Choosing the Right Drama Course For You
NUI Galway offers two ways of studying drama and theatre:
- A Denominated BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance
- A BA with Performing Arts Studies
What is the difference between the programmes?
The major difference is that the Denominated BA offers a BA Degree in Drama whereas the BA with Performing Arts Studies offers a BA Degree with drama.
- The Denominated BA thus offers a formal qualification in drama and one other arts subject.
- The BA with Performing Arts Studies offers students the chance to take some classes in acting, while gaining a formal qualification in any two subjects from the Arts Omnibus subject groupings.
|
|
Denominated BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance |
BA with Performing Arts |
|
Four-year arts degree |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Small-group teaching (15-20 per year) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Formal qualification in drama |
Yes |
No |
|
Amount of time spent on drama during four-years (as percentage of overall degree) |
60% |
35% |
|
Practical classes in performance |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Optional classes in creative writing and film |
Yes |
No |
|
Regular research projects with NUI Galway teachers |
Yes |
No |
|
Classes on the history of drama |
Yes |
No |
|
Classes on the history and theory of performance |
Yes |
No |
|
End of year performances |
Yes |
Third year only |
|
Opportunities to travel abroad on exchanges |
Yes, with some scholarships |
Yes |
|
Placements with theatre companies |
Yes |
No |
|
Classes with theatre practitioners |
Yes |
Some |
|
Involvement in activities organised under NUI Galway partnerships with Druid, Galway Arts Festival, etc |
Yes |
Third year only |
|
Workshops with Irish theatre companies |
Yes |
Third year only. |
|
Regular trips to theatre |
Yes |
No |
|
Evening classes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
Both Degrees will prepare students for careers in theatre, education, the public service, tourism, information technology, heritage, etc.
The BA with Performing Arts Studies would be ideally suited to students who know that they wish to gain a degree in two arts subjects (for instance, English and French), but would like to spend their spare time putting on plays with the university drama society and taking classes in acting. It is less formal, more practical, and less academic than the Denominated BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance.
The Denominated BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance comes with all the benefits of an NUI degree. Students will be qualified to enter the public service, business, and many other careers. However, they will also have a qualification in drama – one that will allow them either to have a career in theatre or to go on to further study and perhaps a career in the academic world. It thus offers the best of both worlds, preparing students for a career in theatre, but offering them a qualification that will allow them to do many other things as well or instead.
Both courses provide students with access to the full range of facilities in the university, and both are taught by excellent teachers and theatre professionals. The BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance provides roughly twice as much teaching on Drama as the BA with Performing Arts.
Both courses are aimed at high-achieving, self-motivated and creative students who want to work with excellent teachers in small-group settings. Points for both courses are expected to be in the range of at least 450 points.