I'm ready to apply
Save course for later
Send me a PDF copy
I want more infoWelcome to drama at QUT
Associate Professor Bree Hadley talks about the five most important things you need to know if you're considering studying drama at QUT.
International study experiences
Finlay Gordon shares how he expanded his horizons and opened a world of opportunities with a study abroad program.
Business skills for the creative world
Dead Puppet Society fuses traditional and modern creating deeply imaginative theatre where old school meets the modern. Pioneered by QUT alumni David Moreton and Nicholas Paine, DPS is a production house and design company that divides it’s time between Brisbane and New York City.
Learn from the best
Nathan Sibthorpe is a contemporary performance-maker and AV Designer who provides extensive industry experience in performance studies classes. Nathan is currently the Director of Counterpilot Transmedia Performance Collective and a member of the Matilda Awards judging committee.
Take to the stage from week 1
Your first year is strongly practical, with classes, workshops and an end-of-year production.
Entrepreneurial theatre production
In your final year you wil develop your skills as a collaborative and entrepreneurial theatre artist. Working with specialist staff and industry professionals, you will prepare, create and present your final production.
Welcome to drama at QUT
Associate Professor Bree Hadley talks about the five most important things you need to know if you're considering studying drama at QUT.
International study experiences
Finlay Gordon shares how he expanded his horizons and opened a world of opportunities with a study abroad program.
Business skills for the creative world
Dead Puppet Society fuses traditional and modern creating deeply imaginative theatre where old school meets the modern. Pioneered by QUT alumni David Moreton and Nicholas Paine, DPS is a production house and design company that divides it’s time between Brisbane and New York City.
Learn from the best
Nathan Sibthorpe is a contemporary performance-maker and AV Designer who provides extensive industry experience in performance studies classes. Nathan is currently the Director of Counterpilot Transmedia Performance Collective and a member of the Matilda Awards judging committee.
Take to the stage from week 1
Your first year is strongly practical, with classes, workshops and an end-of-year production.
Entrepreneurial theatre production
In your final year you wil develop your skills as a collaborative and entrepreneurial theatre artist. Working with specialist staff and industry professionals, you will prepare, create and present your final production.
Highlights
- The most comprehensive undergraduate drama program in Queensland.
- Develop skills in applied theatre, directing and collaborative production.
- Learn how to plan, fund and produce live events.
- Undertake a major production each year, guided by experienced directors and industry professionals.
Highlights
- The most comprehensive undergraduate drama program in Queensland.
- Develop skills in applied theatre, directing and collaborative production.
- Learn how to plan, fund and produce live events.
- Undertake a major production each year, guided by experienced directors and industry professionals.
Why choose this course?
If you are interested in exploring practical careers in directing, designing, teaching, devising, creative producing and administration, or performing in a range of experimental theatre forms, then this course is for you. The course offers flexibility and breadth, combining creative experiences in performance making with highly relevant theoretical studies that will connect you with contemporary performance both nationally and globally.
Previous graduates have had a dynamic impact on the development of the Australian creative industries sector, and our most recent graduates are at the heart of the exciting growth in the independent theatre sector in Australia.
Real-world learning
It’s important to make strong industry connections from the start of your career. That’s why you’ll be taught by industry professionals who are making performances right now. Their expertise and passion will inspire and guide you as you collaborate with talented students within your cohort. The professional networks you establish will assist you throughout your career.
The flexible nature of the course means you can combine creative experiences in performance making with theoretical studies. This will allow you to get the most from classroom learning as you connect with contemporary performance both nationally and globally.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study fine arts and where a QUT degree can take you.
Explore this course
This course offers you the opportunity to explore many roles onstage and behind the scenes as you investigate what makes drama tick. You’ll learn about what’s come before in the history of drama so you can change what happens next. You’ll combine theory, skills and practice as you explore the rich possibilities that theatre and performance hold to entertain, engage and transform our view of the world. You’ll collaborate with others to create new performances that are built to surprise.
Theatre necessarily combines many fields of creative practice, so drama graduates tend to be curious, versatile and able to adapt quickly to a rapidly changing creative environment. They’re the people we call on to find out not only why, but how drama works.
