Campus tours
Join a campus tour this summer and get a feel for life at Sussex. With award-winning campus food, a National Park setting and buzzing Brighton on our doorstep, our location and facilities are hard to beat.
Book your visit
On campus - in person
You’ll study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.
Find out about our beautiful campus
Virtual tour
Want to learn more about life at Sussex?
Our 360° virtual tour has been designed to introduce you to life in our diverse, supportive and inclusive community. Join our students for an immersive experience as they reveal why Sussex offers a space to follow your passions, find your voice, and discover people and places that will inspire you.
Begin your tour
As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.
Find out more
Modules
This is a major/minor course, enabling you to study in depth in a core area (your major subject: taking up 75% of your time), while also exploring an additional area (your minor subject: taking up 25% of your time). Find out more from our guide to undergraduate study
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Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years. (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
We’re planning to run the modules listed below in the academic year 2026/27. We’ve made some changes to keep the course fresh and future-facing.
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What’s changed on this course?
Year 1
- The core module Staging Plays (2026/27) used to be titled Making Performance: Plays (2025/26).
- The core module Theatre and Ideas (2026/27) used to be titled Introduction to Performance Theory (2025/26).
Year 2
- The core module Contemporary Performance Project (2026/27) used to be titled Making Performance: Plays (2025/26).
- The core module Critical Theory and Performance (2026/27) used to be titled Critical Thinking and Performance (2025/26).
- The core module Theatre at Work (2026/27) used to be titled Theatre for Changing Times (2025/26)
Year 3
- The core module Professional Work Experience (2026/27) is new and taught across two semesters.
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Year 1 at Sussex
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
The languages we offer can all be started from beginners’ level. Some may be started from a higher level. Find out more about studying a language alongside your degree
Autumn teaching
- Arabic Beginners A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1A
- Chinese Beginners A
- French Beginners A
- French For Professional Purposes 1A
- French Intermediate A
- German Beginners A
- Italian Beginners A
- Japanese Beginners A
- Spanish Beginners A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1A
- Spanish Intermediate A
Spring teaching
- Arabic Beginners B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1B
- Chinese Beginners B
- French Beginners B
- French For Professional Purposes 1B
- French Intermediate B
- German Beginners B
- Italian Beginners B
- Japanese Beginners B
- Spanish Beginners B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1B
- Spanish Intermediate B
Your degree
From the beginning of your degree you’ll combine creative and critical practice. You’ll collaborate in the studio and gain foundational skills by staging plays and experimenting with new forms. You’ll explore theatre as a dynamic source of social and political ideas, and develop insights into theatre in the world of work. You’ll also take one language module in each semester.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework, such as critical and creative response, essays, reports and professional-facing tasks.
50%: Seminar
40%: Practical
10%: One-to-oneAssessment
Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
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Year 2 at Sussex
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
The languages we offer can all be started from beginners’ level. Some may be started from a higher level. Find out more about studying a language alongside your degree
Autumn teaching
- Arabic Intermediate A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2A
- Chinese Intermediate A
- French Advanced A
- French for Professional Purposes 2A
- French Intermediate A
- German Intermediate A
- Italian Intermediate A
- Japanese Intermediate A
- Spanish Advanced A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2A
- Spanish Intermediate A
Spring teaching
- Arabic Intermediate B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2B
- Chinese Intermediate B
- French Advanced B
- French for Professional Purposes 2B
- French Intermediate B
- German Intermediate B
- Italian Intermediate B
- Japanese Intermediate B
- Performing Practices
- Spanish Advanced B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2B
- Spanish Intermediate B
- Writing for Theatre
Your degree
In Year 2, you’ll encounter new genres of contemporary practice and pursue specialist skills. This might include performing, or writing for performance. You’ll also continue to develop your language skills in each semester.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework, such as critical and creative response, essays, reports and professional-facing tasks.
