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BA (Hons) Theatre and English

Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom
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Course Overview

This innovative course offers a unique blend of practical theatre-making and critical analysis of drama, literature, and performance. Students will develop their skills in acting, directing, playwriting, and production management while exploring the historical, cultural, and social contexts of theatre and performance. The course is taught by leading academics and industry professionals, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the field and the opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals. Graduates of this course are well-equipped to pursue careers in theatre, film, television, and other related fields.

Additional Information

Our course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical productions. Students will have the opportunity to work on a variety of productions, including mainstage plays, site-specific performances, and film projects. We also offer opportunities for students to gain professional experience through internships, volunteer work, and other creative projects. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in theatre, film, television, and other related fields.

Unlock Your Potential at Birkbeck University of London: A World-Renowned Institution for Theatre and English Studies

Birkbeck University of London is a world-renowned institution with a rich history of academic excellence and industry connections. Our location in the heart of London provides students with unparalleled access to theatre and performance venues, as well as a diverse range of cultural and creative opportunities. Our faculty consists of leading academics and industry professionals who are passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of theatre makers.

Why You Should Study This Course

This BA Theatre and English at Birkbeck puts you at the heart of central London’s vibrant cultural scene. You can investigate theatre as a live event, as dramatic text, and in its historical contexts alongside a deep focus on the written word.

Your in-depth exploration of theatre histories and theories will complement and expand your study of literature in English. You will analyze techniques and practices of storytelling on the stage and on the page, garnering a detailed knowledge of dramatic and literary works from the medieval period to the present. Option modules allow you to focus on authors, genres, periods, and practices from Shakespeare to science fiction, and to create theatre as an artist and writer if you wish.

Throughout your degree, you will visit the world’s most exciting theatre institutions and analyze live and digital performances. Your final full-length dissertation project examines a topic of your choosing under the guidance of our world-leading academics. BA Theatre and English at Birkbeck brings you the best of both worlds of theatre and literature.

Graduates can pursue career paths in education, marketing, and public relations, the media and creative arts, or theatre. Possible professions include:

journalist

arts administrator

charity officer

community arts worker

theatre director.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service - Birkbeck Futures - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education, and future ambitions.

General Eligibility

UCAS TARIFF POINTS

96-128 points (e.g. A-levels CCC-ABB)

The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff.

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

What You'll Study

1 Year 1

COMPULSORY MODULES:

  • Doing English

  • Storytelling: Narrative Archetypes, Forms, and Techniques

  • Theatre in London Now: Histories

  • Theatre making

  • Writing London

OPTION MODULES:

  • Performing/Live Arts: Histories, Networks, and Organisations

2 Year 2

COMPULSORY MODULES:

  • The Novel: Writing the Modern World

  • Theatre in London Now: Theories

  • Theories of Theatricality and Performance

OPTION MODULES:

  • Adaptations: Theories and Practices in Contemporary Performance

  • Romance

  • Space and Performance (Critical Practice II)

  • Telling the self

  • Tragedy

  • Transcultural Encounters: Literature, Empire, Ethnicity

  • Writing Fiction

3 Year 3

COMPULSORY MODULES:

  • Independent Research Project in Theatre and Performance

  • Theatre in London Now: Student Led Project: level 6

OPTION MODULES:

  • Beowulf

  • British Literature, post-1945

  • Comedy: Drama and Theatre in Seventeenth-Century England

  • Elizabethan and Seventeenth-Century Drama

  • English Literary Modernism

  • Fin-De-Siecle

  • Introduction to Old English

  • John Donne and Renaissance London

  • Literature and the Politics of Feelings

  • Medieval and Renaissance Body, Mind, and Soul

  • Renaissance Philosophies and Renaissance Literature

  • Science Fiction

  • Shakespeare

  • Shakespeare A3 (Shakespeare In Context)

  • The American Century and Beyond US Literature and Culture since 1900

  • The Bible in English Literature

  • The Victorians and their World

Language Requirement

  • IELTS6.0
  • TOEFL78
  • PTE58
  • Duolingo79
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Additional Information

This course is available: Part-Time, 4 Years (Course fee for local: 6935; Course Fee For International Students: 12015 )

Ready to get started?

For any enquiries or further details, please don't hesitate to contact us. Let's take the next step in your academic journey together.

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