study of theatrical history and texts. Core topics include Research Methods, Project Management, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Design & Creative Practice. The course concludes with an honours project in the final year. The first year covers the foundations through Introduction to Theatre and Performance Studies, Introduction to Theatre Production, Studio Practices, Stage Skills, Origins of Theatre, and Analysing Texts and Performance. The second year progresses to Theatre of Ideas and the Stage, Staging Texts, 20th and 21st Centuries Scottish Theatre, Ensemble Devising, Transformations in UK Theatre, and Creative Writing for New Technolgies. Year three introduces Arts Funding in its Policy Context, Current Debates in Performance Theory, Performance Project, and Designing a Research Project. The final year focuses on advanced modules including Creative Practice and Enterprise and the Honours Project.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
Scottish Higher: Standard: AABB, Minimum: BBBB A Level: BBB Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H3 H3 H3 H3 International Baccalaureate: 30 points International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5. Required subjects: English and Drama at Higher/A Level preferred. English required and Maths preferred at Nat 5/GCSE level at grade C/4 or above. We can also accept National 5 Application of Maths or Lifeskills at the same grade. Am I a Widening Access student?: We apply the minimum entry criteria to applicants who meet one or more contextual factor. To see if this would apply to you, please refer to the access and application page. Mature/Access: We welcome applications from mature students with relevant qualifications and/or experience. See our College Leavers and Mature Students pages for more information. Direct Entry: Year Two HNC in related subject with B in the graded unit Year Three HND with a BB in the graded units Successful completion of two years of an undergraduate performing arts degree in a relevant subject area. For details of related HNC and HND courses, see our College Leavers and Mature Students pages for more information. Other requirements A satisfactory criminal records check from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme will be required if you select the optional module Drama in Education later in your studies.
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What students say
Based on about 50 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 83%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 69%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 75%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started
- Continued on course: 91%
- Left higher education: 8%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 90%
- Working and studying: 5%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 20%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 1%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- London: 1%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 92%
Who gets in
Based on about 170 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 29%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- A degree: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 59%
- Other qualifications: 3%
- No formal qualifications: 7%
Modules
- Introduction to Theatre and Performance Studies
- Introduction to Theatre Production
- Studio Practices
- Stage Skills
- Origins of Theatre
- Analysing Texts and Performance
- Theatre of Ideas and the Stage
- Staging Texts
- 20th and 21st Centuries Scottish Theatre
- Ensemble Devising
- Transformations in UK Theatre
- Creative Writing for New Technolgies
- Arts Funding in its Policy Context
- Current Debates in Performance Theory
- Performance Project
- Designing a Research Project
- Creative Practice and Enterprise
- Honours Project
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Drama at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £19,500 after 3 years, £26,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £32,500. The £26,500 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for Drama.
What do graduates of BA Drama at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Drama at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Drama at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 188 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Drama at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 8% left higher education.