Drama
College of HumanitiesDramaResearchPostgraduate

Postgraduate research in Drama

We are an internationally recognised centre for research and we have a strong culture of excellence in learning and teaching provision.

We are one of the largest and best equipped Drama departments in the UK and offer a supportive and stimulating environment for postgraduate research and practice, welcoming students from all around the world. Our impressive reputation is backed up by consistently high scores for student satisfaction. Whatever your field of study – theatre, performing, directing, theory, writing for performance, dramaturgy, criticism, new media, analysis or historiography – you will have access to expert supervision, excellent practical resources and creative association with fellow students.

The department has a lively tradition of research and creative activity and many members of staff are writers and performers. We work with external artists and theatre companies to produce research-based theatre and performance. Students benefit from collaborations with organisations such as the Globe Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Institute, local and national theatre companies, and public sector bodies such as hospitals, prisons and schools.

Our research in the area of Art History and Visual Culture is interdisciplinary in scope, reaching across and beyond the Humanities disciplines.

Art History and Visual Culture staff publish on the history of art, curate exhibitions, work with a variety of arts institutions and lead major externally funded research projects on curatorial engagements with performance archives; the history of French art institutions; the history of Spanish cinema; Victorian medievalism; histories of sacred spaces; and the culture of the suburbs.

Explore our research centres and projects to find out more about our current research topics.

Visit our staff pages for details on individual staff research interests and publications.

Our current PhD students

We're proud of the research carried out by our PhD students. Follow the links below to find out more about our PhD students and their research projects.

StudentResearch titleFirst supervisorSecond supervisor
Clark Baim Applied theatre. Dr Kerrie Schaefer Dr Sarah Goldingay
Rebecca Benzie An investigation of contemporary playwrights using feminist and gender critiques Professor Katherine Newey Professor Jane Milling
Francesco Bentivegna The human-cyborg dialogue Konstantinos Thomaidis Bryan Brown
Sinibaldo De Rosa The Alevi Semah as Intangible Cultural Heritage and Transnational Transcendence. Professor Jerri Daboo John O'Connell
Nazlihan Eda Ercin Performing Virginity: A Practice-Led Research about the Perceptions and Practices of Virginity in Turkey Dr Natasha Lushetich Professor Jerri Daboo
Elaine Faull Theatre Alibi project Professor Cathy Turner  
Giselle Garcia Translation, Adaptation and Flanerie: the Fate of Shakespearean Performance in Manila's Urban Forms Dr Kara Reilly Professor Cathy Turner
Catherine Holmes Aerial Stars: Femininity, Celebrity and Glamour in the Representations of Female Aerialists in the UK and US in the 1920s and early 1930s Professor Katherine Newey Dr Adrian Curtin
Alexandra MacKenzie When you're here, we are here also. An examination of how contemporary sacred re-enactments reveal Mormon faith and strengthen Mormon Identity in the 21st century. Dr Sarah Goldingay Dr Rebecca Loukes
Aparna Mahiyaria Understanding Politics, Aesthetics and Performance: A Study of the Development of Street Theatre in Delhi, India Professor Cathy Turner Shivali Tukdeo
Kate Massey-Chase How can my Applied Drama practice support young people in the transition between Child and Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services? Professor Jane Milling  
Tom Nicholas Representations of regional English cities in contemporary drama Professor Cathy Turner Dr Katie Beswick
Elizabeth Philps Parents Performing Walking: how can understandings of walking performance be enhanced through participatory live art works which include children? Professor Cathy Turner Dr Rebecca Loukes
Alison Rockbrand Rite of Performance: Identity Construction in Contemporary Esoteric Performances. Dr Sarah Goldingay Professor David Wiles

Supervisors - all students have a primary and a secondary supervisor who provide regular, high quality advice, support and direction in their academic endeavours. You will work closely with your supervisors over three to four years (full time PhD) or six to seven (part-time PhD) to develop, investigate and write-up a project at the cutting edge of theological research.

Visit our staff profiles for more information about individual research interests or use the search box on the right of this page to find a supervisor.

Mentor - each student will also be assigned a mentor who will take on a pastoral role and mediate on any problems that arise during the period of study. Your mentor will keep in regular contact and will provide background stability and support.

Graduate School Office - the College of Humanities has a dedicated Graduate School Office that supports our postgraduate research students during their study with us. The Office promotes intellectual and social contact between research students in all our disciplines to foster a vibrant research community within the College.

