Drama and Performance Degrees
Drama at USW is rated top in Wales for overall satisfaction, learning opportunities, academic support - NSS 2023
Top in Wales for career prospects in Drama and Dance for the past two years - Guardian League Table 2021 & 2022
Focus on your interests and career goals and shape your future in performance
Study in Cardiff with world-class venues and production companies on your doorstep
Drama and Performance Degrees
Experience The Spotlight
Through performance you can become anyone, anywhere, at anytime. All our performance degrees equip you with a great balance of practical activity, live performances and theory, and are designed to give you the skills to build your career.
Artists, scriptwriters and directors get to ask the big questions, challenge ideas and structures, and explore why we do what we do. They can express ideas and create new ways of looking at the world.
Studying at the heart of Cardiff, a performance degree at USW could be the key to your future.
In the last REF, 65% of our Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts Research was rated either internationally excellent or world-leading.
Impressive Facilities
USW Cardiff is a creative hub. It boasts a 160-seat auditorium with a sprung stage floor and full lighting rig. Students also have access to our dance studios and drama spaces, four black box studio theatres and two professional film studios.
Find you Career Path
The flexible nature of our drama and performance degrees means that you can focus on your interests and career goals. Our modules allow you to study theatre, film, television and radio, acting, directing, theatre and performance histories and theories, voice and movement and everything in-between.
World-Class Venues
Studying in Cardiff means you’ll have world-class venues and production companies on your doorstep, including the headquarters of BBC Wales, a major centre for production in the UK (Dr Who, Torchwood), Bad Wolf, National Theatre Wales and the Welsh National Opera amongst others. Look forward to being surrounded by countless opportunities during and after your course!
Drama and Performance Courses
Undergraduate Courses
Study all major media forms such as theatre, film, television and radio and examine the production of new ideas in digital, interactive and multi-media performance practices.
Explore theatre-making. Study acting, directing, theatre and performance histories and theories, voice and movement, devising, ensemble practice, theatre production, applied drama, practice as research, and more.
Cwrs arloesol sy’n cynhyrchu ymarferwyr o’r radd flaenaf i weithio yn y diwydiannau creadigol (theatr a’r cyfryngau) yng Nghymru a thu hwnt.
Postgraduate Courses
We offer a number of Masters by Research postgraduate research programmes which allow you to make an in-depth study of a topic that interests you. You can study full-time or part-time, on campus or by distance.
We offer a number of PhD postgraduate research programmes in computing which allow you to make an in-depth study of a topic that interests you. You can study full-time or part-time, on campus or by distance.
Student work
Putting the Spotlight on our Students
Each year we take time to celebrate the work of our Faculty of Creative Industry students through a festival called 'Gradfest'.
This dedicated festival is home to project work, blogs, videos, social posts and so much more from our Performance students.
Students from across the university have the opportunity to showcase their work to the masses and take pride in doing so.
Take a look at what our students have worked on over the past year by viewing the Gradfest 2022 Performance website page.
Research with Impact
100% of USW's research in music, drama, dance, performing arts, film and screen studies has a real-life impact that's rated world leading or internationally excellent.
Learn more about how USW’s Performance research makes a difference in the real world, changing lives, and the world, for the better.
Study in the heart of cardiff
Discover the 'Diff
Cardiff is a modern capital city that will surprise you.
It’s the UK’s fastest growing major city and has been multicultural and cosmopolitan from the start. Here, you’ll find an amazing quality of life, more green space per person than any UK city, and fantastic people.
Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK too, so it’s perfect for cash-strapped students. There’s always something happening or new places to discover. From shopping and live sport to music, arts and history, there’s something for everyone and great company to do it with.
Cardiff is a popular student city that knows how to enjoy itself. Wherever you turn, you’ll find somewhere to eat, drink or dance the night away.
Open Days
Explore USW
Join us at an open day or live event and discover the opportunities waiting for you at the University of South Wales.
You'll have the chance to explore our campuses at Cardiff, Newport or Pontypridd, meet academic staff and current students, learn about life at USW and student money, and take part in interactive activities related to your course.
For those who can't attend an on-campus event, we run online and on-demand events. There's plenty of ways to discover what USW is all about.
Apply
Ready to apply? We can't wait to welcome you to the #USWFamily. You can apply via UCAS or USW.
Chat
Chat to our students, lecturers or staff. We're here to help answer any questions you may have.
Student Life
Make friends for life, try out lots of new things and become more independent than ever before.
Accommodation
Where you live is just as important as what you study. Let's find your home away from home.