Theatre Studies/English Literature MA
ABB – BBB at A level, A-level English or another Humanities subject; graduates earn a median £21,500 three years on.
A-level English or another Humanities subject · 85% of entrants came with A levels · 95% stay on after year 1 · Glasgow course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. A contextual offer can be lower for applicants from under-represented backgrounds; none is published for this course.
Glasgow course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
- 1A-level English or another Humanities subject
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications2
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Highers | AAAABminimum from S5: BBBB | Higher English and a Higher Humanities subject at AA. (AB or BA may be considered). |
| IB | 34 (6,5,5) | English HL6 or Humanities HL6 with English SL6. |
What do you study?
Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 58% · transversal skills 26% · language & communication 16%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Glasgow course page · optional modules vary by year
- Theatre Studies 1: Reading The Stage
What you learn (9)
- interpret a theatre performance using relevant performance theories
- explain the cultural significance of theatre across different societies
- evaluate cultural debates relating to theatre practice
- critique academic literature on theatre studies
- formulate discussion points from critical readings for seminars
- contribute confidently to seminar discussions to clarify ideas
- apply theoretical concepts through practical seminar exercises
- construct a well-structured academic essay presenting a clear argument
- apply correct referencing and bibliographic conventions in written work
- Theatre Studies 1: Theatre And Society
What you learn (10)
- identify cultural, political and economic factors shaping theatrical presentation
- compare historical and contemporary contexts of theatre production
- explain the significance of theatre within different societies
- evaluate cultural debates concerning the role of theatre
- critique academic and contextual texts on theatre
- formulate discussion questions for seminar debate
- contribute confidently to seminar discussions to clarify ideas
- apply theoretical concepts through practical seminar exercises
- construct coherent academic arguments in essay form
- apply correct referencing and bibliographic conventions
Year 2 · 2 core · 40 credits ≈ 400 hours
- Theatre Studies 2A: Thinking Through Theatre Histories
What you learn (7)
- compare theatre texts and practices across different periods and cultures
- show sensitivity to the distinct contexts of different theatre traditions
- explain key concepts and methods used in theatre history research
- apply theatre history research methods with critical judgement
- select relevant secondary sources for a theatre studies topic
- synthesise and evaluate secondary sources to build an argument
- communicate ideas about theatre studies clearly to an audience
- Theatre Studies 2B: Thinking Through Theatre Making
What you learn (6)
- explore ideas, forms and strategies in modern theatre through group devising
- apply collective creation methods to investigate personal and shared creative interests
- create a performance presentation through collaborative practical research
- explain relevant critical and creative contexts informing devised work
- evaluate own and group practical creative work in relation to wider theatre practices
- critique creative outcomes using relevant scholarly perspectives
Year 3 · 13 core · 320 credits ≈ 3,200 hours
- Performance Theory and Analysis
What you learn (8)
- critique live performance events using theoretical frameworks
- present critical evaluations of performance orally to peers
- question the assumptions underlying performances being viewed
- examine one's own habitual ways of viewing performance
- participate confidently in seminar discussion to clarify ideas
- apply theoretical concepts through practical seminar exercises
- construct coherent critical arguments in written essays
- apply academic referencing and bibliographic conventions
- Theatre Studies Dissertation
What you learn (11)
- select a dissertation topic feasible within time and length limits
- justify the originality and personal value of a chosen research topic
- determine the resources and support required to complete a research project
- schedule project tasks to meet a fixed deadline and resource availability
- use library systems and external collections to locate research materials
- select appropriate research methodologies for a given project
- apply digital tools to retrieve and store research information
- format bibliographies, appendices and footnotes according to academic conventions
- choose a suitable format to present research findings and arguments
- structure a dissertation clearly and coherently
- relate findings to existing research in the field
- Theatre Studies Single Honours Group Project
What you learn (6)
- apply advanced qualitative research techniques
- evaluate the reliability of evidence from varied sources
- design practical experiments to support research questions
- evaluate the benefits and limitations of research through practice
- collaborate effectively within a team to achieve shared goals
- deliver findings using verbal and visual presentation methods
- Theatre Studies Work Placement
What you learn (5)
- describe working practices of theatre or arts organisations
- evaluate working practices observed in arts organisations
- select a suitable career or training path within the arts sector
- collaborate with professional practitioners on an artistic project
- assess own capability to contribute to future artistic projects