Funding opportunities available to students on our research degree programmes in Drama:*

More information on the funding process.

AwardValueApplication deadlineDescription
2019 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for citizens of high income Commonwealth countries See CSC website for more information Wed 28th Aug 2019 Applications are now open for 2019 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for citizens of high income Commonwealth countries. Funded by the UK Department for Education (DfE), these scholarships support excellence in UK higher education and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth. Candidates will be selected based on their potential to lead in the pursuit of global excellence in research and knowledge, as well as academic merit and the quality of their plan of study.
Alumni scholarships for Doctoral-level study £750-£3,000 dependent on programme and fee status Sun 15th Sep 2019 A tuition fee discount is available to suitably qualified University of Exeter alumni starting a postgraduate research degree in the 2019/20 academic year.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship £750 - £3000 There is no application for this award. You will be automatically considered. A tuition fee discount for all University of Exeter alumni who start a postgraduate degree with us in September 2019.
Marshall Scholarships for graduate study Varies Mon 30th Sep 2019 Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom.
Fulbright Scholarships: Postgraduate Student Awards Full tuition waiver for one year of Masters / PhD & living stipend Tue 1st Oct 2019 Our UK Partnership award with Fulbright is available for Masters or Doctoral students wishing to study at the University. The award takes the form of a tuition fee waiver for the first year of graduate study (either Masters or PhD) and a living stipend (of £13,200 in 2019/20). We also accept scholars in receipt of Fulbright 'Open Awards' (also referred to as the All Disciplines Award).
Said Foundation Scholarships Varies Fri 1st Nov 2019 The Said Foundation offers around twenty postgraduate scholarships to nationals from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Syria who are also permanent residents in these target countries.
US Department of Education - Federal Student Loan Variable Tue 30th Jun 2020 The federal government offers a number of financial aid programs, including these loans, to help pay for your education.
FashionForest Scholarship 10,000 DKK (approx. £1,175 GBP) Deadline passed
(Fri 1st Mar 2019)		 The FashionForest scholarship is awarded yearly to one or more researchers, students and former students at Danish and foreign educational institutions who are in need of support for a theoretical or practical project in connection to an educational purpose.
Becas Chile (Conicyt) Fully funded Deadline passed
(Wed 8th May 2019)		 Postgraduate scholarships offered for studies in the UK, available for Chilean nationals (and others with permanent residence in Chile) in all areas except Management/MBA/Commercial Law and where the recipient will be expected to return to Chile on completion of their studies.
Sanctuary Scholarship Full tuition fee waiver plus annual living cost grant Deadline passed
(Fri 17th May 2019)		 The Sanctuary Scholarship scheme enables individuals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able access student finance to study at the University of Exeter.
Sports Scholarship and High Performance Programme up to £2000 plus additional support services & coaching Deadline passed
(Fri 31st May 2019)		 Sports scholarships are awarded to students of outstanding sporting ability who show evidence of achievement at international level in their chosen sport. We also encourage applications from students who have achieved at national or regional level for consideration onto our High Performance Programme.
Cornwall Heritage Trust Scholarship £1000 Deadline passed
(Thu 15th Aug 2019)		 A one year award of up to £1000 for one or more postgraduate students producing dissertations/theses centred on an aspect of Cornwall's heritage who will be registered for the coming academic year.
*Please note that if you have submitted an application to one of our MPhil/PhD programmes you will not automatically be considered for funding. You must submit a separate funding application, including all required supporting documents, via the link provided in each award to be considered for that award.

We are committed to ensuring you receive high quality research supervision to maximise your potential and prepare you for a rewarding career.

Postgraduate students have access to the wide range of support offered by our Career Zone. In addition, postgraduate research students can access our Postgraduate Researchers' Programme, which covers a range of topics to help you to succeed during your research degree and to act as a springboard for your research career.

Employers

Millennium Forum Theatre
Municipal and Regional Theatre of Veria
Oily Cart
Thammasat University
Theatre Royal
University of Exeter
University of Portsmouth
Volkstheater Wien
Yoda Press

Occupations

Actor
Assistant Director
Assistant Practitioner
Associate Lecturer in Drama
Drama Facilitator
Educational Assistant
Freelance Arts Practitioner
Freelance Trainer and Applied Dramatist
General Manager
Lecturer
Publishing Trainee
Social Activities Co-Ordinator
Teacher
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