Overview

The BA (Hons) (Theatre and Performative Practices) is a three-year degree programme. Teaching at Theatre is research-led and is informed by a practice-based approach to teaching and the complementary relationship between theory and practice. Students should note this is not a vocational training programme. Emphasis is placed on learning through doing, that is, through performative practices, where thinking and making are continually integrated.

Theatre and Performative Practices - Single and Joint Honours

Students taking the BA (Hons) (Theatre and Performative Practices) programme may take the Single Honours option consisting of 50 credits in Theatre and Performative Practices and 10 credits in another Arts subjects in each year, or the Joint Honours option consisting of 30 credits in Theatre and Performative Practices and 30 credits in another Arts subject in second and subsequent years.

Places for Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices are limited and will be allocated based on

1. first year assessment from Year 1, and
2. further discussion/interview with department as necessary.

Students who wish to take Theatre and Performative Practices with Music must first apply through the CAO for CK112. In addition to the normal CAO requirements, such students must also satisfy the Head of Department, Music and the College that they are capable of successfully completing the Music component of the programme. Students who wish to take Theatre and Performative Practices with Music must also complete the Music audition - details will be provided as part of Theatre Admission process.

To be eligible for the award of the BA (Hons) (Theatre and Performative Practices) degree a student will be required to have achieved 180 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, and Third Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices). A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one year.

Theatre and Performative Practices - International Pathway

The BA (Hons) (Theatre and Performative Practices - International) is a four-year programme, taking the 30 or 50 credit option (single or joint honours) in Theatre and Performative Practices, along with one other Arts subject, which enables students of Theatre and Performative Practices to study for one year (i.e. Third Year) in an approved University outside Ireland.

First Year - Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices)

In First Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices) students take Theatre and Performative Practices (30 credits) together with two other subjects (15 credits each) from those listed below or Theatre and Performative Practices (30 credits) and Music (30 credits). For Theatre and Performative Practices students who choose two Arts subjects, it is recommended that at least one of these subjects be a language/literature subject. To avoid timetable clashes no more than one subject may be chosen from any separate group below. Students should also note when making subject choices that not all subjects can be taken as a 10 credit or a 30 credit option in Second and Third Arts. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

3. Archaeology, German¹, Latin², Mathematical Studies, Mathematics³, Politics

4. French⁴, Sociology, Studies in Music⁵

5. Béaloideas⁶, Economics, English, Greek⁷, Religions and Global Diversity

6. (a) ⁸ Geography, Italian⁹

6. (b) ⁸ Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy, Spanish¹⁰

¹

German: Students wishing to select German (Beginners) are recommended to have a minimum grade H3 in another modern continental language or Irish or Latin or Greek in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students wishing to select German (Non Beginners) should have a minimum grade H4 in German in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent). Students will be accepted to the Beginners group only if they have no prior German, or if they have reached a level no higher than Junior Certificate German.

²

Latin: Students cannot continue with Latin in Second and Third Year.

³

Mathematics: Due to timetable restrictions, Mathematics may not be combined with Celtic Civilisation or Spanish in First Year. Students who wish to take Mathematics must have a H3 in Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or its equivalent).

⁴

French: A student will not normally be allowed to select French unless he/she has attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination or equivalent.

⁵

Studies in Music: This is available in First year. From Second year onwards, it is available as a 10 credit subject in the Single Subject programme only and in accordance with the module guideline requirements for Arts-Music (CK104) programme.

⁶

Béaloideas: Students wishing to select Béaloideas should normally have a minimum grade H4 in Irish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Lectures are through the medium of Irish. Béaloideas is not available to students who select the BA (Hons) Theatre and Performative Practices International Pathway from Second year onwards.

⁷

Greek: Students cannot continue with Greek in Second and Third Year.

⁸

Students can combine a subject from group 6(a) with a subject from 6(b) in first year.

⁹

Italian: Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Italian are recommended to have a minimum of Grade H4 in Italian in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students who have studied Italian at second level and obtained a grade below H4 can join the Beginners' Italian course.

¹⁰

Spanish: Students wishing to take Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a Grade H4 in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in another modern continental language, or Irish, or Latin, or Greek. Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a minimum of Grade H4 in Spanish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).

Note: Students wishing to take Theatre and Performative Practices with Music must choose Music as a 30-credit subject, as taken by students on the Arts-Music (CK104) programme.

