Drama and Production BA (Hons)
Course code W440
What is special about this course?
If you dream of pursuing a career relating to drama and theatre, the BA (Hons) Drama and Production is ideal. With a focus on devising, production and entrepreneurship skills, you will be trained to be performers, practitioners, producers and researchers. The degree also offers progression into wider study and career pathways relating to health and well-being (drama therapy), education (PGDE with drama) and arts administration.
The course combines theoretical, practical and performance-based approaches, along with a programme of master classes, workshops and performances delivered by professionals working within the industry. You will be encouraged to develop your own professional network and will benefit from the programme’s connections with theatre practitioners and arts centres in the region. This will give you fantastic access to a variety of placements and performance opportunities, as well as supporting you beyond the course and onwards onto your chosen path.
The programme facilitates in-house, extra-curricular productions as well as organising visiting productions, allowing you to develop considerable performance production skills and giving you valuable experience to ensure you are industry-ready. These experiences greatly enhance learning and teaching across the degree, allowing you to make connections with the local and wider performance communities.
In your final year, you will develop a major piece of practice-based and/or text-based research, drawing on the critical, performance and production skills you have developed throughout the degree. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to showcase your performance work at venues and festivals across the region.
Special features
- Theoretical, practical and entrepreneurial approaches to performance
- Showcase of final year work
- Placement opportunities and connections via the programme’s network of theatre practitioners
- Rolling programme of extra-curricular master classes and workshops
- Opportunities to develop independent performance projects
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
For September 2023, entry to this course is only available from year 2, via an HNC Acting and Performance, or Musical Theatre, with 15 credits and B or above in the Graded Unit, or 120 credits at SCQF level 7 in a relevant subject
Advanced entry to year three:
- 120 credits at SCQF level 7 in a relevant drama/theatre studies degree PLUS 120 credits at SCQF level 8 in a relevant drama/theatre studies degree OR
- 30 credit HND Acting and performance/Musical theatre (30 credits, and a B or above in the graded unit)
Year 1 - CertHE
For the academic year 2023/24, entry to this course is only available from year two.
Year 2 - DipHE
Core modules may include:
- Introduction to performance studies (S1)
- Theatre design and the imagination (S1)
- Audio performance (S1)
- Introduction to directing (S2)
- Live and online: digital performance (S2)
- Entrepreneurship and production (S2)
Year 3 - BA
Core modules may include:
- Applied drama 1: education (S1)
- Script adaptation and development (S1)
- Research and performance (S1)
- Costume design and the imagination (S2)
- Corporate and commercial performance (S2)
- Drama and production: experiential learning (S2)
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Core modules may include:
- Creative industry research project (S1 and S2)
- Entrepreneurship and production (S1 and S2)
- Autonomous practitioner (S1 and S2)
- Applied drama 2 (health and wellbeing) (S1 and S2)
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of face-to-face and video conference seminars, intensive practical workshops and online via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE) with support from your tutors
- Where modules are designed to be face to face, there is the possibility of joining some classes virtually, subject to approval
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years
- Part-time (structured): 8 years
- Part-time (unstructured): variable
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
- Shetland
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Degrees | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £645 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £215 | £305 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:
| Full-time | Level | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2022-23 Full-time | With scholarship | 2023-24 Full-time |
|
|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £13,020 | £10,020 | £13,980 | £10,980 | |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £13,020 | £10,020 | £13,980 | £10,980 | |
| Year 3 | Degree | £13,020 | £10,020 | £13,980 | £10,980 | |
| Year 4 | Honours | £13,020 | Free | £13,980 | Free |
Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £13,020 | £13,980 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year** | £6,510 | £6,990 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module)** | £2,170 | £2,330 |
Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Further information on international course fees.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
You will be required to cover any additional travel and accommodation costs for all residencies.
What can I do on completion of my course?
This degree prepares students for careers in a variety of areas relating to drama and theatre, including:
- Performance-making
- Arts management
- Health and wellbeing (Drama therapy)
- Education (PGDE with Drama)
Can I progress into further study?
On successful completion of the degree you may wish to consider further postgraduate study or research such as our MRes Creative Practice.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Apply for Drama and Production BA (Hons)
- Applications to this course are now closed for September 2023 entry. Applications for September 2024 will open in September 2023. Please revisit this page then to apply.
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.