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.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. Below is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the department.
Year 1
- Introduction to Theatre Studies
- Modernism in the Arts
Year 2
- Performance Composition
- Critical Reflections
- Work Placement
- Media and Performance
- Applied Theatre Practice
- Introduction to Television Drama
- Postwar European Playwrights
- Modern Dance
Year 3
- Creative Enterprise
- Applied Theatre Practice II
- Contemporary British Theatre
- Politics and Popular Performance
- Contemporary European Theatre
- Post-modern Dance
- Dissertation
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts department website.
Entry Criteria
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.
Careers
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.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2013, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2013 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2012.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
