Drama and English BA (Hons)

Uncover the forces shaping literature and performance with our bold and inclusive community. Discover how to succeed in today’s cultural industries.

Select your start date

This course is available in Clearing.

Key information

Why choose this course at Sussex?

Artistic imagination, professional versatility and creative confidence are vital in today’s cultural industries. Studying Drama and English at Sussex, you’ll develop these qualities along with the skills to prepare for your career.

Joining our welcoming, inclusive creative community, you’ll experience the world of professional practice through our close ties to Brighton’s vibrant arts scene. You’ll broaden your horizon as an artist and thinker by combining collaborative artistic production with a strong humanities education, ready to challenge ideas and make your voice heard.

In Drama, you’ll gain skills across diverse theatre practices including:

  • staging plays, collaborative devising, acting and writing for performance
  • experimental forms including live art and site-specific theatre
  • choreography, sound and visual design.

In English, you’ll explore texts from diverse cultures, genres and periods. You’ll connect your own writing to era-defining challenges such as AI, climate change and global conflicts.

Opportunities for placements with local cultural organisations will help you grow as a resourceful and versatile communicator able to write with skill for a wide range of audiences.

This industry-facing degree is taught in a range of arts facilities, including the . At ACCA, you’ll encounter a world-class public programme of theatre, dance, music, literature and film.

When you graduate, you’ll have the collaborative skills, confidence and network to create a future in the arts and beyond, and follow your curiosity wherever it may lead.

  • 94% of our research overall in English Language and Literature was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • =12th in the UK for research quality in English 
Drama at Sussex is diverse, challenging and a lot of fun. You’re given the opportunity to study a wide range of topics.Alice Helps
Drama and English BA

Campus tours

Join a campus tour this summer and get a feel for life at Sussex. With award-winning campus food, a National Park setting and buzzing Brighton on our doorstep, our location and facilities are hard to beat.

Book your visit

On campus - in person

You鈥檒l study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.

Find out about our beautiful campus

Virtual tour

Want to learn more about life at Sussex?

Our 360掳 virtual tour has been designed to introduce you to life in our diverse, supportive and inclusive community. Join our students for an immersive experience as they reveal why Sussex offers a space to follow your passions, find your voice, and discover people and places that will inspire you.

Begin your tour

ResearchPlus

As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.

Find out more

Modules

This is a joint-honours course, offering you a combinations of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time. Find out more from our guide to undergraduate study

We’re planning to run the modules listed below in the academic year 2026/27. We’ve made some changes to keep the course fresh and future-facing.

  • What鈥檚 changed on this course?
    Year 1
    • The core module Burning to Read (2026/27) is new and replaces Encountering Poetry (2025/26).
    • The core module Making Performance (2026/27) used to be titledMaking Performance: Experiments (2025/26).
    • The core module Staging Plays (2026/27) used to be titled Making Performance: Plays (2025/26).
    • The core module World-Making Before Globalisation (2026/27) is new and replaces Thinking Literature (2025/26).
    Year 2
    • The core module Contemporary Performance Project (2026/27) used to be titled Making Performance: Plays (2025/26).
  • Year 1 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include practical workshops seminars and lectures, alongside regular theatre visits and discussions with artists and cultural leaders.

    20%: Lecture
    40%: Seminar
    30%: Practical
    10%: One-to-one

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

  • Year 2 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching

    Options

    Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

    While it鈥檚 our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can鈥檛 be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include practical workshops seminars and lectures, alongside regular theatre visits and discussions with artists and cultural leaders.

    20%: Lecture
    40%: Seminar
    30%: Practical
    10%: One-to-one

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

  • Experience Year

    Study abroad (optional)

    Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career.

    If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

    Placement (optional)

    To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

    Find out more about placements and internships

    Please note that if you鈥檙e receiving 鈥 or applying for 鈥 USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can鈥檛 transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

  • Year 3 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Options

    You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

    While it鈥檚 our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can鈥檛 be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

    Autumn and spring teaching
    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include practical workshops seminars and lectures, alongside regular theatre visits and discussions with artists and cultural leaders.

    20%: Lecture
    40%: Seminar
    30%: Practical
    10%: One-to-one

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Spirit of Sussex Award

Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us 鈥 the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.

  • Video transcript

    Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.

    Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points

    What will you do to earn yours?

    There's so many ways to get involved.

    Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.

    Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.

    Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We鈥檙e planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We鈥檒l make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We鈥檒l do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what鈥檚 shown here.

