Theatre Studies/English Language

Theatre studies and English language bring together the performance arts and the scientific study of language, two disciplines that share a deep interest in how communication works. Theatre studies examines dramatic texts and performances in their historical, cultural and theatrical contexts, developing your understanding of how theatre is made, how meaning is created in performance and how drama has functioned as a social and artistic practice across different times and cultures. English language studies the structure, use and variation of language itself, drawing on linguistics to understand how grammar works, how language changes, how it differs across social groups and contexts, and how it is acquired and used in communication.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad and draws on the university's close connections with the theatre industry, giving you opportunities to learn from and engage with practitioners of national and international standing. You will develop skills in dramatic analysis, performance theory, play writing and theatrical history alongside rigorous training in linguistics, discourse analysis, phonetics and the social study of language. The year abroad gives you the opportunity to experience theatre and language study in a different cultural context, enriching both disciplines.

Glasgow's theatre industry connections and the city's vibrant cultural life provide a rich context for your studies throughout.

Graduates from Theatre Studies and English Language programmes pursue careers in theatre directing, acting, writing, teaching, arts administration, broadcasting, journalism, linguistics research, speech and language work, communications and education. The combination of performance knowledge and linguistic understanding is particularly valuable in roles concerned with spoken communication, media and teaching. Further study in linguistics, theatre, drama, education or related fields is a natural next step for those who want to pursue academic or specialist professional careers.