The first degree
It is increasingly common for people who work in theatre to have a degree. In fact it is said that people with degrees are now doing jobs that people who only had A-levels were doing just five years ago.
Whilst many people in the industry have attended well-known theatre schools (see Conference of Drama Schools) and taken courses in vocational subjects like stage management or lighting, others graduate from ordinary universities and have studied everything from biochemistry to religious studies.
Having a degree demonstrates that you can stick at something, can handle pressure and deadlines and have a good level of written communication–all good skills for someone wanting to get into theatre.
The majority of courses last three years but there are also some four year sandwich courses where one year of your study will be spent in industry. A degree can rarely be completed in two years (an exception is Mountview’s two-year BA in technical theatre) although there are moves to make this ‘fast track’ approach more commonplace.
Below we have identified some popular courses. if you are from an educational institution and find your courses are not listed, please email us.
Find out more
Useful articles on Education Guardian
The Stamford Test helps to match your interests and skills to degree subjects
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Acting (degree)
Don't make a drama out of finding an acting degree
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Arts journalism (degree)
Do you have the write stuff to write about performing arts?
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Arts management (degree)
Broad-based degrees drawing on many disciplines. Learn to lead!
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Community drama (degree)
For the people, about the people, by the people
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Costume (degree)
Skill up on styling & stitching. No lions or witches in your wardrobe.
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Directing (degree)
Are you direct and to the point?
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Hair, make up and prosthetics design (degree)
Wig out! We promise you'll be made up.
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Musical theatre (degree)
Create your own West Side Story. You won't be Les Miserables.
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Playwrighting (degree)
Have you got what it takes to put words in other people's mouths?
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Props-making (degree)
You won't have time to prop up the bar on these practical courses
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Puppetry (degree)
Hands up who wants to be a puppeteer - no strings attached
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Scenic arts/ set design/ construction (degree)
Game, set and match
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Sound and lighting (degree)
Be both seen and heard on these technical courses
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Stage combat (degree)
Fighting talk will get you far
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Stage management (degree)
If you can manage a stage you can manage anything!
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Street/ festival/ circus arts (degree)
Yes, you really can do a degree in circus
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Theatre design (degree)
The whole shebang-set, props & costume. Not designing theatres.
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Theatre production (degree)
Producers make things happen
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Postgraduate study
A postgraduate degree can be a good way to get into theatre.
Many students aren’t ready to specialise at 17 when they are filling in their UCAS forms and initially opt to study non- vocational subjects in arts or sciences.
Postgraduate courses are available in many subjects including directing, theatre design, acting, playwrighting, technical theatre and arts management.
Corina Bona, 25, gained a first degree in media studies before going on to enrol for a postgraduate degree in theatre design at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Sara Lock (pictured above), marketing officer for Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, followed her degree in English literature with a postgraduate diploma in arts management from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She said: "My postgraduate course was run by professionals working in the arts industry and it taught me everything I needed to know to make the move to working in theatre.
“It also meant I was able to skip up the career ladder slightly quicker and get straight into managing marketing campaigns”.
Postgraduate degrees are listed on various websites including:
Mature students
A mature student is defined as anyone 21 or over (20+ in Scotland) by the time their course starts. Some universities set the age at 25. Sometimes, universities and colleges will waive formal qualifications for mature students, but others may demand almost the same qualifications as they would from an 18-year-old.
Lance Woodman (pictured above), 49, returned to education in his 30s, gaining a degree in drama and an MA in playwriting. The former computer systems developer now works as a professional playwright and lecturer.
Subjects
You can search for degrees on:
We have identified some popular courses below.
The National Council for Drama Training
The NCDT is a partnership of employers in theatre, broadcast and media industries, employee representatives and training providers. They work to optimise support for professional drama training and education, embracing change and development.
The Conference of Drama Schools
The Conference of Drama Schools (CDS) is a group of 22 of the leading schools but there are many other very good courses all over the UK. You must apply direct to some of the CDS schools, whilst others are part of UCAS.
