Program Overview

Lancaster’s Theatre and English Literature degree gives you the opportunity to study contemporary theatre, drama and performance alongside works spanning Shakespeare, film and twenty-first century writing. Theatre is part of the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) a vibrant, contemporary arts environment with excellent facilities. Our Department of English and Creative Writing offers both traditional and state-of-the art approaches to English Literature.

In English Literature, you’ll explore texts of different periods and genres and develop a deeper critical understanding of the role of literature in society. You’ll receive a full introduction to Theatre Studies and will learn about innovative twentieth and twenty first century theatre and performance through an exciting and varied mix of theoretical and practical approaches, taught by internationally esteemed, award winning theatre practitioners and scholars.

You will have the opportunity to spend Year 3 on placement with a public, private or voluntary organisation in the UK or overseas. This experience will boost your employment prospects and will help you to decide on your career direction and the kind of organisation in which you want to work once you graduate. You will be doing a real, responsible job – with all the satisfaction that brings. Our Placements Team will support you in finding and applying for a suitable placement that will support your professional development. Applying for a placement is a competitive process and the preparatory modules you will complete in years one and two are designed to give you the best chance of success in your placement applications. You will also be provided with dedicated workshops, 1:1 appointments with careers professionals as well as opportunities to speak with employers here on campus.

You’ll begin your degree with modules that develop your understanding of your core subjects. In your second year, you’ll study subjects such as The Theory and Practice of Criticism, Literature and Film, Theatre Techniques, Performance Composition, Applied Theatre Practice, Contemporary British Theatre and Post War European Playwrights before completing your degree with final-year modules including a Dissertation unit and a full Theatre production module. There is also a dedicated Work Placement module in second year and a Creative Enterprise module in third year to enhance your employability after graduation.

You also have the opportunity to spend your second year abroad at one of our partner universities in North America or Australia. The year abroad counts fully towards your Lancaster degree.

During the placement year you will remain a Lancaster University student which means that you will still be eligible for a student loan, have access to facilities such as the library and receive discounts on transport and council tax. Your tuition fee will be reduced to 20% during the placement year.

The placement will enhance your understanding of the connections between theory and practice and this will benefit your final year of study. This is an exciting opportunity to build up experience and transferable skills, as well as to make contacts with potential employers which will place you a step ahead in the graduate recruitment market.