Dance and Drama BA (Hons)

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award

Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a TEF Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.

Why choose this course?

The BA Dance and Drama at Kingston is designed with a strong practical emphasis, and a focus on London's vibrant multicultural arts scene. It allows students to engage critically with a range of approaches to the performing body as it moves across the related fields of drama and dance. As well as becoming skilled practitioners, students develop an understanding of the ways drama and dance engage with and shape identity, bodies and culture in the global city.

Drama at Kingston is a dynamic, challenging and supportive community, located in its own designated building, the Reg Bailey, which contains one large, fully-equipped, flexible black box studio, one smaller studio and a number of rehearsal rooms. The Dance studios are located in the Town House designed by award-winning Grafton Architects. It features three large dance studios, each equipped to professional standards with fully sprung floors, mirrors and barres. Students on the BA Dance and Drama will benefit from the use of both facilities.

Attendance UCAS code Year of entry
3 years full time WW45 2024
6 years part time Apply direct to the University 2024
Location Penrhyn Road

Reasons to choose Kingston

  • You'll perform regularly in public at The Rose Theatre, the International Youth Arts Festival and national fringe festivals. These projects will develop your project management skills.
  • Strong industry links within the performing arts, which embed employability and professionalism at the core of all modules.
  • Our RIBA award-winning Town House building has a performance studio theatre and six dance studios, equipped to professional standards with fully sprung floors, mirrors and barres.
  • 97.4% of students thought staff were good at explaining things (NSS 2023).

The Art School Experience

As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged.

Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.

Two students collaborate on a design project.

What you will study

You'll work on a range of workshops and across a wide range of performance styles. Through practical classes, you'll acquire analytical, choreographic, directorial, ensemble and performance techniques that will equip you to work in the performance industry.

You will be encouraged to develop projects through workshops, rehearsals and full productions. You'll also take part in Kingston's International Youth Arts Festival and the Camden Fringe Festival, gaining valuable professional experience and adding to your employability.

Modules

Each level is made up of four modules each worth 30 credit points. Typically, a student must complete 120 credits at each level.

Year 1

Year 2

Optional year

Final year

Core modules

Dance Techniques and Cultures 1

60 credits

This module offers students the opportunity to develop technical and performance skills in a range of diverse dance techniques which reflect the current global dance industry, and to acquire contextual knowledge of dance as a socially and culturally-produced practice.

Students will learn through intensive studio classes led by professionals in the field and interactive seminars. This mixed-mode delivery will enable students to enhance their fitness levels, expand their movement vocabulary, acquire the fundamentals of safe dance practice and engage with relevant case studies and themes within the cultural study of dance.

By integrating embodied knowledge of dance forms with active awareness of their socio-historical contexts, the module allows students to extend their technical and anatomical understanding of specific movement styles/techniques, while exploring how culture is practised through dance.

Students will develop a strong body of practice and techniques from a range of traditions. These will form a foundation for further development and study throughout the course. Students will be able to reflect on the language used in the dance sector and become equipped with the tools relevant for the discussion of the role of history and culture in the practice of different dance forms.

The Actor and the Text

30 credits

This module complements and extends knowledge and understanding of key concepts of performance developed in Making Theatre Happen by focusing on the relationship between the actor and the written playtext.

There are two interweaving strands and each is designed to serve as a foundation for your ongoing studies. You will explore fundamental components of drama such as plot, action, character and dialogue and examine ways in which each is presented in a series of written playtexts. These plays are studied in detail and each is identified as a pretext for performance. You are introduced to ways of interrogating the texts and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the relationship between what is written on the page and what is presented on the stage. The same playtexts are also used to explore a range of differing performance methodologies that can be utilised to identify the performance potentials of a text in a workshop environment. You are led through cycles of Preparation, Exploration and Realisation – understanding what these terms mean and the actions they consist of will be an important aspect of the module. You will not only learn appropriate ways in which to create intelligent and imaginative performance informed by a written text but also develop a range of acting skills necessary to perform them effectively.