Double degrees
Combine drama with a second study area for greater career flexibility and opportunities in other industries. Consider a double degree with:
- Business to develop a career in performing arts marketing and management or and in stage management.
- If you are looking to apply your creative abilities to education settings or the teaching profession you have some options. You can complete your drama course first and then follow with a Master of Teaching in early childhood, primary or secondary education.* Or you can now undertake a double degree in secondary education at the same time as your drama degree.
*Check entry requirements for the Master of Teaching for specific teaching areas.
Careers and outcomes
As a multiskilled graduate you will seek to complement your artistic career with paid employment in related areas. Our graduates make new performance work and create new ways of looking at the world. They harness the collaborative power of groups of people to make things happen. This explains the dynamic impact they continue to have on the Australian creative industries, and the successful careers they’ve developed across the sector.
Graduates have established successful careers as playwrights, artistic directors, directors and designers or performers working across a variety of genres including physical theatre or music.
Possible careers
- Actor
- Arts administrator
- Designer
- Director
- Drama teacher
- Events and festivals coordinator
- Lighting technician
- Stage manager
- Theatre professionals
Your course
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama), you must complete the following:
- Two common units (KYB101 and KYB102) – 24 credit points
- Drama major – 168 credit points
- Complementary studies – 48 credit points from the Situated Creative Practice Extension plus 48 credit points chosen from a minor or unit options (electives).
Year 1
-
strong practical focus with classes, workshops and an end-of-year production
-
investigate theatre history
-
develop performance skills
-
learn how to lead drama workshops in theatre, educational and corporate contexts
Year 2
-
extend practical skills and understanding of devised performance in the Australian and community theatre context, its history and plays
-
option to undertake events and festival management units
-
tailor your course to your vocational interests
-
choose electives in a second major and/or minors from creative industries or across QUT
Year 3
-
develop as a collaborative and entrepreneurial theatre artist
-
acquire leadership skills in directing
-
analyse your own creative practice
-
undertake internships and project-based work
-
complete your second major, minors or electives
-
learn from specialist staff and industry professionals
-
prepare, create and present your final production
Study overseas
Study overseas while gaining credit towards your QUT creative industries degree with one of our worldwide exchange partners. Overseas study can be for one or two semesters (or during the semester break) and the units you take can be in a creative or non-creative discipline area, depending on how they match with your QUT course. Saving your electives for exchange will allow you the most flexibility. Find out more about studying on exchange.
Your course
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama), you must complete the following:
- Two common units (KYB101 and KYB102) – 24 credit points
- Drama major – 168 credit points
- Complementary studies – 48 credit points from the Situated Creative Practice Extension plus 48 credit points chosen from a minor or unit options (electives).
Year 1
- strong practical focus with classes, workshops and an end-of-year production
- investigate theatre history
- develop performance skills
- learn how to lead drama workshops in theatre, educational and corporate contexts
Year 2
- extend practical skills and understanding of devised performance in the Australian and community theatre context, its history and plays
- option to undertake events and festival management units
- tailor your course to your vocational interests
- choose electives in a second major and/or minors from creative industries or across QUT
Year 3
- develop as a collaborative and entrepreneurial theatre artist
- acquire leadership skills in directing
- analyse your own creative practice
- undertake internships and project-based work
- complete your second major, minors or electives
- learn from specialist staff and industry professionals
- prepare, create and present your final production
Study Overseas
Study overseas while gaining credit towards your QUT creative industries degree with one of our worldwide exchange partners. Overseas study can be for one or two semesters (or during the semester break) and the units you take can be in a creative or non-creative discipline area, depending on how they match with your QUT course. Saving your electives for exchange will allow you the most flexibility. Find out more about studying on exchange.
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2024.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- KK34
- QTAC code
- 421952
- CRICOS code
- 056185A
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2023
The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.
| Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
96.30
|
Selection rank
98.30
|
| Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
81.75
|
Selection rank
81.95
|
| Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
64.30
|
Selection rank
70.25
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
|
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| IELTS Academic / IELTS Online / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| TOEFL iBT / Home / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP fees available from September
2025 fees
2025: Available from July
2024 fees
2024: CSP $12,100 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: $34,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Keep up to date
QUT courses for you
Like to save your courses?
Please enter your first name and email so we can save your courses for you