Drama by Research

Entry requirements

MA in Drama by Research

An MA in a relevant humanities subject. In certain circumstances the School will consider candidates who have not followed a conventional education path. The potential supervisor and Director of Graduate Studies individually assess such cases. Regarding the regulation on entry requirement waivers please see paragraph five in Annex C of the Research Code of Practice.

PhD in Drama by Research

Candidates should normally have a minimum of a good 2.1 at degree level and an MA in drama or an appropriate related subject. In certain circumstances the School will consider candidates who have not followed a conventional education path. The potential supervisor and Director of Graduate Studies individually assess such cases. Reference should be made to Annex C of the Research Code of Practice regarding the regulations on entry requirements.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

Drama at Kent is known for its dynamic and inclusive research community. Whether you are interested in acting, directing, physical theatre, accessibility and disability, history, dance, psychology, philosophy, gender, comedy, popular performance, or politics, we have the academic expertise to support your research.

With access to specialist supervision, excellent resources including unique archives, and a vibrant research community which welcomes everyone from ‘Fresher to Professor’, your time at Kent will be enjoyable and stimulating.

A PhD or MA by Research in Drama will enable you to conduct original research under the guidance of your team of your supervisors. We welcome enquiries on any topic.

During your time at Kent you will have a minimum of two supervisors who will support and guide you through your academic and professional development. You will meet regularly with your supervisor(s) who will not only guide your research but will also help you to identify areas where you may require further training or support. A series of reviews will take place throughout your studies in order to ensure that your research stays on track and that you have all the necessary support and resources required to successfully complete it. The final thesis will be up to 100,000 words in length and will be examined through a viva. For the MA-R, the final thesis is up to 40,000 words in length.

Current PhDs reflect our diversity, with topics including actor training, autism, East Asian comedy, community theatre, Absurdism, live art, Shakespeare, translation and adaptation, Greek theatre, Grotowski, stand-up, eighteenth-century acting, neurodivergent performance, and accessibility.

You may be eligible to apply for a fully-funded PhD scholarship. Scholarship opportunities may include the Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarship (GTA) and the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE) collaborative doctoral award. For further information and eligibility requirements, please see our Scholarship website.

Information for international students

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

English language entry requirements

The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.

For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways

Fees and funding

Please see our funding pages for the most current information.