Throughout the module you are also introduced to the basic principles of theatre lighting and sound and will be encouraged to explore the impact of these technical elements when used in a performance context.

Navigating Performance Production

30 credits

In this module, you will be introduced to the technical skills which form part of theatre production: lighting and sound design, scenography and stage management, as well as basic marketing skills. This will be supported through skill specific workshops leading to a collaborative performance production which fully considers the role of technical elements which make for effective theatre practices. You will be specifically encouraged to reflect in practice on your work's ecological impact and openness to diversity.

Core modules

Devising and Professional Development

30 credits

Devising and ensemble practice support the development of skills and competencies that are not only applicable for theatremakers of all kinds but also valued by employers in a range of different professional sectors.

Exploring the work of ensembles embracing a collaborative approach to the creative process and supporting the acquisition of skills and methodologies they engage with; the module demonstrates the value of motivation and commitment; self-discipline; adaptability and flexibility; creative problem solving and an ability to work under pressure.

Ultimately, these skills and attributes are brought to bear in the Explore element of the module which enables you to engage with students from other courses, schools and faculties, to create new and original interdisciplinary dramatic work.

Dance Techniques and Cultures 2

30 credits

This module provides students with the opportunity to further develop their technical and performance skills through engagement with learning, developing, refining and performance of dance techniques from contrasting styles (e.g. Hip Hop and contemporary dance styles). Students will learn through intensive practical classes led by professionals in the field, accompanied by seminars to support their ability to critically reflect on their development. There will be regular opportunities to present their work, experimenting with a variety of communication technologies and reaching multiple audiences.

Actor/Director: Stage and Screen

30 credits

This module gives you the opportunity to continue advancing your acting training and begin exploring the discipline of directing for live and filmed performance. These two electives complement each other allowing the student actors to be directed by the student directors.

This module will advance your understanding of the theatre industries through collaborative practice which develops specific skills and experience in direction, devising, script reading, but also transferrable skills of time-management, producing, critical thinking, active listening, communication, and presentation skills.

Within the acting elective you will explore the themes and principles of Naturalism in theory and practice on stage and screen.

Within the directing elective, student directors navigate contemporary theatre practitioners and theoreticians, and are given the opportunity to lead a group of creative artists towards their own unified vision for a performance. The role of the stage and film director is examined through the lenses of design, script analysis, working with actors, proxemics and semiotics.

Creative Practices

30 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your creative practice as a dance artist developing technical, creative and performance skills through one of two electives: choreography or hip hop performance practices.

Through a combination of practical and theoretical learning this module develops necessary skills and knowledge to become critically aware, articulate and accomplished practitioners in a specialist area of dance practice. The module will enable you to develop an applied understanding of the significance of the aesthetic, kinaesthetic and creative foundations of choreographic practice or hip hop performance practices.

Emphasis within this module will be placed on the need for risk taking during the creative process and you will develop your practices through project-based learning to develop a range of artistic experiments applying your contextual knowledge to develop work for a range of settings. There will be opportunities you to collaborate with students across electives through projects that explore different performance outputs, for example, site-specific performance and screen dance.

You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad.

 

Core modules

Dance Company

30 credits

This is a practical module designed to take students through the process of making a dance production, from initial conception to final performance whilst also further developing and applying advanced levels of dance techniques and dance training. The focus of the module is to provide students with the experience of being in a dance company and of working closely within professional contexts of training, creating, refining and consolidating final production pieces suitable for professional performance environments. Students will apply ideas and creative problem-solving skills acquired through prior learning, in more diverse performance settings. Students will work in company environments with their choreographer both in scheduled learning time and during independent study hours to create, rehearse and produce full-scale dance-based productions. Students will work in companies led by a module tutor with choreographic experience. The companies will be set by timetabled classes.

Drama Production Project

30 credits

This module is a core requirement for single honours students. It enables students to develop ideas and research and carry them through to realisation. The assessment for this module is a capstone project which allows students to draw together their learning from across the degree and apply it in a 'real-world' context through the creation, rehearsal and performance of a theatre production.

