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Studies & Degrees in Drama Studies

Drama studies is the study of theatre and performance, both as an art that is made and as a subject that is analysed. Students read and discuss plays, learn the history and theory of theatre, and make work themselves: they act, direct, write, design and stage productions. This mix separates a drama degree from a pure acting course, which concentrates on training performers.

The balance between practice and theory changes from one school to another. At the University of Sussex, for example, students of Drama and English gain skills across theatre practices that include staging plays, collaborative devising, acting and writing for performance, experimental forms such as live art and site-specific theatre, and choreography, sound and visual design.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. In the United Kingdom, drama is often studied as a BA (Hons), alone or combined with another subject. The Drama and English BA (Hons) at Sussex lasts 3 years full time. In the United States, drama is usually a major within a bachelor's degree: the School of Drama of the University of Washington offers a BA in Drama and a drama minor.
  • Official higher arts education in Spain. The higher studies in dramatic art (enseñanzas artísticas superiores de Arte Dramático) are regulated by Real Decreto 630/2010. They have three specialities: stage direction and dramaturgy, set design, and acting. Each one takes four academic years of 60 credits, 240 credits in total, the qualification is official and valid throughout Spain, and applicants must pass a specific entrance test. The Institut del Teatre in Barcelona teaches the three specialities, as well as higher dance studies and courses in stage techniques.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. The usual practical postgraduate degree in the United States is the Master of Fine Arts (MFA). The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale offers graduate professional training in every theatrical discipline, with an MFA and a certificate in fields such as acting, design and directing. Yale states that full-time students in its degree and certificate programmes receive 100% tuition remission. The University of Washington offers an MFA in Drama and a PhD in Theatre History and Performance Studies. In Barcelona, the Institut del Teatre lists a Màster Universitari en Estudis Teatrals.
  • Non-formal courses. Not every listed school awards degrees. International People's College in Helsingør, Denmark, is a folk high school with no fixed curriculums and no grades, where long courses last four to six months and short courses one to three weeks.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 32 active schools for drama studies: 14 in the United States, 6 in the United Kingdom, 3 in Australia, 2 in Denmark, 2 in Spain and 1 each in Canada, Nigeria, China, Ireland and Mexico. In the United Kingdom they include the University of Sussex, the University of Bristol, the University of Kent, The University of Manchester and the University of St Andrews. In the United States the list includes Yale University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Washington, the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley, together with community colleges such as Shelton State.

Teaching is in English in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Nigeria. In the Spanish-speaking world the listed schools include the Institut del Teatre, which has its main site in Barcelona and centres in Terrassa and Vic, and the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Mexico. In Canada the listed school is McGill University in Montreal.

When comparing courses, look at how much of the timetable is practical work, whether there are public productions and who can take part in them, whether admission involves an audition or interview, and whether the course can be combined with another subject.

Careers

A drama degree leads to work on and around the stage: acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, stage management, design and theatre education. Sussex describes its graduates as ready for careers in theatre, media, publishing and the creative industries.

Jobs in performance are few and irregular. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), actors held about 67,500 jobs in the United States in 2025, employment is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035, and about 6,300 openings are projected each year. Work assignments are usually short, from one day to a few months. Producers and directors held about 181,000 jobs, with projected growth of 4 percent over the same period; the BLS notes that stage directors may complete a degree in theatre and that some go on to earn an MFA. These figures describe the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between drama studies and acting?

Drama studies combines practical theatre-making with the history, theory and analysis of theatre, and covers directing, writing and design as well as performing. An acting course concentrates on training performers.

How long does a drama degree take?

The Drama and English BA (Hons) at the University of Sussex lasts 3 years full time. In Spain, the official higher studies in dramatic art take four academic years and 240 credits.

Is there an entrance test for drama studies in Spain?

Yes. Entry to the official higher studies in dramatic art requires passing a specific entrance test, in addition to the general academic requirements.

What can you do with a drama degree?

Graduates work in acting, directing, writing, stage management, design and teaching, and in the wider creative industries. In the United States, the BLS projects little or no change in employment for actors from 2025 to 2035.