BA

English Literature / Drama and Theatre

BA English Literature / Drama and Theatre Code QW34 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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You are viewing this course for September start 2024

Key Facts

QW34

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 104

  • Course duration

    3 years

Further details on entry requirements

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If you want to study a course that explores a wide range of literary texts and cultures and develops your skills as a theatre-maker and creative thinker then our degree in English Literature / Drama and Theatre will fire your imagination. We enable our students to develop their powers of expression, hone their critical thinking, and establish specialist knowledge and research skills - all grounded in a detailed and broad understanding of literary and theatrical history and an applied knowledge of literary and dramatic theory. The intellectual, practical and transferable skills acquired whilst studying this course will prepare you for a variety of career destinations.

Course Overview

Why study English Literature / Drama and Theatre Studies at Aberystwyth

  • We are ranked top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction (NSS, 2017).
  • You will be taught by staff who are world leaders in their fields of expertise. Students benefit from our connections with key industry partners, such as National Theatre Wales, Music Theatre Wales, Quarantine Theatre Company, and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru.
  • You will be immersed in a supportive and vibrant community of creative and critical thinkers, industry experts, and published authors from every field.
  • You will become a student in a flourishing creative scene with a long and successful history as the spring for aspiring new talent.
  • You will explore connections between creative and critical thinking and and develop a deep understanding of the relationship between professional practice and imaginative thought.
  • You will benefit from our unique collaborative relationship with Aberystwyth Arts Centre. This on-campus facility is an excellent resource for staff and students alike.
  • You will benefit from unlimited access to the National Library of Wales (one of the UK’s five copyright libraries).
Our Staff

All academic staff in the Department of English and Creative Writing are active scholars and experts in their fields. They are either qualified to PhD level or have commensurate experience. Our Lecturers either hold or are working towards a Higher Education teaching qualification and the majority of academic staff also hold the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

All academic staff at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies are research active and/or involved in Knowledge Transfer projects and have either relevant academic qualifications at doctoral level or equivalent professional experience and expertise.

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Career Prospects

A degree in English Literature and Drama/ Theatre studies is the “gold standard” for any employment setting where communication is valued. All of our modules deliver key skills that enable you to build a comprehensive C.V. that evidences your diverse range of competencies.

Our graduates have been successful across the widest possible range of career destinations:

  • broadcasting
  • journalism
  • advertising
  • publishing
  • education
  • the Civil Service
  • business
  • finance
  • new media.

Transferable Skills

Studying for a degree in English Literature will equip you with a range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. These include:

  • the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form
  • effective problem-solving and creative-thinking skills
  • the ability to work independently
  • time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
  • the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form
  • self-motivation and self-reliance
  • team-work, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement
  • research skills.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Click here to find out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer.

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

This degree will allow you to explore literature of all genres and from all periods within the context of the broadest possible interpretation of literature in English. You will become skilled in the interpretation and analysis of literary texts and you will engage with current critical debates.

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In your first year you may discover:

  • new techniques for analysing literary texts
  • some key figures from literary history (from Shakespeare to the Brontës)
  • the study of theatre 
  • media production, and developing your practical skills in all stages of the process
  • lesser known texts, and writers who are new-to-you
  • a variety of “ways of reading” and some theoretical approaches to textual analysis
  • poetry, prose, drama, American literature, adaptations, classical literature, contemporary writing, medieval texts and much more.

In your second year you may explore:

  • the theoretical approaches to, and the practice of, literary criticism
  • a range of selected core texts from the medieval period through to the twenty-first century
  • contemporary theatre-making
  • a number of specialist topics chosen by you (these might focus on a specific genre (such as crime fiction), historical period (such as the Victorian era), or theme (such as “place”)
  • European theatre.

In the third year you may master:

  • literary theory and the application of theoretical perspectives to literary analysis
  • extended writing and independent research in your final year dissertation project (on a topic chosen and defined by you)
  • theatre, gender and sexuality
  • scriptwriting
  • your own specialisms drawn from a diverse range of option modules taught by researchers in those fields. Our option modules include topics such as Elizabethan drama, the ghost story, the early English novel, queer fiction, children’s literature, romanticism, and much more.

In your final year you will have the opportunity to take part in a writing retreat at a country house in mid Wales - an amazing opportunity to spend time with fellow students and staff, developing your final year projects and dissertations, in a splendid rural setting.

How will I be taught?

Our degree is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and one-to-one tutorials. We also encourage self-directed learning designed to stimulate your academic interest in English Literature and nurture your personal and intellectual development.

You will be assessed through essays, exams and oral presentation. You will also be required to complete additional, non-assessed, assignments and to work with others on particular tasks.

Further information

As you study, you will develop a range of skills which will benefit you in further study or any graduate workplace. You will learn to: employ multiple critical techniques when approaching texts; develop a reflective practice in reading and writing; articulate a detailed critical analysis of your subject; and respond to any task with creativity, flair and style.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or pastoral issues. Your personal tutor will also be responsible for delivering tutorials that will help you in the development of key skills. You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.

Student Testimonials

The thing I love about Drama and English is that the structure of both courses at Aberystwyth compliment each other so well, what I learn in English can be a great help for my Drama work and vice versa. Both courses offer new and exciting material to work on whilst also opening my eyes to different perspectives on classical texts. I believe the course has not only taught me academic skills but life and work skills too.

Ceri Sharman Roberts

Drama and English provides you with confidence, knowledge and opens up so many pathways into theatre, teaching, business etc. You learn so much about the greater world of literature and the theatre, I wouldn’t change my course for the world. I have gained more confidence in myself and what I do, which I have now applied to jobs and further education. My reading list has expanded and I can comfortably say I am aware of more diverse cultures as a result of these two subjects and am pleased to have been given opportunities such as seeing various productions in the Arts Centre.

Hannah Foster

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 104

A Levels BBB-BCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-DMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-28

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65%

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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