This module is largely undertaken through independent group-based rehearsal, although there is also a series of presentations and workshops addressing specific areas such as group work strategies, problem-solving, rehearsal planning and scheduling, managing budgets and publicity and marketing. Students form groups, select roles and choose scripts, themes and modes of performance based on a 'pitch' they make and the feedback received at the end of Teaching Block One. The size of groups may vary but groups should not be made up of fewer than five students or more than 12. Each group will have a designated supervisor and a budget allocated on the basis of group size. The rehearsal process will be constructed around a series of formatively and summatively assessed stages such as work in progress performances, group and individual reflective exercises, submission of design and technical plans and presentation of publicity materials. Performances will be scheduled across a number of weeks in consultation with the Drama Technical Production Manager.

Dance Project

30 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop and produce a dance project of your choice. It will enable you to develop leadership, communication and organisational skills whilst experimenting, innovating and producing an output that aligns to your interests by following one of three electives: choreography (live and screen), hip hop, or research and practice as research.

The module also enables you to draw on all aspects and disciplines explored throughout the course to support your emerging professional identity as a future leader and becoming an articulate and socially aware entrepreneur in the dance industry. This prepares you to seek work in the private commercial and public arts sectors as a choreographer, dancer, dance artist, teacher, producer or researcher.

Preparing for the Industry: Applied theatre and performance

30 credits

This is an employability-focused module that encourages students to consolidate their individual approaches to career management and future learning by continuing to enhance their reflexivity, plan their own personal and professional development, and formulate their exit strategy from the university.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Future Skills

Knowledge to give you the edge

Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

A female engineering student, in the engineering lab.

Entry requirements

Typical offer 2025

UCAS tariff points: 112-128

Level 3 qualifications, including Dance, Performance Arts, Drama and Theatre Studies, English Language/Literature or a related subject (A-levels, BTEC Diploma, Access Diploma, IB Diploma, etc.).

Typical offer 2024

UCAS tariff points: 112-128

Level 3 qualifications, including Dance, Performance Arts, Drama and Theatre Studies, English Language/Literature or a related subject (A-levels, BTEC Diploma, Access Diploma, IB Diploma, etc.).

Additional requirements

Please submit a digital audition and show us the four values of questioning, curiosity, technical ability, and enthusiasm.

  • A one-minute video of you doing a dance solo in any style or styles of your choice. The solo should demonstrate your skills and abilities as a dance artist in training. It can be fully choreographed, improvised or a combination of both.
  • A one-minute monologue.

What are we looking for?

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English Language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no element below 5.5.

Make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Applicants from recognised majority English-speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country-specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Timetabled learning and teaching on this course includes technique classes, workshops, choreographic labs, lectures, small group tutorials, seminars, and group work.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for final assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.

Your workload

22% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.

Type of learning and teaching

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 264 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 936 hours
Year 2
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 264 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 936 hours
Year 3
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 264 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 936 hours

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios and dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:

Type of assessment

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1

Year 2
  • Coursework: 45%
  • Exams: 0%
  • Practical: 55%
Year 3
  • Coursework: 34%
  • Exams: 0%
  • Practical: 66%
Year 1
  • Coursework: 39%
  • Exams: 8%
  • Practical: 53%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

The size of your class will vary by module and academic year.

What's it like to study drama at Kingston University?

Who teaches this course?

Many of the Dance teaching team are current practitioners, with extensive experience and professional links: they will help you to develop your skills, networks and gain access to industry contacts. Their expertise and knowledge is closely matched to the content of the modules on this course.

After you graduate

Our Dance and Drama graduates currently work in the creative industries as performers, writers, choreographers, directors, stand-up comedians, community artists, outreach workers, technicians, producers and events managers.   

In addition to pursuing careers in Drama and Dance, they work in publishing, journalism, advertising and marketing, arts management, new media, fitness instruction, public relations, business, and therapeutic fields. A significant number of graduates go on to postgraduate study in related fields or to teacher training.

