Course Overview
Theatre Studies is part of the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) a vibrant, contemporary arts environment with excellent facilities and opportunities for working with people from different artistic disciplines including Art, Design, Film and Music. You will learn from professional practitioners through shows, talks and workshops and benefit from our close relationship with 'Live at LICA', particularly the Nuffield Theatre.
This course is distinctive among theatre departments at UK universities because of our primary concern with innovative contemporary performance and its cultural significance. This includes 20th and 21st century experimental theatre, especially multimedia theatre, dance and physical theatre, television drama, contemporary drama and dramaturgy, political, community and feminist theatre.
In your first year You'll take three subjects in your first year to broaden your horizon beyond your 'major'. As well as an introduction to Theatre Studies and Performance Composition, you will also take the LICA-wide Modernism in the Arts module. This module is unique in its scope at this level in British higher education and will provide you with an interdisciplinary approach to the contemporary arts.
This degree offers you a broad foundation in the study of contemporary theatre, drama and performance while also providing increased specialisation in the subject at second and third year levels. Modules include Applied Theatre Practice; Practical Investigations; Contemporary Performance and Contemporary Arts Theory.
The lecturers are very approachable and helpful and I have met some amazing friends
Career opportunities
Theatre Studies at Lancaster ranks highly for its graduate prospects. Many of our graduates find jobs within theatre - as performers, directors, writers, technicians, administrators - and in associated fields such as journalism, the media, publishing and advertising.
Our Theatre Studies graduates have strong communications, team working and creative skills that you can take into all careers, including those involving the social applications of theatre and drama, such as teaching, social work, community arts and drama and dance therapy.
A number of our Theatre Studies graduates go on to postgraduate study, while others use the managerial and interpersonal skills they have developed through the course in jobs like personnel and the Civil Service.
Modules
Here are some of the current modules which are available during your studies at Lancaster:
PartI
- Introduction to Theatre Studies
- Modernism in the Arts
PartII (Year 2)
- Applied Theatre Practice I
- Contemporary Fine Art Practitioners
- Contemporary Hong Kong Cinema
- Critical Reflections
- Documentary Drawing
- History of Electronic and Computer Music
- Ideology and Politics in the Cinema
- Introduction to Television Drama
- LICA Work Placement
- Media & Performance
- Modern Dance
- Perception and the Arts
- Performance Composition
- Postwar European Playwrights
- Silent Cinema
- Sound and space
- The Cultural History of American Film
- The Evolution of America's Music
PartII (Year 3)
- Analysing Popular Music
- Applied Theatre Practice II
- Contemporary British Theatre
- Contemporary European Theatre
- Contemporary Fine Art Practitioners
- Contemporary Hong Kong Cinema
- Creative Enterprise
- Dissertation
- Documentary Drawing
- History of Electronic and Computer Music
- Ideology and Politics in the Cinema
- Introduction to Television Drama
- Music, Culture and 'The Hollow Years'
- Perception and the Arts
- Post modern Dance & Physical Theatre
- Rock and Roll in American Culture
- Silent Cinema
- Sound Synthesis and Design
- Sound and space
- The Cultural History of American Film
- The Evolution of America's Music
For more detailed module information please visit the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts department website.
Entry Requirements
A-level: ABB. A-level Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies or Performing Arts is desirable but not essential. We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Accepted as one of the best 3 grades if 4 A-levels presented
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: BBBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 32 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: Overall grades DDM
IELTS: 6.5
Mature students: Applications welcome. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
You need to be able to show experience and interest in practical theatre. Please give details of your activities in section 8 of your UCAS form.
For details of how we evaluate international qualifications, please click here.
Financial Support
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. In addition to government maintenance loans, grants and national scholarships, Lancaster University offers a range of financial support for full time UK Undergraduate students from lower-income backgrounds. Many students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses.
The Lancaster Scholarship package is designed to reward the hard work and natural ability of full-time UK students applying to study with us regardless of their household income. Students achieving A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications) will receive a £1,000 per year Lancaster Scholarship during their undergraduate studies if they place us as their firm choice institution. Continuation of the Lancaster Scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progression.
Our combined £5,000 bursary package will help students from England whose household incomes are less than £25,000 per year with fees and living costs.
Students from England eligible for our £5,000 bursary package will also be awarded a £3,000 Lancaster Scholarship if they achieve A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications). This totals £8,000 of support for students during their studies.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page.
