Undergraduate Applications and Admissions

 

 

 

 

Equal Opportunities

Like the policy of Aberystwyth University, this department confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of equal consideration for all applicants to its schemes. No applicant for a place either at undergraduate or postgraduate level should receive less favourable treatment on grounds such as sex, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion, marital/parental status, or any comparable grounds.

 

 

 

Undergraduate Selection

The number of applicants considerably exceeds the number of places available. However, within the constraints placed upon us by sheer pressure of numbers, we are committed, as far as possible, to providing an opportunity for prospective students who are capable of benefiting from, and successfully completing, a degree course irrespective of their previous educational background. This Department prides itself on its policy of encouraging the admission of mature age, BTEC, HND and international students, (many of whom do not have conventional entrance requirements).

We welcome the development of Access courses as one route amongst many which should enhance the accessibility of Universities to candidates without conventional qualifications. In recent years over 30% of our intake was made up of students whose qualifications were other than that of the traditional A-level route.

However each application is individual and particular in itself and nowhere is this more evident than in the area of applications from mature students or those without formal qualifications. For these reasons, we recommend that potential applicants who fall into this category should contact Mr Nick Strong, Admissions Tutor, in the first instance, for an informal discussion.

 

 

 

 

Selection Criteria

We do not consider that auditions are appropriate as a measure of a student's ability to benefit from these schemes of study, nor do we generally consider interviews to be an appropriate method of selection except for mature students and other candidates presenting non traditional qualifications.
When we do interview prospective students, it is not actual academic attainment that we look for so much as the potential to benefit from the programme of study we offer. It is not necessary to have a substantial background knowledge of the subject, but the candidate must be able to show us that he/she has the necessary intelligence to acquire one. Independent and original thinking are vital to us.

One cannot but emphasise that the life of a Drama student is a busy one; assessed production work cannot be skimped and high levels of commitment and self-motivation are essential.

 

 

 

 

Academic Support

Having taken a significant proportion of our intake from students whose previous educational background may not have left them as prepared for the rigours of academic study as A-level students, the University is able to offer support in the form of additional tuition. This is provided by both the English language Centre, where appropriate, and by the Department itself. Those schools or colleges with which the Department has a Target Achievement Programme or similar link may benefit from an element of preparatory or bridging work. The Department was commended by the HEFCW panel for teaching quality assessment on its excellent record of value added to non-conventional entry students.

Academic Qualifications

Our criteria for selection are as follows:

Advanced subsidiary, Advanced GCE, Vocational Advanced Subsidiary and Vocational A Level and BTEC, depending upon the scheme being applied for 300 - 320 points.   We do not require A-level or GCSE Drama as a condition of entry, but for the Drama &Theatre Studies, Performance Studies and Scenography and Theatre design Studies schemes, English literature and/or Theatre Studies A-levels are preferred, but by no means essential. For Film and Television Studies (W620), and Media and Communication Studies (P300) all cognate A-levels are considered.

Clearing

Students may wonder whether the Department will consider them further if they fail to achieve the precise terms of the conditional offer made to them. The answer is that they may be, but that no decision can be made in any case until the Admissions process is completed shortly after the date in August when exam results become available to the University. Even where we are not able to offer a place we will do all we can to help individual students plan their future educational careers.

However it is most important that no prospective student, or any person telephoning on their behalf, should consider a telephone conversation anything but an informal discussion. Neither the University nor the Department will consider themselves as bound by anything but a written statement of intention. In all cases, therefore, candidates or their representatives are advised to confirm the impression formed in conversation on the telephone in writing with the Department's Admissions Tutor.

Educational Needs of Wales

In accordance with the University Charter, this department offers most courses through the medium of Welsh. In addition, there are a number of courses offered only through the medium of Welsh which reflect closely the Welsh experience of Theatre, Film and Television.

 

 

 

 

Deferred Entry

The Department welcomes deferred entry candidates.

Part-time Study

The Department also offers opportunities for part-time degree study. Candidates may spread the 360 credit attainment required for a degree over a period stretching between 4-6 years with a minimum annual requirement of 60 credits and a maximum of 80 credits.

For further information on any matters regarding Admissions Policy, contact:

Mr Nick Strong
Admissions Tutor
Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
Parry Williams Building,
Aberystwyth University,
Penglais Campus
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AJ
Telephone (01970) 622828
Fax (01970) 622831 Email:  nbs@aber.ac.uk