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As one of the most wide-ranging, multi-faceted and interdisciplinary of subjects in the Arts and Humanities, Drama and Theatre naturally lends itself to joint honours study. Students taking any of the joint honours programmes in the subject area will encounter aspects of drama, theatre and performance drawn from a wide range of historical epochs, languages and cultures, and have the opportunity to explore these in theory and practice, bringing their own specialist areas of study into play in both the seminar and the rehearsal room.
Overview
English at Kent is challenging, flexible, and wide-ranging. It covers both only traditional areas (such as Shakespeare or Dickens) and newer fields such as American literature, creative writing, postcolonial literature and recent developments in literary theory. Studying for degree joint honours with another subject allows you the freedom to explore your other passions whilst developing skills associated with the study of literature.
Independent rankings
In the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey*, 90% of Drama students at Kent had found employment or gone on to further study within six months of graduating in 2014.
*conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
Drama and Dance at Kent was ranked 10th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide 2016, and Drama, Dance and Cinematics was ranked 11th in The Complete University Guide 2016.
In the National Student Survey 2015, 91% of English students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course. Kent was also ranked 8th in the UK for English and Creative Writing in The Guardian University Guide 2016.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Drama
Teaching is through workshops, seminars, lectures and practical projects. Drama and Theatre modules are continuously assessed based on coursework, projects and presentations, performances, essays and dissertations.
English and American Literature
Modules are taught by weekly seminars. Core modules include a weekly lecture, plus individual supervision is offered for the Long Essay. Assessment at Stage 1 is by a mixture of coursework and examination. Some modules may include an optional practical element.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- produce independent, motivated graduates with a base of knowledge and analytical competence in drama and theatre who are equipped to meet the needs of, and to contribute creatively to the theatre and associated media and professions
- develop critical judgement and the skills and competencies of self-management and personal organisation to enable graduates to respond positively to the challenges of further study or training, and employment in career destinations including professional theatre, the arts and cultural industries, applied arts, community and education work, academia, and the media
- enhance the learning experience of our students through the use of a range of teaching and assessment methods which reflect and respond to the values and diversity inherent in drama and theatre studies
- produce graduates of value to the region and the nation, in possession of key skills, who have been enabled to develop their capacity to learn, and are prepared for employment or further study
- provide teaching that is informed by research and current developments in the drama and theatre as well as theatre practice and the arts
- offer an education in drama and theatre studies that provides a broad grounding in the subject in the early stages of study, becoming increasingly specialist in the later stages
- provide students with some creative competence and understanding grounded in and preparing for professional practice
- offer an education which provides a range of historical, conceptual and practical approaches to drama and theatre studies, introducing key practitioners, practices, and discourses, along with some practical skills required for making performance.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- key practitioners, practices and theorists of performance, which may include writers, critics, directors, actors, artists, designers, and producers
- historical and contemporary contexts of the production and reception of performance
- the relationship of performance (its making and reception) to its material, cultural and historical context
- histories, forms and traditions of performance (and other disciplines contributing to performance), and theoretical explanations of their impact
- traditional and contemporary critical perspectives on performance, and of relevant theories, issues and debates informing performance and the academic subject
- the interplay between theory and practice
- the processes and components by which performance, or elements of performance, are created, realised and managed: including the reading of written text and other source material; processes of rehearsal; writing and dramaturgy, devising, directing, design, stage and technical management, and producing
- the impact of theatre and performance within a range of social, educational and community contexts
- the reading, analysis, documenting and interpreting of performance
- the role of the audience: the performance and production skills necessary to communicate with audiences.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual skills:
- read, understand and engage analytically with a range of texts, performances and other source material
- research, evaluate, and productively apply information from a number of sources (written, visual, aural) in order to develop and present a coherent understanding of the theory and practice of performance
- critique performance events and processes, both your own and of others
- undertake and manage extended independent and creative research
- understand processes of creativity and deploy and critique these in their own work
- record, document and analyse processes of making performance
- understand and apply appropriate interdisciplinary practices, concepts and skills
- present coherent arguments, verbally and in writing
- understand the relationship of performance to a range of critical, historical and cultural frameworks for its production and reception.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- read and evaluate scripts, performance texts, and other theatre documents from a range of critical and practical perspectives
- envision the performance possibilities of a play text, script and other textual or documentary sources
- realise performances derived from a range of starting points, including a script, a theoretical position, documentary material, specific location or other stimuli, and to use a range of techniques, structures and working methods to develop those performances
- engage in the production and performance (and collaborate on the creation of performance) through one or several of: devising, directing, dramaturgy, design, stage management, sound and lighting, performance, production management and administration, and deploy the skills required of these disciplines
- engage with current debates on theatre arts, productions, cultural policy and funding
- practise creative, physical and vocal skills for practice-based work, including appropriate warm-up exercises and techniques
- use technical apparatus and associated resources necessary to realise the demands of production in live and recorded performance safely, efficiently and effectively
- document performance processes and events
- engage in research, whether independent, group or practice-based
- consider theories of spectatorship, developing an awareness of the audience or client group for performance and an ability to respond and adapt to it through flexible means.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- working with others, collaboratively, utilising a variety of team structures and working methods, and understanding group dynamics and handling interpersonal issues
- developing and pursuing creative projects within specified resource constrains of time, space and/or budget, thus developing problem-solving skills
- managing workloads to meet deadlines, and sustaining focus for extended periods working on independent creative projects, developing autonomy and self management
- using information retrieval skills, involving the ability to use information resources and technology, gathering and critically evaluating material
- applying critical and creative skills in diverse forms of discourse and media
- identifying health and safety issues and undertake risk assessments
- negotiating effectively with a variety of agencies (inside and outside the programme) developing interpersonal skills
- communicating effectively, to a professional standard, coherent arguments and propositions in a variety of media, verbally and in writing, using appropriate communication and presentation technologies
- undertaking basic design, engineering, construction, and technical work
- demonstrating numeracy: using scale, simple equations, simple geometry, basic arithmetic, data collection, presentation and analysis
- reflecting on your own learning and development, identifying strategies for development, exploring strengths and weaknesses and developing, as the programme progresses, autonomy in learning and continuous professional development.
Careers
Drama
The Department has developed partnerships with some of the major players in theatre in the UK including: Battersea Arts Centre, the RSC and The Gate. Selected programmes offer you the opportunity to go on work placements which can lead to future full-time employment, while the range of modules we offer ensures you develop key skills such as planning and organisation, teamworking, adaptability and leadership.
Past graduates have become theatre producers, actors, literary managers, journalists, authors, directors, performers, scriptwriters for television, stand-up comedians, casting agents, event managers, arts administrators, community theatre officers for local councils, drama teachers, and many have gone on to postgraduate study. We also support past students to set up companies and remain in Kent with the Graduate Theatre Scheme.
English and American Literature
Throughout your studies, you learn to think critically and to work independently; your communication skills improve and you learn to express your opinions passionately and persuasively, both in writing and orally. These key transferable skills are essential for graduates as they move into the employment market.
Our graduates have gone into: journalism, broadcasting and media, publishing, writing and teaching; more general areas such as banking, marketing analysis and project management; or on to further study for postgraduate qualifications.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB including English Literature or English Language and Literature grade B |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including HL English A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 OR HL English Literature A/English Language and Literature A (or Literature A/Language and Literature A of another country) at HL 5 or SL 6 |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.