- Practising Location: Space, Place and Landscape
What you learn (8)
- describe the variety of site-based performance practices
- evaluate historical, political and aesthetic factors shaping site-based performance
- apply spatial theories from geography and ecology to performance analysis
- create contemporary performance work using interdisciplinary spatial concepts
- identify methods practitioners use to shape dramaturgies of place and landscape
- conduct critical and creative research using interpretative methodologies
- conduct practice-based research to inform performance development
- produce a practical performance presentation addressing issues of location
- Queer Exceptions
What you learn (7)
- explain key arguments within queer theory
- apply queer theory concepts to analyse performance practice
- describe queer theoretical perspectives relevant to theatre studies
- evaluate the usefulness of queer theory for analysing sexuality and subjectivity
- produce a research-based essay drawing on multiple disciplinary perspectives
- deliver an oral presentation reflecting interdisciplinary research findings
- apply theoretical frameworks from other disciplines to examine performance
- Interwar Cultures
What you learn (7)
- analyse key issues within interwar culture
- apply theoretical models to cultural practices of the era
- analyse links between interwar culture and broader political and economic discourse
- construct a well-structured critical argument in essay form
- apply correct referencing and bibliographic conventions
- design a presentation on a selected subject within the course scope
- deliver a presentation that stimulates group discussion
- Applied Theatre and Social Arts
What you learn (8)
- critically analyse key issues within applied theatre and social arts practice
- apply theories and models of applied theatre practice to given contexts
- analyse how applied theatre approaches connect to wider political debates
- analyse how social arts approaches inform wider social debates
- construct a well-structured academic essay presenting a coherent argument
- apply correct referencing and bibliographic conventions in written work
- design a presentation on a chosen topic relevant to the course
- facilitate group discussion through delivering a presentation
- 21st Century Theatre in Britain: New Writing in Context
What you learn (8)
- identify new trends in 21st century British playwriting
- critique new developments in British playwriting using historical and artistic context
- explain current critical theories relevant to 21st century British playwriting
- apply theoretical frameworks rigorously to assess playwriting case studies
- construct detailed dramaturgical analyses of playwriting case studies
- present arguments clearly and persuasively in written form
- present arguments clearly and persuasively in oral form
- apply scholarly conventions in academic communication
- Digital Art and Performance (30 Credits)
What you learn (6)
- critique examples of digital performance using a chosen theoretical framework
- explain how technological developments influence art and performance practices
- relate technological change to contemporary performance and critical theories
- identify key concerns of digital art and performance in contemporary culture
- present ideas about the role of digital technology in art and performance persuasively
- communicate findings on digital performance through collaborative group work
- Issues in Victorian and Edwardian Theatre
What you learn (8)
- analyse key issues in Victorian and Edwardian British theatre
- apply cultural theories and models to historical performance practices
- relate Victorian and Edwardian performing arts to broader cultural debates
- examine connections between historical theatre and political or economic contexts
- construct a coherent academic essay with well-structured critical arguments
- apply correct referencing and bibliographic conventions in written work
- design and deliver a presentation on a selected course-related topic
- facilitate group discussion to encourage further study of a topic
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 140 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 14, 24, 23
Half of graduates earned between £16,500 and £27,500. Five years on, the median is £29,000. 90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 65% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 15% left | 95% | 15 |
| In work or study, 15 months on12% studying | 90% | 60 |
| Professional or managerial job | 65% | 40 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £27,000 | 25 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £21,500 | 140 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £29,000 | 150 |
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 62% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 135 students answered
Highest: 99% agreed on question 1; lowest: 72% on question 26.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 99% |
| Question 2 | 98% |
| Question 3 | 98% |
| Question 4 | 93% |
| Question 5 | 92% |
| Question 6 | 91% |
| Question 7 | 90% |
| Question 8 | 74% |
| Question 9 | 81% |
| Question 10 | 78% |
| Question 11 | 86% |
| Question 12 | 88% |
| Question 13 | 89% |
| Question 14 | 75% |
| Question 15 | 94% |
| Question 16 | 95% |
| Question 17 | 85% |
| Question 18 | 75% |
| Question 19 | 79% |
| Question 20 | 95% |
| Question 21 | 86% |
| Question 22 | 95% |
| Question 23 | 91% |
| Question 24 | 74% |
| Question 25 | 74% |
| Question 26 | 72% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Glasgow’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Glasgow is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.