Location
Streatham Campus, Exeter
We welcome applications from students wishing to research towards MPhil or PhD degrees in Drama. There is no formal restriction on subject matter, providing there is a member of staff competent to supervise in a proposed area. See our staff research interests for details. This is a rare opportunity to be able to work on a one-to-one basis with a supervisor who is an expert in your chosen field of research.
Whatever your area of study in the wide field of theatre and music, you will have access to expert specialist supervision and excellent practical resources, and be able to rely upon support and stimulus from fellow students and members of staff.
The Drama department has a lively tradition of research and creative activity, and by choosing to come to Exeter you will contribute to that impressive reputation.
What is an MPhil or PhD?
Both MPhil and PhD research degrees involve an extensive investigation of a particular topic.
MPhil research takes a maximum of three years to complete full-time, or five years part-time, and is assessed by the submission of a dissertation of up to 60,000 words. The PhD takes a maximum of four years full-time and seven years part-time and the results of your research will normally be assessed by a written thesis of up to 100,000 words and oral examination. The PhD is only awarded when the results of your investigation make an original contribution to knowledge in the field.
A PhD is the highest qualification that a university can award and offers a challenging and exciting opportunity to work at the cutting-edge of research: if you have these qualities Exeter can offer a very supportive environment in which to pursue research.
Advice for PhD applicants
Our online learning resource 'Considering a UK PhD?' provides lots of helpful advice and information from staff and students about the PhD experience at Exeter.
You may wish to read our general advice for PhD applicants webpages, which give tips on how to put together a successful research degree application.
Applicants for research programmes are also advised to visit the College's webpages to check for specific advice (see further information link). Here you will be able to find out about staff research interests and make preliminary enquiries about supervision. We advise that you do this before applying.
The Department of Drama at the University of Exeter is a welcoming and friendly place to study – it feels like home now – and in spite of that ease, I still am in awe of some of the writing and research which emerges from my colleagues. There are some truly exceptional thinkers and writers here; it’s a nice balance between feeling challenged and at home at the same time.
Through my involvement as a tutor in the Drama department and my own PhD research, I’ve had a chance to work with some outstanding undergraduate students, other inspirational researchers, and to develop outreach projects. The ongoing work with Devon Youth Theatre and Devon County Council’s arts programme – DAISI – has been a very special outcome. The young people who have taken part in this and other PhD pilot projects remind me why this kind of work matters.
In addition, participation in the Applied Drama Conference in 2008 was an outstanding experience – it brought us in contact with other practitioners from around the world and really made us feel proud to be a part of this university.
I decided on this department because of the outstanding practice and research support within the Drama department and the opportunity to engage with enthusiastic undergraduates as a tutor. The Drama department’s commitment to outreach and widening participation practice, particularly with the Applied fields, is an inspiration and I wanted to be a part of that.
I think the size and shape of the department means that you can make a mark – that your work matters, but also that you will come in contact with other researchers and practitioners who influence and challenge you.
Erin Walcon, PhD Drama 2010