My curriculum and tutors gave me the confidence to jump into the professional world. At Sussex, I loved juggling theory and practice, working in small groups, and the warmth of the teaching staff.Milo 膶ortanova膷ki
Production Assistant, Munich Kammerspiele, and Assistant Director, Mannheim National Theater, Germany

Our experts

At Sussex, you’ll explore what theatre means in the 21st century. You’ll examine both classic plays and experimental performances that challenge conventions and redefine what theatre can be.Dr Augusto Corrieri
Associate Professor in Drama, Theatre & Performance

Drama, Theatre and Performance

English

Careers

  • 86% of Sussex undergraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (亚洲情色 Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)

Among our recent graduates are writers, theatre directors, performers/actors, arts and cultural managers, festival producers, and consultants in creative sectors. Former students have gone on to work with organisations such as:

  • The Young Vic
  • Munich Kammerspiele
  • BBC3
  • ITV2
  • the National Theatre.

Others have started careers in related fields such as publishing, education, librarianship, law and counselling.

In English, we’ve previously offered career-building experience through schemes that bring the power of reading and creative writing to the public such as .

In Drama, through regular workshops with artists and industry professionals, you hear from those working in theatre and performance in the UK and internationally. Recent workshops have been conducted by acclaimed artists including:

  • theatre group Forced Entertainment
  • site-specific company dreamthinkspeak
  • practitioner Sylvia Mercuriali
  • choreographer Seke Chimutengwende.

We also organise careers events, often inviting recent graduates to talk about their work. When you graduate, you can also go on to further study, or pursue a career in:

  • the arts and creative industries
  • media, film and journalism
  • publishing, libraries/archives and digital media
  • teaching, education support or university education
  • drama therapy, counselling, language therapy
  • community work and the charity sector.

Where do our graduates work now?

Surveyed 15 months after finishing their courses, our recent Drama, Theatre and Performance graduates worked for employers including: 

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And our recent English graduates worked for employers including:

( 2017-2022)

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

The course does an incredible job blending theory and creativity, preparing students to be creative global citizens.Jaamil Olawale Kosoko
Award-winning performance artist, author and curator
Career ambitions – John Giannini, Drama, Theatre and Performance BA

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we鈥檒l help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you鈥檒l learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations such as Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, the Knepp Rewilding Project, and fashion brand Puig
  • one-to-one appointments with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

  • National Enterprise Educator Awards Winner Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
  • The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services Winner Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
  • higherin Top 50 Best Universities for Work Experience in the UK

Entry requirements

Find your place in Clearing

This course will be available in Clearing. Explore your options at Sussex 鈥 right here, right now.

Fees

Note that your fees, once they鈥檙e set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

Home students

拢9,790 per year

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students

拢9,790 per year

On 19 March 2026 the UK Parliament set out that the tuition fee cap for 2026 entry will be 拢9,790. As the 亚洲情色 keeps fees for Home students and Channel Islands and Isle of Man students in line with UK Government-approved levels, fees will be 拢9,790 in 2026. In line with our terms and conditions, the University charges fees at the maximum levels set by the UK Government.

International students

拢23,500 per year

Study abroad

Find out about grants and funding, tuition fees and insurance costs for studying abroad

Placement

Find out about tuition fees for placements

Additional costs

Note about additional costs

Additional costs to your tuition fees may include field trips, equipment, materials, bench fees or studio hire. These costs are best estimates based on current market values which we review each year. These costs may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances where the University has limited control such as a change in a service provider or government guidance. We will let you know at the earliest opportunity if there is any change to these costs. We will also tell you if these costs are mandatory for passing your course or optional. Find out how to budget for student life.

Gender, Race and Society in Early Modern Drama

This year 3 module may involve workshops with theatre practitioners. Students who choose this module may need to pay a small additional charge to support this.

Trips

There are occasional trips to museums, galleries and cultural partners. Travel is not normally reimbursed but can be subsidised depending on the project.

Sussex Writes

Students who join the Sussex Writes programme to lead creative writing workshops in secondary schools will have their reasonable travel and other costs to and from local workshops covered.

Theatre trips

On this course, you'll go on theatre trips and have the opportunity to write about them for assessed work. The School pays for tickets but you'll need to pay for travel costs. Trips are often local to keep travel costs low. In the case of drama placements (professional work experience), the School will pay for reasonable travel costs.

Living costs

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone鈥檚 mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.

Learn more about typical living costs

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Contact us

Ask a student

Chat to Sussex students online via the UniBuddy chat platform.

Enquiries

Contact us with any questions about your course:

+44 (0)1273 876787
Ask us a question

Find out about the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities

Legal information

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We鈥檒l make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we鈥檒l let you know as soon as possible.

Find out about our terms and conditions, including the student code of conduct and your cancellation rights

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