Skip to main content

Theatre and Creative Writing BA

Course code

W4WW

W481 with placement year

Start date

September

Placement available

Mode of study

3 years full-time

4 years full-time with placement

4 to 7 years part-time

Fees

2024/25

UK £9,250

International £19,430

Entry requirements

2024/25

AAB - BBC (A-level)

DMM (BTEC)

29 (IB)

Back to top

Overview

The Theatre and Creative Writing BA is ideal if you want to learn more about the richness of theatre past and present, while incorporating your passion for creative writing.

On the theatre side of your degree, you’ll develop creative skills in a range of practices such as acting, applied practice, devising/theatre making, digital theatre, musical theatre, physical theatre and writing for performance.

On the creative writing side of the course, you’ll get to explore a number of writing styles including journalism, screenwriting, comedy writing, short stories and the contemporary novel.

You’ll also grow your knowledge through an understanding of the concepts and models used in the practice and study of theatre, together with the themes and techniques used by historic and contemporary authors.

By studying at Brunel you’ll become part of a rich community of creative students, artists and academics and have a variety of opportunities to collaborate through, for example, acting, theatre making, writing and production.

We regularly host Arts@Artaud nights showcasing new music, film, creative writing and drama presented by Brunel students.

Established links with the creative industries offer plenty of opportunities to hear from guest speakers and alumni on campus. Off campus, Brunel’s easy access to central London helps to facilitate regular class trips to see West End productions and other events.

For your professional development, the option of a work placement year is an unmissable opportunity to find out where your interests lie and to increase your attractiveness to future employers.

Students from the course have completed placements in a variety of organisations including the London’s Park Theatre, Rose Wisksteed Casting, The Vaults, Unicorn Theatre, Icarus Theatre Company, and the Grieg City Academy.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Back to top

Course content

The Theatre and Creative Writing BA is both an academic and a practical course that provides you with the opportunity to tailor your studies according to your interests in theatre and creative writing. There is a range of optional modules in both disciplines from which you can choose as you develop as a creative.

Please note you must choose one of the year 3 compulsory modules listed below.

This course can be studied 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement or 4 to 7 years part-time, starting in September.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

This course has a placement year option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Back to top

Careers and your future

Professional skills such as collaboration, critical reflection verbally and in writing, and engagement with different forms of creative practice are embedded into the modules through all three levels.

Production, budgeting, design for specific audiences, working in the community and strong CV writing are all covered in the final year of the course.

Brunel Theatre BA lecturers have long-established links with many theatre venues and other businesses across the creative industries, and they’re always ready to help you find the right place to grow your specific interests. There are options for a short or year-long work placement to develop your professional profile while on the course.

Students have undertaken work experience at places like The National Theatre, Plaines Plough, Akram Khan Dance Company, Les Enfants Terribles, China Plate, and a host of educational and community organisations.

Graduates of this course, such as Adam Johnson, have gone on to work as actors/writers in the National Youth Music Theatre. Others, like Sam Smithson, have progressed onto renowned postgraduate courses like the Directing MA at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Your options when leaving us are varied and exciting. Click here to read about inspirational Theatre alumni.

Back to top

UK entry requirements

2024/25 entry

  • GCE A-level AAB-BBC.
  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM in any subject.
  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in any subject, with an A-level at grade C.
  • BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma M in any subject, with A-levels grade BB.
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points.
  • Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
  • T levels : Merit overall

A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.

Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.

Back to top

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
  • BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 90 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)  

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Back to top

Fees and funding

2024/25 entry

UK

£9,250 full-time

£6,935 part-time

£1,385 placement year

International

£19,430 full-time

£14,570 part-time

£1,385 placement year

Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.

More information on any additional course-related costs.

See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.

Back to top

Teaching and Learning

How the course will be delivered

Required equipment

How you'll learn on your course

Back to top

Assessment and feedback

In your theatre modules, you will be assessed through practical performance (in-class and public), creative writing tasks, coursework, presentation, creative portfolios, and essays.

For Creative Writing, you will be assessed through essays, portfolios of shorter written coursework, individual and group presentations, continuous assessment of participation in seminars, and the final year dissertation project.  

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.

;