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MFA Theatre Practice

Overview

Designed for aspiring theatre practitioners and cultural leaders, this distinctive two-year MFA offers advanced training in performance, cultural leadership, and socially engaged practice - equipping students to innovate and lead across diverse creative and community contexts.

Key Features

• A distinct two-year programme from a top Russell Group university that extends the foundations of the MA Theatre Practice into a second year that enables you to prepare and design a meaningful career trajectory.
• In your second year, you will have opportunities to shadow, assist and observe change-making practice in professional arts, cultural, education, and community settings.
• Dedicated time, space and support to gain new and refreshed insight into your professional practice in a location of outstanding natural beauty, with access to world-leading research facilities and professional performance spaces.
• This programme will connect you to a rich community of international peers, artists, researchers and teaching staff who are leaders in their field.
• Work closely with regional arts organisations and sector-leading national organisations, such as the world-renowned Globe Theatre in London.
• Options to develop project-based learning with professional theatre makers and cultural leaders that connects to your area of interest.
• You will have the opportunity to extend your portfolio of practice into teaching environments and cultural contexts, with developmental exercises and mentorship.
• Exciting postgraduate exchange and collaboration, shared learning across leading practitioner talks, activities and workshops. You will have access to the Exeter Digital Archives, one of the largest collections of recorded training and performance sessions in the world. Teaching staff run professional companies and regularly collaborate with world-leading theatre organisations and culture centres.

Entry Requirements

• We are looking for graduates with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in their first degree in drama.
• While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criterion, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.
• Practical and/or professional experience may be taken as constituting the equivalent of a degree qualification.
• Applicants are invited to submit a portfolio, including videos excerpts from previous performances or links to others types of material.

Course Content

Year 1

• 180 credits of compulsory modules
• Compulsory modules:
  • CDFM001 Dissertation - Written (60 credits)
  • CDFM002 Dissertation - Practice (60 credits)
  • DRAM103 Cultural Adaptation (30 credits)
  • DRAM167 Contemporary Performance Practices: Training (45 credits)
  • DRAM168 Performance Practice Project (45 credits)

Year 2

• 180 credits of compulsory modules
• Compulsory modules:
  • DRAM152 Extending Your Practice: Teaching and Facilitation (60 credits)
  • DRAM153 Changing Cultural Leadership (60 credits)
  • DRAM154 Independent Project (60 credits)

Fees

2025/26 entry

• UK fees per year: £12,500 full-time; £6,250 part-time
• International fees per year: £25,300 full-time; £12,650 part-time

Scholarships

• The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships.
• University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship: We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone taught Masters degree (eg MA, MSc, MRes, MFA, LLM, PGCert, PGDip) or research degree (eg MPhil, PhD) with us a scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees. These scholarships are worth 20% of the first year tuition fee for students enrolling on a postgraduate taught or research programme of study in 2025/26.

Teaching and Research

Course Structure

• Year 1 will introduce you to significant international practices and the core aspects of the theatre-maker’s craft: physical and vocal training, ensemble-making and collaboration, creativity, dramaturgy, directing and devising, space, design and technology.
• Year 2 extends your practice via three distinct modules that enhance your professional portfolio and networks, setting you up for post-degree working life.

Teaching

• Our teaching draws from the department's world-leading research and professional sector expertise.
• Our staff run professional companies and frequently collaborate with renowned theatre organisations and cultural centres.
• Throughout the year, esteemed visiting speakers and practitioners will help enrich your learning.

Research

• Our research is wide ranging, international and interdisciplinary.
• We engage with the ethical, political and social challenges of our time, through the lens of practice, performance and facilitation.
• We have a well-established reputation for excellence in contemporary performance practice, cultural leadership and applied/community theatre.

Facilities

• As one of the country's largest and best-equipped Drama departments, we offer excellent teaching and performance spaces.
• The Alexander Building houses studios, seminar rooms, sound studios, meeting rooms, computer suites, workshops, and a costume store.
• Roborough Studios provides three fully equipped adaptable studio spaces, a seminar room, and technical facilities for performances, rehearsals, and practical sessions.
• Additionally, the White House offers three large rehearsal spaces.

Careers

• Our MFA programme opens doors to diverse career opportunities.
• Across the two years you will be equipped with advanced critical and creative skills, cross-sector knowledge, rigorous training and professional experience.
• Key areas of work and career may include:
  • Substantive creatives and artists in a range of contexts: actors, directors, performer trainers, choreographers, designers, production managers
  • Cultural and community leaders, artistic directors, facilitators, entrepreneurs, creative sector directors and innovators
  • Teachers, researchers, facilitators, coaches and space holders in international college and higher education contexts
  • Facilitators and leaders in community and socially engaged contexts

Graduate Destinations

• Upon graduation, you'll be well-prepared for roles as advanced educators, cultural leaders, academics, or you could use your professional transferable skills in other leadership positions.
• The programme also nurtures research expertise, enabling graduates to pursue future roles as global researchers with profound knowledge in practice-research and creative analysis, positioning them for high-level roles.
• Alumni from our department have achieved remarkable careers, from running theatre companies to becoming academics in international universities, arts curators, and cultural leaders.