MA by Research in Theatre and Performance Studies (2025 Entry)
Explore our Theatre and Performance Studies Master's by Research degree at Warwick
Our MA by Research in Theatre and Performance Studies offers a unique opportunity to design a bespoke programme of research in a department with a strong international reputation for research excellence. This degree offers the flexibility to undertake a written thesis or a combination of practice as research and written component.
Course overview
The degree of an MA by Research in Theatre and Performance studies offers you the opportunity to design a bespoke programme of original and independent research at a leading department in the discipline.
The MA by Research is designed to be flexible in terms of the topic and the assessed format you undertake. Subject to the approval of the department, your degree may culminate in a 30,000-40,000 word thesis or a combination of practice as research that may involve performance, curation, writing for performance, translation, applied theatre projects or digital outcome alongside a shorter thesis.
Supervision for MA students will be provided by academic researchers with significant experience of undertaking research across a range of topics in theatre and performance research. Your supervisor or co-supervisors will support and guide you from the application stage to the completion of your research. We supervise a wide range of students from a variety of different countries and backgrounds and welcome this diversity among our student body.
Teaching and learning
As a research student, your closest contact will be with your supervisor, or co-supervisors, who will meet with you regularly to discuss your work. The supervisory relationship is at the heart of your research. Your supervisor(s) are experts in their field who will guide you throughout your degree and will agree upon a programme of reading, research and writing with you.
You will also be allocated a mentor in the department to whom you may address matters related to your study.
Throughout your degree you will be integrated into the theatre and performance postgraduate community, have opportunities to undertake professional skills training and be encouraged to attend research events and workshops both in the department and the wider university.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Our research
Research in the department is transnational, collaborative and interdisciplinary and is focused on the following main - but overlapping - research themes:
- Ethics, Politics, Praxis
- Cities, Places, Environments (Identities)
- Memories, Histories, Futures
- Theory, Aesthetics and the Popular
- Creative Industries and the Value of Culture
Find a supervisor
Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.
You should start by checking whether your proposal fits in with our areas of expertise on our researchLink opens in a new window and peopleLink opens in a new window pages.
Then please fill in a research degree inquiry form for theatre and performance studies available on theatre and performance studies postgraduate webpage.
You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.Link opens in a new window
Research proposals
Please contact the Department directly before applying.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Find your research course fees
Fee Status Guidance
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
Find out more about how universities assess fee status
Additional course costs
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
Theatre and Performance Studies
Explore the world through the lens of Theatre and Performance Studies with one of the top departments in the UK.
Offering academic rigour, practical skills and connections with the industry, this degree has career prospects both within the arts sector and far beyond. You’ll be taught by world-leading academics and cutting-edge theatre practitioners.
Get to know us better by exploring our departmental website.Link opens in a new window
How to apply
Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.
For research courses that start in September and October 2025 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2025. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.
How to apply for a postgraduate research course
After you’ve applied
Find out how we process your application.
Applicant Portal
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Admissions statement
See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.
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We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:
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8th in the UK
in the Guardian University Guide 2025
6th Most Targeted University
by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)
69th in the World
out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)
5th best student city in the UK
Coventry is ranked as the 5th Best Student City in the UK, and 40th in the world (Best Student Cities, QS World University Guide 2023)
Gold standard teaching
Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
92% of our research
was assessed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Page updates
We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.
About the information on this page
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.