Bachelor of Arts (Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Entry Points (2024)

410

Course Overview

Our First Year Students' End of Year Performance with Macnas

The BA degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies is an exciting 4 year denominated programme developed for students with a keen interest in all aspects of drama and performance, including all forms of theatre practice.

This world-class programme provides a unique opportunity to study drama, theatre and performance from a practical, theoretical and historical perspective. You will explore all aspects of theatre, including acting, directing, playwriting, design and more. There are also specialised classes in such areas as Musical Theatre, Theatre for Children and Young Audiences, and Arts Management. Teaching on the programme will take a variety of forms, from lectures and seminars to practical workshops, performances and internships.

One of the most innovative features of the programme is its emphasis on putting learning into practice, through seminars in acting, design and directing, through workshops with professional theatre companies, and through the option of internships with arts organisations and professional placements in Year Three.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Professor Patrick Lonergan
Dr Charlotte McIvor
Dr Ian R. Walsh
Marianne Kennedy
Dr Finian O’Gorman
Dr Aideen Wylde
Mike O’Halloran, Technical Manager

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes. No audition or portfolio required as part of the admissions process.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades (2024)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

2 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY118

Course code

Course Outline

The BA degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies is an exciting 4 year denominated programme developed for students with a keen interest in all aspects of drama and performance, including all forms of theatre practice. This world-class programme provides a unique opportunity to study drama, theatre and performance from a practical, theoretical and historical perspective. You will explore all aspects of theatre, including acting, directing, playwriting, design and more. There are also specialised classes in such areas as Musical Theatre, Theatre for Children and Young Audiences, and Arts Management. Teaching on the programme will take a variety of forms, from lectures and seminars to practical workshops, performances and internships.

Putting Learning into Practice

Partnerships and Archives

Our students benefit from our partnerships with Irish theatre companies, including the internationally acclaimed Druid Theatre, which provide workshops as part of the Druid Academy programme. Students also have full access to Abbey Theatre Digital Archive, a unique resource that provides access to thousands of plays and videos.

Performance Spaces

All classes in Drama and Theatre studies are taught at the O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, a dedicated performance space which includes 3 studio spaces and a state-of-the-art 120 seat theatre.

Year 1

In year one you study Drama and Theatre along with two other Arts subjects Drama and Theatre Studies modules include:
Introduction to Acting
Theatre Histories 1
Introduction to Stagecrafts
Theatre Histories 2

Year 2

In year Two you study Drama and Theatre along with one other Arts subject. Drama and Theatre Studies modules include:
Modern Drama
Irish Theatre
Stagecrafts 2
Introduction to Playwriting
Contemporary Theatre
Introduction to Devising

Year 3

This year is fully dedicated to Drama and Theatre studies. You choose from a range of optional modules which may include:
International Theatre Experience: Study abroad
Third Year Theatre Production
Work Experience
Musical Theatre
Theatre for Children and Young Audiences
Voice and Shakespeare

Year 4

In year Four you study Drama and Theatre along with one other Arts subject.

Drama and Theatre Studies modules include:
Arts Management
Advanced Performance Studies
Contemporary Irish Theatre
Practice Based Research Project

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

Graduates of this degree have engaged in further study in a variety of areas. Many have gone on to engage in further training in acting, design, directing and/or playwriting. Others have specialized in arts management and arts policy. Some have engaged in work in specialized areas such as Musical Theatre, and some have gone on to develop academic careers.

Because your degree allows you to graduate with a second arts subject, our graduates can also engage in further study in their other area. Students have gone on to take further study in Education (training to be a secondary school teacher), Psychology, Law, languages, and much more.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Creative Industries are one of Ireland’s greatest international strengths
Builds key skills – presentations, group work, writing, improvisation
Small classes
Theatre- Makers – our graduates are theatre-makers who have a broad range of skills in all areas of theatre including acting, directing, design, playwriting, devising, performance analysis. This makes our graduates more versatile, employable, and entrepreneurial.
O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance: state of the art facilities including 3 x studio spaces and a 120-seat theatre.
Opportunities to be in productions, behind the scenes and on stage
Partnerships: Druid, Galway International Arts Festival, Abbey theatre, Gate theatre and more
A four-year degree (including optional work placements and study abroad)
Strong international links
Theatre archives, including Abbey Theatre Digital Archives, Gate Theatre Digital Archives and other resources including Drama Online a database with hundreds of playscripts and Digital Theatre + and National Theatre Live, databases with videos of major productions.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,598 p.a. (€5,738 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€2,598 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€20,500 p.a. (€20,640 including levy). 2025/26

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy* €140. *Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees**.
**Excludes Full-Time EU Undergraduate fees. These are fixed and do not change.

Find out More

Dr Ian R. Walsh
Drama and Theatre Studies
Email: ian.walsh@universityofgalway.ie

Web: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/drama/

What Our Students Say

Fiona Buckley | BA Drama, Theatre and Performance student

The BA in Drama, Theatre and Performance allowed me to try my hand at all things theatre. Throughout the course I was able to broaden my skill set, explore different theatre practitioners and techniques and study theatre literature in depth, all while being encouraged to flex my acting muscle. Through the course I was given opportunities to perform in different venues around Galway and work with a medley of skilled theatre makers. Because of a production in my third year I met Decadent Theatre Company's Andrew Flynn and subsequently worked as a stage manager and a costume assistant for Decadent. After graduating, I worked as a performer with the Active Consent Programme on a touring production of 'The Kinds of Sex You Might Have At College' directed by Dr Charlotte McIvor, who taught me throughout my years in University of Galway.

Patrick Conneely | BA Drama, Theatre and Performance Graduate

BA DTP is an ideal environment for creatives of all types. If you have an interest in acting, playwriting, music, stage management or graphic design, you won’t be short of opportunities to explore these roles. During my four years, I performed in a Druid production, I composed scores and sound design for multiple productions, and I wrote a short mini-musical in my final year – that’s before taking into account the possibilities provided by the drama and musical societies and extra-curricular activities. In DTP you will hone your skills and learn new ones all while learning about and making theatre.”

MA/PDip ( Drama and Theatre Studies)