Drama and performing arts staff at QMU are a mix of arts practitioners and academic researchers . Award-winning staff have produced work for a variety of commercial , cultural , educational and local government clients , and have exhibited and performed their work at festivals in the UK and internationally .
As the home of numerous international theatre , film and television festivals , Edinburgh is the ideal place to study the creative arts . There are five purpose-built theatres showing everything from major West End hits to innovative , risk-taking new writing . For film , it boasts two art-house cinemas , five multiplexes and two smaller cinemas , and the city is frequently used as a location for film and television shoots .
Approach to learning and teaching
All of our drama and performing arts courses combine academic enquiry with opportunities for practical production , and the balance between theory and practice will vary depending on the degree that you undertake . However , alongside traditional lectures and tutorials , all of our courses include creative workshops , opportunities to work on live performances in a variety of roles and invaluable industry-based learning opportunities . There are core modules at the heart of each of the courses complemented by electives and options that let you specialise in areas relevant to your future career path . No matter what options you choose you will be encouraged to examine the creative process closely , find your own style , develop your critical consciousness and think for yourself both creatively and as an entrepreneur .
Our approach to learning fosters collaboration , with students from different courses often working together on productions and creative projects . For example , the work of costume design undergraduates can come in very handy for those on the acting and performance course . It is a natural and creative way to prepare for real-life team work after graduation . For performance activity , the University has a fully equipped and licensed studio theatre and five rehearsal studios , two of which have sprung floors to facilitate movement work . We have a costume design and construction workshop , and a green screen studio . The division has digital editing suites and postproduction facilities where students have access to Adobe creative editing software including Adobe Premiere , After Effects , Photoshop and Audition .
Through our wide range of industry connections , students have regular opportunities to hear directly from those working across the creative and cultural industries and a number of modules offer students the chance to undertake industry-based learning through going on placement or undertaking real-world client projects . Starting in their first year , students are encouraged to see themselves as future contributors to the creative sector in Scotland , the UK and internationally . At every level , students have the opportunity to develop vital creative enterprise skills including collaborative working , new business development , company formation , budgeting , pitching and presenting , fundraising , design thinking , idea formation and social media management . We design our assessments to put these skills into practice , therefore our graduates are well prepared for the work needed to develop a sustainable career in the creative and cultural industries .
Many of our students snap up the opportunity to study for a semester abroad during their course and we have university partners in Australia , Canada and the USA ( subject to availability ).
Research
Creativity is in your bones forever , and our staff are active as creators and researchers . Current staff research topics include cutting-edge work on digital performance , intercultural theatre training , collaborative devising practices , contemporary Scottish dramaturgy , film adaptation , placebased performance , cultural participation , theatre anthropology , fandom , community festivals and art in healthcare .
Career prospects
At QMU we recognise the phenomenal potential that exists within the creative and cultural industries in Scotland and our courses open up a multitude of career opportunities , ranging from creative practice to arts and festival management , producing , teaching , directing , fundraising and marketing . However , we know that establishing a sustainable career in this sector requires adaptable and resilient graduates who have a diverse range of knowledge and skills . Creative workers are far more likely to be self-employed or working for SMEs and need to be as skilled in managing a business as they are in developing their creative practice . As such , we provide support and mentorship for setting up new businesses through the Business Gateway office located on campus and QMU ’ s Business Development Team . Since 2016 students have been able to establish start-up companies within our BIZ , and our Performing Arts graduates have been some of the most prolific in launching new business ventures , many of them social enterprises .
Get ready for the performance of your life .
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