Drama: New students
Drama
Drama
Welcome message from Professor Jane Milling
Welcome to all new students joining the Drama Department and congratulations on making it here.
We have just celebrated 50 years as a Drama Department. In 1968 we took a pioneering step to introduce practice-led teaching and research into a Higher Education context for the first time, and we are still excited by the opportunities to learn and research together in the studio and seminar room. We look forward to welcoming you into our academic community of almost 400 staff and students, and to growing those critical and creative skills we need to face the challenges of the future.
The department is currently ranked Top 5 in The Complete University Guide 2021 and Top 100 worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2021. Our teaching, technical and administrative staff are committed to helping you to settle into University life and to get the most out of your studies and all the opportunities that the University offers.
We all look forward to meeting you in September.
Head of Drama
Follow Drama on Twitter: @UoEDrama and join us on Facebook: University of Exeter: Drama
Ahead of your arrival, please complete our online pre-arrival induction which is available via FutureLearn; your Exeter email will have a message with the link. The induction is full of important information and advice about your studies and life as a student here. It also contains activities and discussion boards so you can start to get to know other students even before you start your course.
We strongly recommend that you access this as soon as possible and make the most of this fantastic opportunity to learn more about us, your peers and your programme.
Freshers’ Week 2021: Monday 13 September - Sunday 19 September
During Fresher's Week you should attend the Academic Induction events and activities for your subject/s, as detailed below. If there is any reason why you may not be here for Fresher's Week, please contact the Queen's Hub, who support Drama students, as soon as possible by emailing drama@exeter.ac.uk.
The Student's Guild is also running welcome events throughout the week, including a Welcome Festival from September 10th-12th and regular guided tours of campus.
Please check your academic timetable during Freshers’ Week, so that you know exactly where and when you need to attend your first classes and lectures! If you have any timetable-related problems or questions, please contact the Queen's Hub at drama@exeter.ac.uk.
The purpose of Academic Induction is to introduce you to your academic programme, complete any necessary pre-registration tasks, familiarise yourself with your academic buildings, and meet fellow students and the academic staff for your subjects. These sessions form the core part of your Freshers' Week timetable and we expect all students to be present at these compulsory sessions, either in person or online as appropriate. If you need any advice about issues or clashes within your Freshers' Week timetable please contact drama@exeter.ac.uk.
Drama academic induction timetable
Date |
Start |
Finish |
Details |
Location |
Tuesday 14 September | 12:00 | 16:00 |
Drama Welcome Talk |
Roborough Studio RS1/2/3 |
All compulsory academic induction materials, links and guidance will be available for viewing on the Drama Information ELE page.
*any student studying remotely will meet their peer mentors online and have a virtual tour experience with the Director of Education.
If you are a Combined Honours or Flexible Combined Honours student please ensure you view the New Students information for all your subjects since each will have its own Academic Induction information and timetable.
College of Humanities
Flexible Combined Honours
College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Arab and Islamic Studies; Law; Politics; Sociology; Philosophy and/or Anthropology
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Biosciences; Geography; Psychology; Sport and Health Sciences
College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Computer Science; Engineering; Geology; Mathematics; Medical Imaging; Natural Sciences; Physics and Astronomy; and Renewable Energy
College of Medicine and Health
Medical Sciences; Medicine
The Business School
Accounting and Finance; Economics; Business; Management; Leadership; Marketing; and Tourism
Joining instructions
Preparing for your studies
In preparation for your course, try to see as wide a variety of live theatre and performance as you can - not only plays but also popular and experimental theatre forms: street theatre, performance art, magic shows, digital performance, music theatre, dance, Punch and Judy, etc.
Please familiarise yourself with your appropriate programme specification, modules and reading lists on the College intranet.
The texts listed below would be of use you in preparation for beginning your degree and throughout your studies. These books are available in the university library, but you may wish to buy a copy for yourself.
- Mangan, Michael. The Drama, Theatre and Performance Companion. London: Palgrave, 2014.
- Schechner, Richard, Performance Studies: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2006.
See also the Drama summer reading list.
Module choice
Students taking Drama do not need to make choices as all your 1st year modules are compulsory. These will automatically be added to your record and timetable. If you are a Combined Honours student you may need to select modules for your other subject, so please refer to their joining instructions for more information (see the ‘Combined Honours or Flexible Combined Honours Students’ link above).
Modules for Combined Honours programmes
For students on Combined Honours programmes, module choice information will be released and co-ordinated by the lead discipline for the programme, that is the first named subject in the degree title. For example, BA Archaeology and Anthropology is led by the Archaeology department; BA Philosophy and Theology is led by the Philosophy department. (Please see the ‘Combined Honours or Flexible Combined Honours Students’ link above for more information).
Useful information
- New students
- New Students Guide
- Freshers' Week
- Information for parents
- Your studies
- Your health and welfare
- Coronavirus - Information and Advice
- Introduction to Wellbeing Services - Peter Chalk Building [video]
- Your Welfare Advisors - Peter Chalk (Wellbeing Services) [pdf]
- Introduction to Education Services at the Peter Chalk Hub [video]
Modules are available at a range of levels from Beginners to Advanced via the Language Centre in:
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Mandarin Chinese
• Russian
• Spanish
• British Sign Language
We can help you get the language you study with us named on your degree title. This involves successfully completing a minimum of 60 credits in one language taken through the Language Centre. You could choose to start a new language from scratch or develop an existing one. For example, a Geography student who passes 30 credits at Spanish Beginners and a further 30 credits at Spanish Intermediate 1 could have their degree title amended to BA (Hons) Geography with proficiency in Spanish.
If you are not able to take a language as part of your programme due to timetabling constraints, or if you are interested in studying a language that is not currently available via modularity, our Language Centre also runs an Evening Language Programme with many more language options.
To find out more about language modules and other languages offered by different departments see the Language Centre webpage.