Best universities for Drama (2026)

88 UK universities teaching Drama as a full-time degree, ranked on graduate pay, jobs, student satisfaction, students staying on and entry points.

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#	University	Score	Salary 5 yrs on	Working or studying	Satisfied	Typical UCAS
1	University of Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	70	£33k	90%	90%	152
2	University of Exeter Exeter, South West · TEF Gold	65	£28.5k	—	82%	152
3	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	64	£30k	90%	81%	168
4	University of Glasgow Scotland	63	£28.5k	92%	83%	216
5	University of Edinburgh Scotland	63	£27k	95%	97%	168
6	Guildhall School of Music & Drama City of London, London · TEF Gold	62	£28k	95%	79%	136
7	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	61	£29k	85%	88%	152
8	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	61	£29k	85%	92%	136
9	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	60	£27k	90%	86%	136
10	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	59	£27.5k	90%	89%	136
11	University of Surrey Guildford, South East · TEF Silver	58	£28.5k	95%	70%	152
12	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	58	£27.5k	80%	81%	152
13	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	58	£27k	85%	86%	136
14	Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Scotland	58	£26.5k	95%	83%	184
15	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	57	£28k	90%	84%	136
16	Queen Mary University of London Tower Hamlets, London · TEF Silver	57	£27k	—	78%	152
17	Drama Studio London Ealing, London	57	£24.5k	90%	83%	152
18	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Hammersmith and Fulham, London	57	—	100%	85%	104
19	Performance Preparation Academy Leicester, East Midlands	56	£25k	—	92%	136
20	University of Derby Derby, East Midlands · TEF Gold	56	£23k	90%	90%	128
21	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	55	£29k	80%	85%	120
22	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	55	£24k	—	88%	120
23	Norwich University of the Arts Norwich, East of England · TEF Gold	55	£23.5k	90%	90%	120
24	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	54	£27k	90%	86%	120
25	University of Northampton West Northamptonshire, East Midlands · TEF Silver	54	£25k	90%	88%	120
26	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	54	£23.5k	—	87%	184
27	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	54	£23.5k	—	90%	136
28	University of Wales: Trinity Saint David Swansea, Wales	54	£22k	100%	83%	152
29	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	54	—	95%	74%	136
30	Brunel University of London Hillingdon, London · TEF Bronze	53	£30.5k	85%	74%	136
31	De Montfort University Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Silver	53	£25k	95%	87%	112
32	Leeds Arts University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	53	£25k	90%	90%	120
33	Birmingham City University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	53	£23.5k	90%	89%	136
34	University of Chichester Chichester, South East · TEF Gold	53	£22.5k	88%	92%	120
35	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	52	£25.5k	95%	69%	120
36	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	52	£25.5k	88%	87%	104
37	London South Bank University Southwark, London · TEF Silver	52	£25.5k	85%	90%	120
38	University of West London Ealing, London · TEF Silver	52	£25.5k	90%	85%	120
39	University of the Arts, London Southwark, London · TEF Bronze	52	£25.5k	95%	81%	136
40	Bath Spa University Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Silver	52	£24.5k	93%	82%	120
41	University of Huddersfield Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	52	£24.5k	90%	78%	120
42	Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales	52	£23.5k	100%	82%	104
43	Leeds Conservatoire Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	52	£23.5k	95%	76%	136
44	Arts University Bournemouth, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	51	£24k	90%	85%	120
45	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	51	£24k	90%	94%	104
46	Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	50	£24.5k	85%	75%	120
47	Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance Bexley, London · TEF Silver	50	£22.5k	93%	83%	128
48	University of Central Lancashire Preston, North West · TEF Silver	50	£22.5k	85%	99%	120
49	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	50	£22.5k	95%	89%	104
50	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Camden, London · TEF Silver	49	£29.5k	85%	55%	120

How the score works: universities are compared within each subject on salary five years after graduating (27%), the share in work or further study (18%), student satisfaction (18%), students staying on (13.5%), typical UCAS points (13.5%, compared within each nation) and the TEF rating (10%, England). 50 is typical. Figures: Discover Uni (Office for Students, HESA), National Student Survey, Graduate Outcomes, HMRC LEO earnings; full-time first degrees.

Questions

What is the best university for Drama?

On our measures University of Warwick ranks first for Drama, followed by University of Exeter, University of Bristol, University of Glasgow. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Drama graduates earn the most?

University of Warwick: typical earnings of £33k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).