50%: Seminar
40%: Practical
10%: One-to-oneAssessment
Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
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Experience Year
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
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Year 3 at Sussex
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn and spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
The languages we offer can all be started from beginners’ level. Some may be started from a higher level. Find out more about studying a language alongside your degree
Autumn and spring teaching
Autumn teaching
- Arabic Advanced A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3A
- Chinese Advanced A
- French Advanced A
- French for Professional Purposes 2A
- French For Professional Purposes 3A
- German Advanced A
- Italian Advanced A
- Japanese Advanced A
- Spanish Advanced A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 3A
Spring teaching
- Arabic Advanced B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3B
- Chinese Advanced B
- French Advanced B
- French for Professional Purposes 2B
- French For Professional Purposes 3B
- German Advanced B
- Italian Advanced B
- Japanese Advanced B
- Spanish Advanced B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 3B
Your degree
Year 3 is all about specialisation, leadership, and your interests as an artist, thinker and theatre professional.
You’ll develop a significant artistic or critical project. And you’ll gain professional experience in live workplace environments. You’ll also continue to develop your language skills in each semester.
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework, such as critical and creative response, essays, reports and professional-facing tasks.
50%: Seminar
40%: Practical
10%: One-to-oneAssessment
Assessment methods typically include practical performance, presentations and written coursework.
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Customise your course
Study what inspires you
At Sussex, we collaborate across disciplines to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world. And – different to other universities – we invite you to be part of this from the moment you arrive.
Regardless of your background or chosen degree, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with issues across disciplines – from the humanities to the sciences, and social sciences.
In the first term, you choose one of three new flagship electives, each of which focuses on our transformation themes of Digital and Data Futures, Environmental Sustainability, and Human Flourishing:
Alternatively, you may choose to study a language from Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Or you can choose to study English Language Teaching. You’ll develop your language skills while also exploring connections across disciplines and cultures.
After the first term, you can choose from across our Progressive Futures electives. Alternatively, you may choose to study – or continue to learn – a language. This gives you the opportunity to customise your course and study what inspires you.
Check out all our electives below. Each elective lasts for one term.
On this course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore one elective in the second term in Year 2.
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Progressive Futures electives
Year 1
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
- (Re)Imagining Future Worlds through Humour and Play
- Adapting Literature
- American Political Culture
- Art and Artists
- Black British History
- Climate Justice: Policy & Activism in a Time of Global Crisis
- Gender Across Cultures
- Gendering the Life Course
- Global Cultures, Local Lives
- Global Issues
- Global Migration in a Digital Age
- Inclusive Practice with Young People
- Introduction to Human Rights
- Introduction to the European Union
- Leading Social Change: Communication and Activism
- Mental Health and Madness: exploring socio-cultural approaches
- Music and Society
- People, Culture and the Global Economy
- Principles of Cognitive Science
- Psychology Now: Contemporary Approaches to Understanding Behaviour
- Society, State and Humanity
- The Age of Adolescence: Reading 20th Century Youth Culture
- The Look of America
- The Meaning of Life
- Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Year 2
Autumn teaching
- Access, Equity and Gender
- Analysing Film (E)
- Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Law
- Biological Psychology
- Business in World Politics
- Crime and Criminal Justice
- Decoding Cultures of Technology and Social Change
- Feminist Philosophy
- Forest Food Gardens: The Theory and Practice of Food Growing
- Global News Cultures
- Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in Education
- Inter-cultural Encounters
- Landscapes of Resistance and Social Justice
- Leading Social Change: Taking Action
- Migration, Identity and Rights
- Police and Policing (Elective)
- Political and Social Change in Contemporary Europe
- Race and Ethnicity in US History
- Sleep and Mental Health
- Sustainability and Climate Justice
- Video Games: Creative & Critical Writing
Spring teaching
- Activist Skills for Global Justice and Sustainable Futures
- Advertising (E)
- American City
- Autism and Education
- Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
- Contemporary Issues in Law
- Creative Coding
- Creative Production in the Arts
- Decolonising Education: Knowledge, Power and Sustainable Societies
- Digital Law Toolkit
- Education, Peacebuilding and Conflict
- Everyday Digital: Generation, Life-Course and Expertise
- Exploring Death and Dying; Cultural, Theoretical and Practice Perspectives
- Exploring Teaching in Schools
- Forest Food Gardens: Communities, Ecologies and Collaboration
- Language, Identity and Nation
- Language, Mind and Brain
- Making Sense of Complexity: Tools for Addressing Real World Sustainability Challenges
- Philosophy of Race
- Psychology of Cognitive Processes
- Punishment and Penology
- The Far Right and the Politics of Immigration
- The Liberal World Order - in Crisis
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Languages and TESOL electives
You can choose to study language electives for two or three years. This allows you to add the language to the title of your degree:
- if you study a language for two years, you could graduate with a title such as Psychology with proficiency in Japanese BSc (Hons)
- if you study a language for three years, you could graduate with a title such as Psychology with Japanese BSc (Hons).
