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Writing and Performance with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Do you want to see your stories on stage? Are you fascinated by live theatre performance and the written word? With this BA Writing and Performance, you will investigate theatre as a live event, as dramatic text and in its historical contexts. Based in the heart of central London’s vibrant cultural scene, you will develop your skills as a writer and learn from the expertise of our award-winning staff. You will explore theatre histories and theories in depth, the ways in which it is possible to tell stories, and experiment with the relationship between creative and critical writing. You will get to grips with the craft of writing:

  • poetry
  • fiction
  • drama
  • for the screen.
Option modules across arts, literature and theatre-making will enhance your developing writing practice, culminating in your final dissertation project. Throughout your degree, you will visit the world’s most exciting theatre institutions and analyse live and digital performances. BA Writing and Performance brings you guidance from our world-leading academics, theatre-makers and authors, and the opportunity to create new and original work. If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. Highlights
  • Our BA Writing and Performance is the only undergraduate evening study course in writing and performance in central London. It offers you multiple opportunities to originate creative work and a chance to gain specialist industry knowledge from guest speakers, including theatre artists, critics and funders.
  • Birkbeck is located in the heart of literary London - in Bloomsbury, WC1 - and writers and academics maintain strong links with publishers, broadcasters and the creative industries. You could be studying in a building that was once home to Virginia Woolf and frequented by members of the Bloomsbury Group. The building houses our own creative hub which includes the Peltz Gallery, the Gordon Square Cinema and a theatre and performance space.
  • You will be eligible to submit work to the annual Birkbeck creative writing journal, the Mechanics’ Institute Review, the Scratch Night as part of Birkbeck Arts Week, and to attend public events and performances curated by Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre.
  • Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Careers and employability Graduates can pursue career paths in theatre, creative writing, journalism, education, media production and the creative arts. Possible professions include:
  • author
  • journalist
  • arts administrator
  • charity officer
  • theatre director
  • higher education lecturer.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Assessment methods include research essays, research exercises, creative projects, group presentations, performance presentations, critical reflections on practical work, group vivas and individual vivas.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
60%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Writing and Performance with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS