Drama with Psychology BA (Hons)

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Drama with Psychology draws upon two distinct yet complementary disciplines and the teaching reflects this. Across the course you will experience a combination of methods including interactive practical workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and practical activities.

All these forms enable the application of learning through a combination of practical work, groups discussion, problem-based learning and smaller group activities. Single sessions may involve lectures, workshops, seminars and practical sessions; site based work and formative exercises.

Theory is taught through practice to enable you to gain a real understanding on how to apply research in a practical and professional context.

Psychology is normally lecture-seminar based but practical, problem-based learning is also a key component of the delivery, as well as blended and online delivery of course content.

Seminars enable the discussion and understanding of topics covered in lectures and practical session are focussed on developing specific skills and applied individual and group work, and make extensive use of formative feedback to shape your learning and confidence throughout modules.

You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who will be accessible to you throughout your time here via a number of scheduled sessions in each year plus private meetings for help and advice as you need it.

The emphasis is on enabling you to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment as well as academic achievement.

A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services as well as the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you towards your goals. The course makes extensive use of Blackboard as an e-learning tool and staff have increasingly trialled the use of technology to enhance learning.

A degree with Psychology is highly favoured by employers, giving you an excellent advantage in the job market. Previous graduates have gone into roles as diverse as management, human resources, teaching, healthcare or art therapy. During your studies with us you will learn and develop a broad range of transferable skills. An important part of this learning process is the ability to reflect upon your own experiences; an aspect of practice engaged in by all professional psychologists.

There are excellent career opportunities for Drama & Performance graduates. These are both in drama-related areas, such as theatre, education, and the media, and in a wide range of other fields of employment made accessible through skills learned on the course in presentation, performance, critical thinking and writing, creativity, confidence and communication. Former students often set up their own businesses, for example as small scale touring theatre companies or drama education providers. Past students are now working as actors, producers, stage managers and directors for employers across the areas of theatre, TV, radio and film. Others have taken their skill into other areas and teaching and lecturing are very popular career choices for our graduates, as are arts administration, marketing PR and events management.

An increasing number of our students opt for higher study and following successful completion of your BA, we offer an MSc in Psychology that would provide you with the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or an MSc in Counselling, which opens up careers in counselling professions. If you go on to complete the MSc Psychology, the option of entering professional training within a particular pathway in psychology is then opened up to you.

Alternatively, should you prefer a drama and theatre related specialism, you could enroll onto the MA in Contemporary Performance Practices, MRes in Theatre and Performance or even a MPhil/PhD

The transferable skills of graduates in this domain are those much sought after in a range of other environments such as business and commerce; they enhance students' profiles and employability and they are explicitly found in all work undertaken in drama. The development of an appropriate work ethic, including taking on roles and responsibilities, negotiation and decision making, leadership, interpersonal engagement and serving the whole are essential in any kind of production work, and this is embedded in the learning and teaching and assessment strategies employed by the department.