Program Overview

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Theatre, Drama and Performance MPhil, PhD

Overview

Our PhD research programmes will allow you to join one of our research projects or explore your own interests in Theatre, Drama and Performance, supported by the expertise of our staff.

Full Description

At Anglia Ruskin, our theatre, drama and performance research focuses on twentieth-century, contemporary and experimental performance, interrogating both theatre-making processes and performance outcomes. It covers a broad spectrum of performance forms, including text-based theatre work; interdisciplinary and collaborative performance, involving such aspects as digital media, interculturalism, medicine, dance, physicality and music; devising and directing strategies; critical theory; and live art practice.

The interdisciplinary nature of our research creates a rich and stimulating environment for staff and students. You’ll benefit from a variety of research-oriented events, including our Faculty and Departmental research seminar series, performance events and international conferences.

We also enjoy links with the wider community, including local arts venues like The Junction, the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and Kettle's Yard; the University of Cambridge's Centre for Research into Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH); and various NHS health providers.

Completion Times

• MPhil: full-time 1-3 years, part-time 2-4 years.
• PhD via progression from MPhil, including that period: full-time 2.5-5 years, part-time 3.5-6 years.
• PhD: full-time 2-4 years, part-time 3-6 years.

Supervision and Support

Our staff are recognised as experts in their fields and have produced a number of influential books, journal articles, edited collections and creative artefacts.

• Dr Sue Wilson, BA, MA, PhD (Senior Lecturer): twentieth-century drama and literature; Samuel Beckett's plays and prose; postmodernism in performance, drama and literature; critical theory.

Where You'll Research

Your Department and Faculty

Using our creative expertise and industry connections in Cambridge and beyond, we create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

At Cambridge School of Creative Industries, we believe in the importance of experimentation and risk-taking to create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

Whether writing bestselling fiction, creating challenging documentaries or sharing a piano with people on the autism spectrum, the expertise of our staff goes far beyond teaching. Their research produces significant funding success, leading to important publications and international conferences.

Specialist Facilities

You’ll have access to the world-famous University of Cambridge Library, our own campus library and other local archives.

Our Faculty has a dedicated PhD room, where our doctoral students can all meet up to work and take an active part in our postgraduate student community.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (per year): £4,786
• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £2,392
• International students, 2024/25 (per year): £15,900
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £7,950

Bench Fees

In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.

Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.

We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.

If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview, and stated in your offer letter.

For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:

1. £500
2. £1,200
3. £2,200
4. £4,500
5. £8,900

PhD by Published Work

• Initial registration: £1,500
• Full registration: £4,500

Writing Up Fees 2024/25

• £1,200

Careers

We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, in areas like writing up a paper for publication; placing an academic article; giving a conference paper; the doctoral writing style; updates on research methods and literature searches; internet training; editing skills for doctoral research; subsequent monograph publication; and dealing with festivals, agents, and publishers. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department, or organise research events like seminars and conferences.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelor degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
• PhD: You’ll need a Master degree or equivalent in a related subject area.

Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.

If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.

Important Additional Notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the programme as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements. Contact our postgraduate research degree team for more information about studying a PhD, MPhil or Professional Doctorate at ARU.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.