Programme Requirements for Arts subjects begin here.

Second Year - Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices)

No student may register for Second Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices) until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices). The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that a student is capable of profiting by attendance thereat. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

In Second Arts, Theatre and Performative Practices students have the option of taking pathways in either Joint Honours Theatre and Performative Practices or Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices as follows:

• Joint Honours Theatre and Performative Practices: Students take 30 credits of Theatre and Performative Practices and take the remaining credits (to total 60 each year) in one other subject continued from First Year. Note: Students taking Theatre and Performative Practices with Music combine 30 credits of Theatre and Performative Practices with 30 credits of Music modules, as taken by Second Year students on the Arts-Music (CK104) programme.
• Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices: 50 credit subject: a limited number of places (Minimum 6) will be offered to students wishing to register for 50 credits in Second Year in 2023/24 and Final Year in 2024/25. Places for Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices will be allocated based on

1. First year assessment from Year 1
2. Students’ statement of intent and their proven commitment to the discipline of Theatre and Performative Practices.

Along with 50 credits in Theatre and Performative Practices, Single Honours students take the remaining credits (to total 10 each year) in one other subject continued from First Year.

Internship Option: Between Year 2 and Year 3 students registering for either Joint or Single Honours have the option of completing a work placement within an established/professional arts organisation (DR3001) amounting to 4 weeks full-time, or equivalent, with an approved theatre company, performing arts organisation or theatre performance group in Ireland or abroad. Assessment for DR3001 will be based on satisfactory completion of the internship and on a presentation and portfolio of documentation completed during the first Semester of Third Year (see module description for further details). Students will be responsible for arranging the internship, in consultation with academic staff and for any/all costs incurred arising from the Practical Internship/Work Placement.

Programme Requirements for Arts subjects begin here.

Third Year - Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices)

No student may register for Third Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices) until he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices). The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that a student is capable of profiting by attendance thereat. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

In Third Arts (Theatre and Performative Practices), students take 30 or 50 credits of Theatre and Performative Practices and take the remaining credits (to total 60 each year) in one other subject continued from Second Year.

Note: Students taking Theatre and Performative Practices with Music combine 30 credits of Theatre and Performative Practices with 30 credits of Music modules, as taken by Third Year students on the Arts-Music (CK104) programme.

Programme Requirements for Arts subjects begin here.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (30 credits) and 30 credits from two of the First Arts subjects:
Core Modules
DR1005	Performative Writing: Dramaturgy (Part I)	5
DR1006	Performative Writing: Dramaturgy (Part II)	5
DR1007	Introduction: Theatre and Performative Practice	10
DR1009	Performance in Culture	5
DR1010	Cultures of Performance Practice	5
First Arts Subjects
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits (15 credits each) from two other First Arts subjects as follows: 1		30
Group 3
Archaeology
German 2
Latin 3
Mathematical Studies
Mathematics 4
Politics
Group 4
French 5
Sociology
Studies in Music 6
Group 5
Béaloideas 7
Economics
English
Greek 8
Religions and Global Diversity
Group 6 (a) 9
Geography
Italian 10
Group 6 (b) 9
Celtic Civilisation
Philosophy
Spanish 11
Year 2		60
Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices - 50 Credit Subject
Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (50 credits) and 10 credits from one of the Arts subjects:
Core Modules
DR2003	Theatre and Performative Practices (10)
DR2012	Cultures of Movement and Place (10)
DR2019	Applied Drama and Theatre (10)
DR2025	Special Studies in Interdisciplinary Performative Practices (5)
DR2027	Theatre and Performative Practice 3 (10)
DR2030	Performance Technologies: Explorations (5)
Arts Subjects
Students take modules to the value of 10 credits from one other Arts subject continued from First Year.
Joint Honours Theatre and Performative Practices - 30 Credit Subject
Students take 60 credits as follows - 30 credits from the following list and 30 credits from one of the Arts subjects:
Core Modules
DR2003	Theatre and Performative Practices (10)
DR2007	Practical Study	5
DR2012	Cultures of Movement and Place (10)
DR2019	Applied Drama and Theatre (10)
DR2025	Special Studies in Interdisciplinary Performative Practices (5)
DR2027	Theatre and Performative Practice 3 (10)
DR2030	Performance Technologies: Explorations (5)
Arts Subject
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from one other Arts subject continued from First Year.
Year 3		60
Single Honours Theatre and Performative Practices - 50 Credit Subject
Students take 60 credits as follows - 50 credits from the following list and 10 credits from one of the Arts subjects:
DR3001	Practical Internship Work Placement (5)
DR3009	Special Studies in Theatre Production (5)
DR3015	Performative Writing: Fields of Application (10)
DR3016	Special Studies in Theatre Practice (10)
DR3020	Applied Drama and Theatre: Advanced (10)
DR3024	In Semester Internship (5)
DR3031	Final Year Performance (10)
DR3033	Research Placement (Autumn or Spring) (5)
Arts Subjects
Students take modules to the value of 10 credits from one other Arts subject continued from Second Year.
Joint Honours Theatre and Performative Practices - 30 Credit Subject
Students take 60 credits as follows - 30 credits from the following list and 30 credits from one of the Arts subjects:
DR3001	Practical Internship Work Placement (5)
DR3009	Special Studies in Theatre Production (5)
DR3015	Performative Writing: Fields of Application (10)
DR3016	Special Studies in Theatre Practice (10)
DR3020	Applied Drama and Theatre: Advanced (10)
DR3024	In Semester Internship (5)
DR3031	Final Year Performance (10)
DR3033	Research Placement (Autumn or Spring) (5)
Arts Subjects
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from one other Arts subject continued from Second Year.
Total Credits		185

