The MA in English and Drama offers an exciting opportunity to specialise in the study of dramatic texts and theatre history while maintaining a range of interests within the field of literary studies more broadly. You will work with leading experts in Shakespeare and early modern drama, theatre history, and modern performance theory and practice.

This MA combines a focus on dramatic texts and theatrical performance, and includes the option of a professional placement or an extended practical project. In addition to the core module in Drama and Performance theory, you will study three modules of your choice, and write a dissertation on an (approved) topic with a specialised supervisor.

Core Modules

• Drama and Performance Theory
• Dissertation

Optional Modules

Previously, a selection of the following options have been offered:

• Shakespeare in Performance
• The British Dramatist in Society since 1965
• The Development of English Drama 1558-1659
• Reviewing Shakespeare

Course structure

The MA in English and Drama comprises a Research Methods module, the core module, Drama and Performance Theory, three further optional modules, and either a Dissertation of 16,000 words OR a professional placement OR an extended practical project. You can take one of your three optional modules from outside of the department, including the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning.

Dissertation

The Dissertation offers you the opportunity to pursue your own distinct research interests. You can develop any idea you’ve discovered in your modules, or write on a completely new topic that has always fascinated you. Our students choose an array of topics, although we’ll discuss with you to make sure your subject can be supported by an available member of our teaching staff.

Students often use MA dissertations as springboards to PhD projects, and have sometimes gone on to publish parts of their work in scholarly journals.

You will attend a series of workshops in the autumn term designed to help shape your general ideas into a feasible proposal. You will submit a full proposal towards the end of the autumn term and be assigned an appropriate supervisor. You will begin preliminary work on your dissertation in spring.

Professional Practice or Practice-as-Research

You may choose one of these options instead of a dissertation.

The Professional Practice dissertation allows you to undertake a six-week placement with a professional theatre company or similar organisation, developing your knowledge of professional practice in the fields of literature, theatre or performance. You will need to approach the organisation you plan to work with, and the department will support you in this. You will use your placement to explore clearly-articulated research questions, and reflect critically upon these questions in a written submission. The Practice-as-Research dissertation, meanwhile, offers the opportunity to undertake a research process that leads to the creation of an artistic output (such as a script or a performance).

The department offers further information on the English and Drama MA.

Class Sizes

• Seminars will each consist of 5 to 10 students.

Assessment

All essays are marked by two members of staff. The standard length for essays for modules on this course is 6,000 words; the Dissertation is 16,000 words. Marks are given out of 100.

Warwick's English Department offers further information on the English and Drama MA.

Minimum requirements 65% in an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject

English language requirements Band C
IELTS overall score of 7.5, minimum component scores of two at 6.5/7.0 and the rest at 7.5 or above

International Students
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information please visit the international entry requirements page.

For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home, EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's Fees and Funding webpage.

Scholarships

Bursaries where available are listed on the departmental website.

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: Deloitte; International Institute for Environment and Development; TeachFirst; The Times; V&A Museum; Yale University Press. They have pursued roles such as: arts officers, producers and directors; higher education teaching professionals; journalists, newspaper and periodical editors; management consultants and business analysts and marketing associate professionals.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Understanding Assessment Centres
• Careers following your English and Comparative Literary Studies Degree
• Discovering Careers in the Creative Industries
• Careers in Publishing and Journalism
• Freelancing
• Careers in the Public Sector
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

There are a number of different ways to visit the University of Warwick throughout the year. We host bespoke PG visits, where you can talk directly with your chosen department and explore our campus through a personalised tour. Some departments also host their own events and open days, where you can learn more about your department or course of study. To find out more about all of these opportunities, visit our Postgraduate Visits page.