Year 1
Autumn teaching
- Arabic Beginners A
- Arabic Intermediate A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2A
- Chinese Beginners A
- Chinese Intermediate A
- French Beginners A
- French For Professional Purposes 1A
- French Intermediate A
- German Beginners A
- German Intermediate A
- Introduction to TESOL - Theory and Methodology 1
- Italian Beginners A
- Italian Intermediate A
- Japanese Beginners A
- Japanese Intermediate A
- Spanish Beginners A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1A
- Spanish Intermediate A
Spring teaching
- Arabic Beginners B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2B
- Chinese Beginners B
- Chinese Intermediate B
- French Beginners B
- French For Professional Purposes 1B
- French Intermediate B
- German Beginners B
- German Intermediate B
- Italian Beginners B
- Italian Intermediate B
- Japanese Beginners B
- Japanese Intermediate B
- Spanish Beginners B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1B
- Spanish Intermediate B
- TESOL Teaching Practice 1
Year 2
Autumn teaching
- Arabic Advanced A
- Arabic Beginners A
- Arabic Intermediate A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2A
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3A
- Chinese Advanced A
- Chinese Beginners A
- Chinese Intermediate A
- French Advanced A
- French Beginners A
- French For Professional Purposes 1A
- French for Professional Purposes 2A
- French Intermediate A
- German Advanced A
- German Beginners A
- German Intermediate A
- Introduction to TESOL - Theory and Methodology 1
- Italian Advanced A
- Italian Beginners A
- Italian Intermediate A
- Japanese Advanced A
- Japanese Beginners A
- Japanese Intermediate A
- Spanish Advanced A
- Spanish Beginners A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1A
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2A
- Spanish Intermediate A
- TESOL Theory and Methodology 2
Spring teaching
- Arabic Advanced B
- Arabic Beginners B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- Arabic Intermediate B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 2B
- British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 3B
- Chinese Advanced B
- Chinese Beginners B
- Chinese Intermediate B
- French Advanced B
- French Beginners B
- French For Professional Purposes 1B
- French for Professional Purposes 2B
- French Intermediate B
- German Advanced B
- German Beginners B
- German Intermediate B
- Italian Advanced B
- Italian Beginners B
- Italian Intermediate B
- Japanese Advanced B
- Japanese Beginners B
- Japanese Intermediate B
- Spanish Advanced B
- Spanish Beginners B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 1B
- Spanish for Professional Purposes 2B
- Spanish Intermediate B
- TESOL Teaching Practice 1
- TESOL Teaching Practice 2
These electives are designed to help you explore key global challenges with world-leading experts from across the University and beyond.
Whichever path you take, you’ll develop key skills to tackle the complexity of contemporary challenges. This will help improve your employment prospects and help you contribute to creating progressive futures for all.
Spirit of Sussex Award
Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us – the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.
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Video transcript
Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.
Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points
What will you do to earn yours?
There's so many ways to get involved.
Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.
Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.
Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
I’ve taught workshops all over the UK and have rarely been in a room as warm, inviting and electrically charged. The whole place was fizzing with creative energy.”Christopher Brett Bailey
Critically acclaimed theatre-maker, performer and musician
Find out more about Christopher
Our experts
At Sussex, you’ll explore what theatre means in the 21st century. You’ll examine both classic plays and experimental performances that challenge conventions and redefine what theatre can be.”Augusto Corrieri
Senior Lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance
Drama, Theatre and Performance
Prof Sara Jane Bailes
Visiting Professor of Critical and Creative Practice
Dr Augusto Corrieri
Associate Professor in Drama, Theatre & Performance
Dr Arabella Stanger
Associate Professor in Drama: Theatre and Performance
Languages
Dr Feras Alkabani
Associate Professor in Arabic and Comparative Literature
Careers
- 86% of Sussex undergraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (University of Sussex Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)
Studying Drama with a Language will enhance your communication and language skills – highly valued by employers. Among our recent graduates are theatre directors, performers/actors, film programmers, arts and cultural managers, festival producers, and consultants in creative sectors. Former students have gone on to work with organisations such as:
- The Young Vic
- Munich Kammerspiele
- BBC3
- ITV2
- the National Theatre
- the British Film Institute
- Cinecity Film Festival
Others have started careers in related fields such as publishing, education, librarianship, law and counselling.
