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Step into the limelight as you explore the past and shape the performances of tomorrow.
Our BA Drama and History programme gives you the opportunity to explore theatre and the times and places in which it has happened. You will investigate the fascinating relationship between performance and history, through lectures, seminars, making performance, field work and more. You will study compulsory History and Drama modules, while gaining increasing freedom to study the topics and historical periods that interest you most over the course of the degree—whether that’s discovering what it was like to go to the theatre in nineteenth-century London, delving into the relationship between empire and performance, and more. Queen Mary's work in both Drama and History is internationally renowned, you will be taught by some of the world’s leading academics and artists in both subjects, who will help you develop into informed critics, historians, performance makers and writers.
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Studying in a city steeped in history, surrounded by outstanding museums and theatres, you’ll have endless opportunities right on your doorstep. We’re known for our employer links and exceptional facilities such as our studio theatres, rehearsal rooms and production suite. You could also put your knowledge into action in our student societies or contribute to Queen Mary’s history journal. To prepare you for life after university, we provide creative skills workshops and bespoke careers events throughout the course. Equipped with analytical, research and performance skills, you’ll be ready to work in theatre, cultural organisations, media or education – which direction will you take?
You will take these compulsory modules:
You choose your remaining 30 credits from a selection of Level 4 History modules that changes each year.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
In Drama you must take at least one of the following modules:
You then select your remaining credits from a selection of Level 5 Drama modules that changes each year. Modules may include:
In History you will take this compulsory module:
You then select your remaining credits from a selection of Level 5 History modules that changes every year. Modules may include:
You choose at least one from:
You choose the rest of your final year modules from a wide range of options that changes each year. Modules may include:
You’ll usually attend at least eight hours of classes weekly, mainly in the form of seminars, lectures, studio-based workshops and workshops outside Queen Mary. Practice-based modules include additional scheduled studio time weekly for student-led practice. Some modules also include tutorials and field trips.
For every hour spent in class, you'll complete approximately four to six further hours of independent study preparing for classes and assignments.
Assessment typically includes a combination of written and practical assignments, such as essays, performances, presentations, portfolios, scripts, programme notes, reviews, feature articles, artist websites, podcasts and dissertations. Some assessment is based around group work, especially for performance projects and presentations.
The Schools offer excellent on-campus resources to support your studies, including:
Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.
For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Our standard contextual offer: Grades BBC at A-Level. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
Our enhanced contextual offer (for care experienced students, refugee/asylum seekers or students who have completed Realising Opportunities or Access to Queen Mary): Grades BCC at A-Level. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
More information on how this information is used for a contextual offer can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Our BA in Drama and History encourages you to develop a life-long love for learning and equips you with a set of rigorous analytical, communication and performance skills, research skills and understanding of the modern world, negotiating and leadership skills that come with the experience of working in groups, and respect for the opinions of others and a willingness to act inclusively. This gives graduates some particularly sought-after qualities in the workplace. Graduates of the Drama and History degree might find employment in areas such as theatre and performance, cultural industries, the third sector, business, journalism and the media, education, museums and archives, government or public relations.The programme capitalises on London’s outstanding theatre and performance resources and, particularly, the School's links with a variety of organisations including Artangel, Barbican, Live Art Development Agency, London International Festival of Theatre, National Theatre, People’s Palace Projects, Project Phakama, and Shakespeare’s Globe. These links often bring artists, administrators, managers and other professionals into the programme as guest speakers, workshop leaders and performers. They also facilitate students' participation in the cultural sector, and will form the basis for the further development of work-specific learning opportunities.
You’ll have access to bespoke careers support during every step of your degree, including personal academic support from experts in both history and English literature. A practical third-year module will prepare you for the transition from university to working life by researching career, entrepreneurial and postgraduate study prospects.
Our careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Drama and History - BA (Hons)
Drama and History with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
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The School of the Arts combines innovation, discovery and excellence in education and research in Drama, Film, Modern Languages, English & Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics and Liberal Arts. We rank in the top 100 worldwide for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
With our commitment to social justice, inclusivity and social mobility, our collaborations with external organisations, prominent writers and performers, and our facilities that support both academic and practice-based learning, an education in the School of the Arts equips our students with critical thinking and practical skills, unleashes their imagination and enables them to reach the levels of excellence needed in today’s industries.
We regularly host prominent writers and performers and collaborate with leading organisations such as the V&A, the Barbican, the Live Art Development Agency and Shakespeare’s Globe.
We are renowned for the depth and impact of research - which leads our teaching. We rank 1st for drama and in the top 10 for film in the UK for the quality of our research (REF2021). Our multilingual community brings together brilliant minds from across the world to share a wealth of expertise combining research excellence with an unrivalled commitment to social justice and social mobility.