Drama and Screen Studies (3 Years) [BA]

By choosing Drama and Screen Studies you can take advantage of the opportunities offered on the Drama programme, but focus more specifically on the study of film. You take courses on theatre or film history and contextualisation as well as undertaking individual research presentations in your second year and a dissertation at third-year level. Throughout your course you can choose film options from the variety of studies offered and take courses in video-making.

The course aims to:

• produce students capable of independently evaluating and engaging creatively and critically with performance and, as appropriate, being capable of developing technical and artistic skills, critical analysis and argument for themselves (DDP Benchmark p.7);
• provide students with a knowledge and understanding and some experience of drama and performance as cultural process and artistic discourse, through the study of theatre and media history, text, dramatic theory and performance practice;
• facilitate and support the development of students' learning skills, critical perception and dramatic imagination;
• provide students with coherent programmes that reflect the diversity of expertise within, and available to, the Drama Department;
• foster independent learning, evaluation and research;to foster a knowledge, understanding and, where appropriate, experience through outreach activities, of the contribution drama can make to the local community;
• equip students with the necessary critical tools and relevant practice to begin to make a worthwhile contributions to contemporary theatre, film, television or related fields.

Students may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during the second year of their degree. Drama has existing exchange partnerships with universities in Australia, Canada and the USA with further partners being sought through the Worldwide Exchange Scheme. For more information consult the  Study Abroad Programme website.

Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly

Compulsory

Theatre and Performance 1: Texts

Performance Practices 1

The Art of Film

Theatre and Performance 2: Concepts

Performance Practices 2

Optional (Choice of one)

Faculty Approved Free Choice

Please note that the following list is intended to be a guide only - course content or availability may change slightly as we aim to improve and update our courses yearly.

Compulsory

Screen Culture and Society

Practitioners in Context 1

Introduction to Film/Video Practice (40 credits)

Optional

One 20 credit practical project course from:

Devising for Performance

Studio Production

Performing Comedy

Storytelling

Aspects of Physical theatre

Two 20 credit study courses (one from each semester - one must be screen or stage/screen related) - possible courses may include:

Expressionism to Epic: German Theatre and Film 1890-1956

Theatres of the Middle East

Theatre and Science

Varieties of Shakespeare

Contemporary British Cinema

Black on Screen

Transnational Chinese Cinemas

A Score is Born: History and Ideology in Hollywood Film Music

An appropriate 20 credit free-choice unit may be substituted for one of the 20 credit Drama units, subject to approval by the Drama programme committee.

Compulsory

Dissertation

Optional

Either: Project course (40 credits) plus two 20 credit study courses (must be in opposite semesters)

Or: choice of four 20 credit study course units (two in each semesters)

These units are to be selected from the detailed list of course units which appear in the Drama Programme Handbook (which also gives aims and learning outcomes for each unit) and on the Course Unit database.

An appropriate 20 credit free-choice unit may be substituted for one of the 20 credit Drama units, subject to approval by the Drama programme committee.

Drama graduates have made successful careers in a wide variety of occupations: in theatre, film and television as directors, producers, actors, writers, etc: in applied theatre, theatre and education, theatre in prisons and probation etc: in journalism and publishing, teaching and research (following postgraduate training or research degrees): in community arts and arts administration, law and business management.

A level: Grades AAB-BBB, including English (or other essay-based subject such as History or Politics). Two AS-levels of equivalent grade are accepted in place of one A-level. General Studies is welcomed but not normally included as part of the standard offer.

AS level: Not accepted without A-level requirements as stated

Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications.  Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes.

GCSE: Minimum of grade C in English Language.

Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University.

International Baccalaureate: 36-31 points overall (core points accepted), including 6s in three Higher Level subjects; one of these should preferably be English (or other essay-based subject such as History or Politics).

Additional entry requirements

English language:

Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent;

eg. NCUK EAP minimum Grade of A with range of 70-79

     TOEFL: PBT score of 600; CBT score of 250; TWE score of 5.5; IBT score of 100.

We welcome applications from a wide range of entry routes, including mature students and overseas applicants.

Every application that meets the entry requirement is considered on an equal basis and each application is evaluated by two members of staff before a decision is made.  

From this year, the admissions process will run as follows: the first stage will involve checking predicted/achieved grades and, if these are satisfactory, applicants will proceed to stage two, which is an online assessment.  Applicants will be sent an e-mail directing them to a webpage, where they will fill in the assessment and submit it electronically.  This will be assessed alongside the Personal Statement and Reference. In exceptional circumstances, a paper copy of the questionnaire can be issued, for those who have difficulty with access.  It is important that applicants monitor their e-mail account (including the spam folder) for e-mails regarding this process.  Two e-mails will be sent - one from the Administrator directing the applicant to the assessment URL; the other will be sent immediately after the assessment has been submitted and will come from the system, to acknowledge receipt and provide the applicant with a copy of their submission.

The submission will be assessed and a decision will then be made as to whether the applicant is invited to interview.  After interview, the Admissions Tutor will decide whether a place will be offered.

If you are offered an interview, it will normally run for 20 minutes and will be a one-to-one discussion with a member of the Drama lecturing team.  It is our aim that the interview should be a relaxed but informed conversation - we are not seeking to set traps and trick questions for you!  However, we are keen to determine your ability to discuss and think about drama critically as well as wanting to gauge whether you will thrive on the kind of modules, approaches and experiences that studying Drama at Manchester entails. 

We welcome applications from mature students and will consider them on an individual basis.

We welcome applications from candidates who intend to defer entry.

If offered an interview, we might ask you about your plans for deferral and how the year out might feed into your future studies or provide you with experiences that you might be able to draw on during a Drama-related degree.

We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer.  This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

We welcome applications from candidates transferring from other institutions.  Each application will be considered on merit, providing we have enough places to accommodate them.  Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details).  We will require transcripts and a reference from your tutor.

You are taught in lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical group projects. You are placed in tutorial groups for first year programmes and allocated a personal tutor who will monitor and advise on progress throughout your academic career. You take a variety of lecture based studies on historical and contextual themes and practical projects including video making, theatre production and play writing. An integral facility is the John Thaw Studio, where you can try out the performance ideas and techniques of theorists and practitioners past and present. Practical work is generally workshop based and not all projects culminate in public performance. Acting ability is not a prerequisite for study at Manchester; we do not offer actor training.

Your work is assessed through a combination of essays, seminar presentations and participation, exams and practical work. The final degree result is based on 25% from the second year and 75% from the third year work.

In 2003 Music and Drama took up residence in its impressive new building, The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, which has been provided by the University at a cost of over 6 million pounds. The facilities include:

The John Thaw Studio Theatre: our main 'laboratory' and is used for many different kinds of performances, rehearsals and workshops. It is equipped with superb technical facilities, including sound-editing and video-editing suites.

The Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall: seats 350 spectators, and is the primary venue for the concerts and recitals of our fellow staff and students in Music. It also sometimes hosts interdisciplinary events, with staging of works such as Brecht/Eisler's The Mother, Monteverdi's Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and Harrison Birtwistle and Tony Harrison's Bow Down.

The Lenagan Library: Generously endowed by Ian Lenagan, this reference library complements the extensive facilities of the John Rylands University Library, and houses collections in Drama and Music. These consist of book holdings, multiple play texts, CDs, audio tapes, videos and DVDs. A viewing suite (sponsored by the Granada Foundation) and listening facilities are available; on-line catalogue.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk