level:PG;top_up:false;international:true;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:true;part_time:true;start_month:October, March;location:Waterside
Drama MPhil/PhD including Practice-Based in the Arts/PhD by Published works
Key Facts
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Duration
MPhil: Full time 12 months - 3 years, Part time 30 months - 5 years
PhD: Full time 2 years - 4 years, Part time 3 years - 6 years
PhD by Published Works: 1 - 2 years -
Level
PostgraduatePG PhD
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See Fees and Funding
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See Fees and Funding
Updated 10/12/2025
Updated 10/12/2025
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Overview
This Drama MPhil/PhD/PhD by Published Works curriculum offers a great way to advance your knowledge and research abilities if you have a degree in drama or a related field. You will be awarded a Level 8 qualification, which is the highest formal certification you may obtain in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, upon successfully defending the final thesis. This will provide you with a fantastic chance to advance into higher management roles within your area of expertise. We accept a range of projects and provide supervision in many different disciplines. Learn more about the Art and Design Research Centre and the Centre for Cultural and Literary Studies.
The closing dates for applications of the next October intake is the 1 August and for the next March intake is the 11 December.
Highlights
- This course is unique to the University of Northampton
- We can supervise topics including: Gender and Sexuality in Performance, Queer Theatre and Performance Practices, Applied and Socially Engaged Theatre, Historiography, The Archive, and Marginalised Identities, Cultural Politics and Contemporary Performance Practices.
- We offer opportunities to develop interdisciplinary study and Practice as Research projects.
Entry Requirements
You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second-class standard in a related area. International equivalent qualifications will also be considered.
Or
We require a UK Masters degree (or equivalent international qualification) in a relevant subject, or relevant professional qualifications and relevant experience in an associated area.
You might also be considered with lower-level qualifications or your degree is in an unrelated field, but you must have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate Research level.
All suitable candidates will be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
All offers of a place on the programme are conditional on:
- a successful interview.
- an appropriate Research Supervision Team.
Please read our How to Apply page for further information on how to apply to study with us, how to discover a possible Supervisor, and what documents are necessary as part of the application process.
More information about the research degrees may be found on our Graduate school page.
All teaching at the University of Northampton is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.
The scores we require:
- IELTS: 7.0 overall. Writing 6.5. No other subscore lower than 6.5 (or an equivalent English Language qualification) to study this programme
Applications with IELTS lower than 5.5 in all components will not be considered.
What You'll Learn
The Art and Design Research Centre and the Centre for Cultural and Literary Studies are the ideal place to undertake your Drama PhD research. To broaden your expertise and strengthen your research, writing, presenting, and practising abilities, you will first get general, discipline-based, and project-specific training while creating and establishing research projects so that you may perform your research work successfully and autonomously.
Throughout your project, you will be overseen by University of Northampton Drama Academics who are experts in their fields and will lead you through the process with frequent in-person or online seminars. After completing this course, you will be able to obtain research and development positions in the industry, advance into an academic career, or enter business at a managerial level.
What is the difference between a full PhD and a PhD by Published works?
A PhD involves conducting original research and writing a thesis, while a PhD by Published Works is awarded based on a collection of previously published papers demonstrating significant contributions to the field. Additional information about choosing your type of research degree can be found on our How to apply for Research degree study page.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
- UK – Full Time: £5,700
- UK – Part Time: £2,845
- International – Full Time: £16,350
- International – Part Time: £7,640
Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works
Including: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by means of published works.
- UK – Part Time: £3,600
- International – Part Time: £7,840
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
- UK – Full Time: £5,500
- UK – Part Time: £2,775
- International – Full Time: £15,950
- International – Part Time: £7,450
Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works.
Including: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by means of published works.
- UK – Part Time: £3,500
- International – Part Time: £7,650