Dance and Drama BA Hons (Drama) with Kingston University London

Course overview

Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic performing arts departments. Here, creativity meets opportunity in a vibrant, professional environment designed to help you thrive.

Our state-of-the-art facilities include the impressive PASS Studio Theatre, eight purpose-built dance and rehearsal studios, specialist classrooms, and a cutting-edge Learning Resource Centre and Library – everything you need to bring your artistic vision to life.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh – the world’s Festival City – PASS has strong connections with leading theatres, companies, and creatives. These partnerships open doors to exciting performance opportunities, innovative projects, and invaluable industry insight.  

BA Course Overview

The BA (Hons) Dance and Drama degree at Edinburgh College is an intensive industry training course validated by Kingston University. Challenge your potential as you immerse yourself in theatre and performance through a range of techniques. This university-level course will ensure you are prepared to meet industry standards and progress into a career as a portfolio artist.

You will develop a range of transferable skills to equip you for the demands of a competitive world. Actors and performers have a massive influence on society, and this course aims to show you how to become a part of that influence. You will critically engage in industry practices and learn how to take a simple performance idea and bring it to life.

Throughout the course, you will gain essential experience in professional environments and make crucial connections with industry professionals.  BA students have multiple opportunities to work in external venues across this performative Degree program, including The Studio Theatre, Traverse, Bedlam, and North Edinburgh Arts, among many others.

Spotlight Membership

The BA course is also a member of the Spotlight Graduate scheme. BA students can apply to become Graduate Spotlight members during the first term of the year. Spotlight is the industry's leading casting platform, connecting performers, agents, and casting directors. Spotlight graduate membership is the stamp of professionalism that puts you in the best place to promote yourself to the industry as you complete your training. 

Further Performance Opportunities 

• Edinburgh Fringe Festival - The BA cohort rehearse and perform a play which runs as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 
• Brighton Fringe - The BA cohort rehearse and perform a play which runs as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival
• Babel FAST Festival - You have the opportunity to devise and perform at this International theatre festival in Romania. You will participate in workshops led by renowned artists from around the world and receive complimentary entry to all shows in the festival programme.

Core Modules are:

• Acting: Context, Genre and Application. Module leader, Michael Cox.
• Applied Theatre: Health and Wellbeing. Module leader, Clara Bloomfield.
• Production Project: Making a Performance. Module leader, Ashling Findlay-Carroll.
• Ensemble Performance. Module leader, Eleanor Morrison.

You will also participate in classes to develop your skills in:

• Body Conditioning for Performers
• Acting Techniques
• Study Skills for Performing Arts
• Personal and Professional Planning
• Choreography and Dance
• Theatre Directing
• Entrepreneurial Innovation

Placement information

Applied Theatre: Health and Wellbeing - Enables students to organise and undertake a placement with a professional theatre organisation in a range of contexts and settings to explore the role and functionality of theatre in ‘communities’.  Past students have undergone placements with:

• Tricky Hat
• Scottish Youth Theatre
• Surge
• Firefly Arts
• Strange Town
• Artlink
• Standeasy
• WHALE Arts.

We have a high percentage of students securing work from their placement experience and networking opportunities with the industry.

How the course is assessed

• Practical observation
• Performances
• Portfolio submissions
• Presentations
• Written assessments

Number of days per week

• 4-5 days a week.
• There will be some requirements to work outside of regular college hours. 
• Self-directed study is required, and studios will be provided for this purpose.

Entry requirements

• HND Acting and Performance with a Graded Unit A/B result.
• HND Musical Theatre with a Graded unit A/B result.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Audition Process

Stage 1: Complete the application form, including the following evidence: 

Written Task - Please respond to the question below in 500 words

If drama is a reflection of the world in which we live and our position in it, what do you want to say? Who do you want to say it to? And how will you say it? 

Upload the response to the personal statement section on your application or email it to DramaDanceBA@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

Stage 2: Live Audition and Interview 

• Creative Workshop You will participate in a series of creative tasks with your fellow auditionees, please come dressed appropriately for movement. 
• Workshop Plan:  Prepare to deliver an exercise at your audition to fellow auditionees, be able to talk through this activity, discuss the target group and justify how you would approach this task with said group.  

Interview

During your audition day, you will be interviewed by two of the BA teaching faculty who will ask you a series of key questions to assess your suitability for the course further.

Should you have any further questions regarding the course or audition, please email dramadanceBA@edinburghcollege.ac.uk  

Audition Dates: (Granton Campus)

• Monday 15 December 2025 (9.30 AM - 12.30 PM)
• Tuesday 13 January 2026 (9.30 AM - 12.30 PM)
• Further Dates will be added if required

Allocated dates will be given once applications have been completed.

Privacy Notice for Performing Arts and Photography Selection

Applications will close once the course is complete, and invitations will be sent for interviews.

Progression and Articulation Routes

• The University of Edinburgh Playwriting MSc
• The University of Glasgow Playwriting and Dramaturgy MLitt
• Theatre Studies MLitt
• Royal Conservatoire Classical and Contemporary Text (Acting) or (Directing) MA
• MEd Learning and Teaching in the Performing Arts

Career options

• Work as a performer, writer, director, producer, participatory artist
• Gain representation from an acting agent
• Establish your own company and make performance work
• Continue studying to become a teacher