¹

To avoid timetable clashes no more than one subject may be chosen from any separate group.

²

German: Students wishing to select German (Beginners) are recommended to have a minimum grade H3 in another modern continental language or Irish or Latin or Greek in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students wishing to select German (Non Beginners) should have a minimum grade H4 in German in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent). Students will be accepted to the Beginners group only if they have no prior German, or if they have reached a level no higher than Junior Certificate German.

³

Latin: Students cannot continue with Latin in Second and Third Year.

⁴

Mathematics: Due to timetable restrictions, Mathematics may not be combined with Celtic Civilisation or Spanish in First Year. Students who wish to take Mathematics must have a H3 in Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or its equivalent).

⁵

French: A student will not normally be allowed to select French unless he/she has attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination or equivalent.

⁶

Studies in Music: This is available in First year. From Second year onwards, it is available as a 10 credit subject in the Single Subject programme only and in accordance with the module guideline requirements for Arts-Music (CK104) programme.

⁷

Béaloideas: Students wishing to select Béaloideas should normally have a minimum grade H4 in Irish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Lectures are through the medium of Irish. Béaloideas is not available to students who select the BA (Hons) Theatre and Performative Practices International Pathway from Second year onwards.

⁸

Greek: Students cannot continue with Greek in Second and Third Year.

⁹

Students can combine a subject from group 6(a) with a subject from 6(b) in first year.

¹⁰

Italian: Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Italian are recommended to have a minimum of Grade H4 in Italian in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students who have studied Italian at second level and obtained a grade below H4 can join the Beginners' Italian course.

¹¹

Spanish: Students wishing to take Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a Grade H4 in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in another modern continental language, or Irish, or Latin, or Greek. Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a minimum of Grade H4 in Spanish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).

¹²

Joint Honours and Visiting students wishing to take this module will need to consult with the module co-ordinator beforehand. Interview with relevant staff in order to be accepted onto module.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
2. A pass mark in all Theatre and Performative Practices modules with a mark of not less than 40% in each module,
3. A pass mark in at least one other subject with a mark of not less than 40% in each module, and
4. A mark of not less than 30% in the remaining subject (15 credits).

Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in a subject with modules to the value of 15 credits and pass the year overall.

Note: only subjects which are passed with at least 40% in each module in that subject may be continued in second and third year.

Students who pass a subject by compensation, can opt to resit this subject at the Autumn Supplemental Examination or in a repeat year if they wish to register for the subject in second year and third year. Students who do not reach the pass standard (at least 40% in the subject and at least 40% in each module in the subject) in Autumn, can use the result achieved in Summer to progress to Second Year but will not be allowed to register for this subject.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 50% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 40% and <50%

Award of Honours when a student undertakes Study Abroad
When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, the calculation of the final degree award is based on modules in the Book of Modules only.

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Study Abroad

• When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
• To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
• A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
  • At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
  • At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
• For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:

1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.

Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.

Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.