University of Exeter campus

Arts & Humanities

MPhil/PhD Performance Practice at University of Exeter

University of Exeter, United Kingdom

Programme overview

Drama at Exeter is an internationally-renowned centre for practice, research and teaching, and offers a supportive and stimulating environment for postgraduate research and practice, welcoming students from around the world. MPhil/PhD Drama - The Department has always insisted on the importance of practice, and interest in research through practice is strongly welcomed. This might include a major interest in theatrical direction, performance, or playwriting associated with written study in the dissertation for drama. MPhil/PhD Performance Practice - The MPhil/PhD in Performance Practice offers you an opportunity to extend and reflect on your creative performance practice.

Duration: PhD: maximum 4 years full-time; MPhil: maximum 3 years full-time; part-time pro-rata (0.5-0.9 FTE)  |  Study mode: full-time / part-time (research degree)  |  Intake: September, January or April  |  Location: Exeter, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

We work through creative practice, historiography, socially-engaged research, ethnography and transdisciplinary collaboration. We have a particular interest in understanding the marginalizations and exclusions of British theatre cultures and industries; Asian performance cultures and diasporic practices; and the cultural aspects of contemporary concerns such as climate crisis, healthcare and urbanization, space and rurality. We research a wide range of performance practices, from taking a performance studies lens to everyday cultural activities, to analysing the significance of mainstream and popular theatre forms.

Career pathways

We are committed to ensuring you receive high quality research supervision to maximise your potential and prepare you for a rewarding career. Postgraduate students have access to the wide range of support offered by our Career Zone

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Normally a first degree equivalent to at least a UK 2:1 Honours degree (a 2:1 or equivalent is needed to be considered by the main funding bodies); relevant personal, professional and educational experience may also be considered for some programmes. Specific requirements vary by research topic. English language: Profile E (international applicants). Application deadlines: The application deadlines for September starters are: 30 June for International Applicants 31 July for Home Applicants. Applications received after these deadline dates and before 1 October

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,238 a year (2026/27). Home fee for 2027/28 to be announced; 2026/27 rate shown. Full-time; part-time pro-rata. Source

International applicants: GBP 24,450 a year (2027/28). Full-time. Source

Intake: September, January or April

Duration: PhD: maximum 4 years full-time; MPhil: maximum 3 years full-time; part-time pro-rata (0.5-0.9 FTE)

Apply through the official page: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/pg-research/apply/

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