Links with business and industry

Kingston drama and the Rose

At the heart of our drama course is a strong theatre industry link with the Rose – the largest producing theatre in south-west London. Kingston drama students benefit from the resources and expertise of a professional theatre and gain important industry awareness. Regular classes are scheduled in the Rose Studio, and occasional masterclasses on the main stage.

Industry experts from the Rose also teach masterclasses on our third year Production Project module. Likewise, our students learn from artists based at the Rose through Director's Insight, company Q&As and behind-the-scenes events. Every Kingston drama student receives a complimentary ticket to all Rose Theatre productions, supporting their access to live performances.

Our relationship with the Rose reflects our commitment that Kingston drama students will continue to graduate with excellent employability. All single honours drama students have the opportunity to undertake volunteer placements at the theatre in their first year. These cover departments like marketing, development, producing, and front of house. Students can also shadow important technical production processes, and work on spring and autumn mini arts festivals at the theatre. Some graduates have even gone on to work full-time at the Rose!

The partnership between Kingston drama and the Rose revolves around a shared mission to bring theatre and the community closer together. Our undergraduates often choose to present their Independent Theatre Projects (ITP) publicly in the Studio. Students taking our Applied Theatre module can approach the Rose Youth Theatre for a placement, or to work on their shows. Many drama students perform at the Rose during IYAF – Kingston's International Youth Arts Festival – every July. The Studio acts as a forum for the community by hosting sharing and networking events, as well as research platforms covering topics like Women in Devising and Shakespeare. Kingston University's performing arts are celebrated in an end of year, main-house showcase – Kingston on Stage.

Further links with industry

Our lecturers have practical and professional experience in the theatre industry, so you'll have access to practical help and career advice from people with insider knowledge. Our teaching is informed by the latest developments on the 'theatre scene'.

You'll work with guest speakers and visiting companies on specific modules. Past guests have included:

  • actors and performers such as Peter Hall, Jude Kelly, Marcello Magni, Anna-Helene McLean and Miss Tempest Rose
  • playwrights such as Howard Barker, Alecky Blythe, Stephen Jeffreys, Anthony Neilson, Steve Waters and Laura Wade
  • theatre companies such as Frantic Assembly, Third Angel, the David Glass Ensemble, Told by an Idiot, Apocryphal Theatre and Song of the Goat.

You'll also gain professional experience in the community, both through modules and our extra-curricular programme. Recent examples include:

  • students performing their own productions at Kingston's International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Camden Fringe
  • students collaborating with local community groups to create programmes of activities and projects (part of the Applied Theatre module)
  • students performing at the Dorich House Museum in Kingston.

Course fees and funding

2024/25 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2024/25 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £9,250*
International Year 1 (2024/25): £17,800
Year 2 (2025/26): £18,500
Year 3 (2026/27): £19,200

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

2023/24 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2023/24 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £9,250*
International Year 1 (2023/24): £15,800
Year 2 (2024/25): £16,200
Year 3 (2025/26): £16,600

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Note for EU students: UK withdrawal from the European Union

The Government has recently announced that new students from the European Union and Swiss Nationals starting their course after August 2021 will no longer be eligible for a student loan in England for Undergraduate or Postgraduate studies from the 2021/22 academic year. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22. If you are an existing/continuing EU student, you will continue to be funded until you graduate or withdraw from your course.

Need to know more?

Our undergraduate fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Field trips

There may be optional study visits and field trips. These range from £25 for local trips to various costs for international trips.

External shows and exhibitions

There may be costs for participating at external shows and exhibitions. You could incur travel costs which will vary according to the location.

Facilities

The drama department at Kingston is a dynamic, challenging and supportive community. It is located in its own designated building, the Reg Bailey, which contains one large, fully-equipped, flexible black box studio, one smaller studio and a number of rehearsal rooms.

Kingston's new Town House, designed by award-winning Grafton Architects, features three large dance studios, each equipped to professional standards with fully sprung floors, mirrors and barres.

Students on the BA Dance and Drama benefit from the use of both facilities.

Key information set

The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.