In Drama, through regular workshops with artists and industry professionals, you hear from those working in theatre and performance in the UK and internationally. Recent workshops have been conducted by acclaimed artists including:
- theatre group Forced Entertainment
- site-specific company dreamthinkspeak
- practitioner Sylvia Mercuriali
- choreographer Seke Chimutengwende.
We also organise careers events, often inviting recent graduates to talk about their work. When you graduate, you can also go on to further study, or pursue a career in:
- the arts and creative industries
- media, film and journalism
- publishing, libraries/archives and digital media
- teaching, education support or university education
- drama therapy, counselling, language therapy
- community work and the charity sector.
Where do our graduates work now?
Surveyed 15 months after finishing their courses, our recent Drama, Theatre and Performance graduates worked for employers including:
- BBC
- Byfield Consultancy
- COVEY
- Gateway Arts
- Graham Sweet Studios
- Hampstead Theatre
- Jeff Horne
- Lancaster Arts
- Music Over Everything
- Orchard Theatre
- Varndean School.
And our recent graduates from the Department of Language Studies worked for employers including:
(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022)
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work
Career ambitions – John Giannini, Drama, Theatre and Performance BA
Design your future at Sussex
Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.
As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:
- our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations such as Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, the Knepp Rewilding Project, and fashion brand Puig
- one-to-one appointments with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
- entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.
Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you
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Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024
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Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024
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Top 50
Best Universities for Work Experience in the UK
2025 Higherin Awards
Entry requirements
Find your place in Clearing
This course will be available in Clearing. Explore your options at Sussex – right here, right now.
Fees
Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.
Home students
£9,790 per year
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
£9,790 per year
On 19 March 2026 the UK Parliament set out that the tuition fee cap for 2026 entry will be £9,790. As the University of Sussex keeps fees for Home students and Channel Islands and Isle of Man students in line with UK Government-approved levels, fees will be £9,790 in 2026. In line with our terms and conditions, the University charges fees at the maximum levels set by the UK Government.
International students
£23,500 per year
Study abroad
Find out about grants and funding, tuition fees and insurance costs for studying abroad
Placement
Find out about tuition fees for placements
Additional costs
Note about additional costs
Additional costs to your tuition fees may include field trips, equipment, materials, bench fees or studio hire. These costs are best estimates based on current market values which we review each year. These costs may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances where the University has limited control such as a change in a service provider or government guidance. We will let you know at the earliest opportunity if there is any change to these costs. We will also tell you if these costs are mandatory for passing your course or optional. Find out how to budget for student life.
Theatre trips
On this course, you'll go on theatre trips and have the opportunity to write about them for assessed work. The School pays for tickets but you'll need to pay for travel costs. Trips are often local to keep travel costs low. In the case of drama placements (professional work experience), the School will pay for reasonable travel costs.
Living costs
We know the rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.
Learn more about typical living costs
Scholarships
Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.
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Chancellor's International Scholarships
£5,000 in the first year of full-time study
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Climate Leaders Scholarship
£3,000 cash per year of full time study.
Scholarships recipients will be supported to develop a high level project plan and provided with mentoring support.
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Sanctuary Scholarship (Undergraduate)
- Full 'Overseas' tuition fee waiver
- £16,440 per year of undergraduate study (up to 4 years)
- Sussexsport membership
- Guaranteed continuation of housing
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Sussex Bursary
£1,000 in your first year of study (either Year 1 or Foundation Year).
£500 in your subsequent years of study.
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Sussex Pakistan Scholarship (Undergraduate)
£4,000 discount on the first year of tuition fees
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Sussex Türkiye Scholarship (Undergraduate)
£4,000 discount on the first year of tuition fees
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Undergraduate Enrichment Award
£6,000 over 3 years of study
Contact us
Ask a student
Chat to Sussex students online via the UniBuddy chat platform.
Prospectus
What do you want to do next?
Legal information
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.