BA (Hons) in Drama and Film Anglia Ruskin University

As a Drama and Film student, you’ll explore the latest theory and practice in both fields as we help you to grow into a confident, versatile and exciting practitioner with transferable skills to suit whichever field you hope to work in.

Performance is at the core of our Drama and Film degree here at ARU, whether you’re in front of or behind the camera. Your understanding of film theory and history will improve your acting skills and your hands-on knowledge of performance practice will enhance your filmmaking or writing skills.

In drama, you’ll work on public productions and smaller-scale projects, exploring practices and texts from the 20th century onwards as well as working on original pieces.

In the film you’ll explore the language and convention of drama and film, taking in some of the key movements in history from Hollywood cinema through to more experimental modes of performance.

You’ll also have the chance to weigh your studies to prepare for a career in the arts or fields such as teaching – get ready to change the way others see the world.

You’ll follow an experiential, 'learning-through-doing' programme. Your degree will see you choosing from a range of career-focused optional modules, completing a 100% practical Major Project in either Drama or Film, and graduating with a professionally produced showreel and portfolio.

There are opportunities to gain valuable work experience throughout the course.

Connect with Cambridge’s performance scene through our links to local networks such as Cambridge Arts Network and Cambridge Live. You’ll get the chance to perform in public venues around Cambridge as well as on campus, in the Mumford Theatre and Covent Garden Studio.

As part of your studies, you’ll see your films screened at Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and other public venues, and get involved behind the scenes at local events – thanks to our connections with organisations such as Take One magazine and Cambridge Film Festival.

Experience being part of a professional troupe with our very own Community Theatre Company and take the chance to perform and collaborate with other creative industry students.

You’ll be able to collaborate with other Cambridge School of Creative Industries students such as our film students who need actors for their films. We’ll also support you to find placements and work experience and you can also take an optional placement year.

Develop your technical and production skills in our specialist facilities, with full training and support from our technical staff.

You can also choose to study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost.

As an ARU student, you can also get involved with the University of Cambridge's Footlights comedy events as a writer, performer or member of the production team.

The impact of our Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, and Film & Screen Studies research achieved 'world-leading' in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Year 1

• Film Language and Concepts
• Creative Moving Image
• Studio Performance
• Staging and Production

Year 2

• Classical Hollywood Cinema
• Making Performance
• Theorising Spectatorship
• Community Theatre Performance
• Ruskin Module (15 credits)
• Practice as Research
• Independent Cinema: US and Beyond
• Non-Fiction Filmmaking
• Performing Shakespeare
• Performing New Writing
• Professional Theatre Practice 1
• Anglia Language Programme
• Filmmakers on film

Year 3

• Major Project
• Festival of Performance
• Special Topics in Film Studies
• TV Drama Production
• Site-Specific and Immersive Theatre
• Independent Film Practice 1
• Gender and Popular Cinema
• Working in English and Media
• Narrative in Global Cinema
• Workshop Facilitation
• Provocations
• Anglia Language Programme

Not only will you develop your performance skills during your time at ARU, our BA (Hons) Drama degree will give you practical experience as a stage technician, and the academic understanding you need to be a director or a teacher.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a master, such as our MA in Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.