Course Outline
The Higher Diploma in Arts (Theatre & Performative Practices) is a conversion course to Theatre-related studies for students with degrees in subjects other than Theatre or with Theatre as a minor subject. Completion of the Higher Diploma in Theatre & Performative Practices effectively converts your degree to the equivalent of an honours degree with Theatre as the main subject. It is designed for non-theatre graduates who wish to upskill, gain an additional qualification in the area of Theatre & Performative Practices which will pave the way to further study at MA or PhD level.
The course is ideal for those who have acquired theatre-related skills in previous years, for example in a youth or community theatre setting, and now wish to build on that experience and advance it to professional levels with the potential for a career in the professional theatre or specific areas of applied theatre, including drama in education.
The Higher Diploma in Arts (Theatre & Performative Practices) shall consist of modules to the value of 60 credits taken from a range of existing Second and Final Year modules in Drama and Theatre Studies. Suitable modules as well as attendance requirements and coursework are determined by the relevant departments/schools and approved by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. For any given subject, the programme of study to be followed may differ for each individual student, depending on the individual's background and preferred area of specialisation.
Areas taught on the programme include:
Theatre and Performative Practices
Cultures of Voicing
Cultures of Movement and Place
Performance Technologies
Applied Drama and Theatre
Performative Writing
Practical Internship Work Placement
The modules are selected from the modules designed for UCC's Drama & Theatre Studies Joint and Single Honours degree courses. Students will select 30 credits from year 2, and 30 credits from final year. For further details of the programme modules and module descriptions, see the UCC Calendar
Course Practicalities
The commitment in terms of hours would be 300 for a full-time student (spread over 24 teaching weeks). Part-time students work out a suitable timetable once they have applied for and been accepted onto the Higher Diploma programme. This would involve a commitment of around 150 hours over the teaching year (more or less depending on what modules are taken in each of the four years).
The Department of Drama & Theatre Studies employs a wide range of assessment methods, matching the nature and requirements of its various course options. They include: continuous assessment and practical examinations for performance options; a portfolio of written texts; written responses to set texts and to seminars and coursework that ranges from formal essays to learning journals. Full details and regulations governing Examinations for this programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules
Staff in the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies; for a list of staff members visit the Department's website at: https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/drama; for detailed module descriptions go to the UCC Book of Modules
Why Choose This Course
You will construct your knowledge of theatre through testing out ideas and theories in practice. The collaborative, cooperative and creative nature of the work is facilitated by small class sizes, so you will learn with and from your group and in close contact with the teaching staff who are trained not only as drama lecturers but also as (applied) theatre practitioners
Theatre & Performative Practices
Entry requirements
Applications will be considered from graduates in any subject other than Drama and Theatre Studies.
Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree at second class honours (2H2) or above.
Applicants with significant professional-level drama and theatre experience will also be considered.
Applicants will be asked to attend a workshop and/or interview with staff from Drama and Theatre Studies. Screen arrangements may be made in the case of applications from international students.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.
For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.
International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.
Duration
1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Careers or further progression
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Students have the opportunity to do a Practical Internship Work Placement in the Creative Arts Industry
Skills and Careers Information
Occupations associated with a HDip in Arts (Theatre & Performative Practice)
Graduates can move directly into careers as: actors/performers, directors, writers, producers, technicians, educators, practitioners in various fields of applied drama and theatre.
Career sectors include theatre, film, television communications, education and arts and cultural management.
What are our graduates doing?
Stefanie Preissner is a screenwriter, playwright and actor. Her six-part comedy-drama series, Can't Cope/Won't Cope (RTE, Northern Ireland Screen, Deadpan Pictures) was broadcast in 2016: "A series so well written it was hard to watch" Irish Times Oct 17, 2016. Stefanie graduated with a BA in Drama & Theatre Studies & Spanish in 2008.
Stefanie Preissner, Playwright: stefaniepreissner@gmail.com
Julie Kelleher is Artistic Director of the Everyman Theatre in Cork. One of the youngest venue producers in the country, she has been responsible for dynamically raising the profile of the Everyman. Julie was among the first cohort of students to study Drama & Theatre Studies at UCC, graduating with a BA in 2004, and an MA in 2007.
Further enquiries
Dr. Yvon Bonenfant
theatre@ucc.ie
+353 (021) 4904359
https://www.ucc.ie/theatre
Subjects taught
Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/modules/ Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
Assessment method
The Department of Drama & Theatre Studies employs a wide range of assessment methods, matching the nature and requirements of its various course options. They include: continuous assessment and practical examinations for performance options; a portfolio of written texts; written responses to set texts and to seminars and coursework that ranges from formal essays to learning journals. Full details and regulations governing Examinations for this programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
Application date
Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.
EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.
The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.
Deadline for receipt of full applications:
For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020
Offers will be made by January 24th 2020
For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020
Offers will be made by March 16th 2020
For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020
Offers will be made by May 15th 2020
For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020
Offer will be made by July 15th 2020
Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.
Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June
Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/
Enrolment and start dates
Start Date: 7 September 2020
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