Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MFA Theatre Practice
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MFA Theatre Practice | Programme code | PTF2DRADRA01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Level 1 |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The MFA is a distinct two-year programme that equips and inspires the creative practitioners, teachers and cultural leaders of the future, for the future. In times of rapid change and uncertainty, how we create, lead, hold, empower and communicate with people is more important than ever. We believe in developing technically skilled, versatile creatives prepared to deliver in a variety of contexts, working as intellectually brave and imaginative practitioners and facilitators. The programme appeals to those who have experience or interest in cultural leadership, practice led teaching, performer training, acting, directing, movement direction, devising, cross-cultural theatre and contemporary adaptation, or theatre and performance research. We aim to empower our MFA graduates with rigor and care; the end of your degree should feel like the beginning of what’s next for your creative and working life. You will graduate with an enhanced professional portfolio rooted in the sector, strong professional networks and an understanding of how to situate and advocate for yourself in the field.
The programme offers a framework of studio and seminar-based modules that address a range of interests and professional ambitions. The programme appeals to experienced practitioners who want to develop, deepen and contextualise their practice; graduates who are planning a career in the arts industry, cultural leadership and/or arts education (in schools, colleges, universities and non-formal education); and those who want to extend their practice into aspects of drama and performance making.
YEAR 1 introduces 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; sound and space design and technology. In Year 1 you will explore the variety, richness and range of such practices, with opportunities for you to focus on the elements of practice that most interest you. You will be able to specialise, deepen and hone your understanding of one or more key areas of practice. You will regularly take part in ‘Toolkit’ sessions with visiting specialists, masterclasses and training. You will develop full-length projects (solo or ensemble), with support by our expert staff and tech team. If you choose, you can perform your pieces to festivals of theatre work hosted by the University of Exeter and beyond. You will have opportunity to self-reflect throughout and embed this into your process. This is as valuable for students who come with a substantive body of practice as it is for students with more limited experience. We value that each learning journey is unique.
YEAR 2 of the MFA extends your practice via three distinct experiential and practice led modules that enhance your professional portfolio and networks (influence and embodied leadership, teaching and facilitation and a final student designed project that maps onto your professional ambitions), setting you up for post degree working life. You will have opportunities to shadow, assist and observe change-making professional practice in arts, cultural, education, and socially engaged settings. With a culminating project of your design.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The MFA programme aims to:
- Enable you to demonstrate self-direction and originality in performance, and act autonomously in planning and implementing performance and professional practice
- Enhance performance, facilitation and leadership skills and to bring those skills into creative practice and a range of working spaces.
- Enhance your professional practice and enable you to prepare and design a meaningful career trajectory.
- Prepare you with industry and post graduate exchange and collaboration, shared learning across leading practitioner talks, activities and workshops.
- Connect you to a rich community of international peers, artists, researchers and teaching
- Give 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 organizations and culture centres
- Offer you dedicated time, space and support to gain refreshed insight into your professional practice, with access to world-leading research facilities and professional performance spaces.
- Offer you opportunities to improve and harness your employability and transferrable skillset. To shadow, assist and observe change-making practice in sector leading industry, arts, cultural, education, and socially engaged settings, culminating in a project of your design. *You may be eligible to opt and take part in the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE) programme and other CPD opportunities, subject to approval.
4. Programme Structure
The MFA Theatre Practice is a 2-year full-time programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into two stages. Each stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
2-year, 2-stage MFA (360 credits)
Stage 1
180 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules
aChoose either CDFM001 Dissertation - Written or CDFM002 Dissertation - Practice. You cannot choose more than one module from this group.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDFM001 | Dissertation - Written [See Note a] | 60 | Yes |
| CDFM002 | Dissertation - Practice [See Note a] | 60 | Yes |
| DRAM103 | Cultural Adaptation | 30 | No |
| DRAM167 | Contemporary Performance Practices: Training | 45 | No |
| DRAM168 | Performance Practice Project | 45 | No |
Stage 2
180 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAM152 | Extending Your Practice: Teaching and Facilitation | 60 | Yes |
| DRAM153 | Changing Cultural Leadership | 60 | Yes |
| DRAM154 | Independent Project | 60 | Yes |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Observe, apply and evaluate a range of high-quality facilitation, leading, teaching, assessment, feedback and evaluation methods to support learning and people engagement through theatre practice; |
|
|
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the different methodologies for teaching and facilitating theatre, be able to articulate and situate your own approach within the theoretical discourse; |
| Academic staff assess the following outputs: Assessment is via seminar presentations, essays, process contributions, presentations or demonstrations of performance or workshop practice, reflective portfolios, creative portfolios, and a dissertation, which can be conducted as a written research project or as a performance (or other form of creative practice), workshop or placement project with written component Performances are marked by first and second markers. An external examiner moderates across the range of all assignments. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
13. Work with an advanced knowledge of listening and people centred communication skills, to better advocate for change and innovation models in a range of working contexts; |
| Academic staff assess the following outputs: Assessment is via seminar presentations, essays, process contributions, presentations or demonstrations of performance or workshop practice, reflective portfolios, creative portfolios, and a dissertation, which can be conducted as a written research project or as a performance (or other form of creative practice), workshop or placement project with written component Performances are marked by first and second markers. An external examiner moderates across the range of all assignments. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
All students on the MFA Theatre Practice will have a personal tutor for their entire programme of study. Such personal tutors will be available at advertised ‘office hours’ (staff changes can occur due to Research Leave, etc.). A personal tutoring system will operate with regular communication throughout the programme. Academic support is also provided by module leaders. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff, and where appropriate, expert guest tutors can act as industry mentors for your Independent Project.
*You may be eligible to opt and take part in the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE) programme and other portfolio enhancing Continuing Professional Development opportunities, subject to approval. This is a useful qualification for your CV in terms of teaching in higher education in the UK.
Useful information and student resources can be accessed via the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE): http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/login/index.php, which has specific information on library skills, essay writing and research skills.
Programme handbooks and other useful information can be accessed via the student intranet
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MFA Theatre Practice
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 360 |
ECTS credits | 180 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 03/04/2025 |
Date of last revision |
|---|
