Program Overview

Professional Doctorate in Performing Arts is intended for practitioners across a range of performance-based disciplines who wish to make their practice the basis for doctoral study; indicatively theatre directing, acting, dance, music or technical practice such as sound and lighting. Unlike a traditional PhD, performance replaces the thesis as the main evidence of research, supported by a written report. It is designed for creative practitioners from the UK and abroad and can be undertaken 3 years full time study and 5 years part time.

It differs from practice-based PhD in that students arrive with a creative practice to be analysed and developed rather than a research ‘project’ to be carried out and are supported by specialist supervisory teams and a series of work in progress seminars which are the backbone of the programme. The programme is practice based and industry facing and gives students the support and environment to develop their creative and professional practice and theoretical research to a doctoral professional standard.

This Professional Doctorate is for performers and creatives who wish to develop their practice and gain a PhD which opens pathways into academia, research and the wider creative and performance industries.