35 PhD programmes in Drama in United Kingdom

Theatre and Drama in the Department of Literature,Theatre Studies (Playwriting) at  University of Essex is led by a vibrant group of playwrights and theatre practitioners who all work professionally in the theatre industry alongside their University teaching.

The Drama programme offered by Queen's University Belfast develops advanced research expertise in theatre, performance, dramatic literature, and practice-based inquiry, enabling students to produce original scholarly and creative contributions across contemporary and historical performance cultures.

Theatre and Performance at University of Hull has a strong reputation for world-leading and internationally excellent research. 

A PhD in Music Theatre at the University of Sussex invites you to work across media to challenge disciplinary boundaries.

The Theatre and Performance programme offered by Anglia Ruskin University explores theatre-making, performance practices, live art, and experimental forms of creative expression across contemporary and interdisciplinary contexts.

The Film Studies MPhil/PhD programme from The University of Exeter is  part of a vibrant research culture at Exeter. Staff and research students regularly present their research in the Centre for Research into Film Studies forum, which also hosts visiting speakers. 

At Kent we have always been at the forefront of promoting and developing practice-based research. In addition to all the benefits of being a PhD student, you will have access to our excellent facilities and be supported by a technical team with extensive professional experience.

Drama, Theatre and Performance at the University of Sussex welcomes applicants with practice-as-research projects as well as historical, critical and theoretical approaches.

Drama at University of Hull has a strong reputation for world-leading and internationally excellent research. 

The Dramatherapy programme offered by Anglia Ruskin University explores therapeutic practices that use drama, performance, and creative expression to investigate psychological, social, and cultural experiences through advanced research.

While studying for an MPhil or PhD in Drama at University of Lincoln, students have the chance to undertake independent research in an area of their choice, supervised and supported by a team of academics. A range of training opportunities enables the development of key research skills.

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. 

Professional Doctorate in Performing Arts at University of East London is intended for practitioners across a range of performance-based disciplines who wish to make their practice the basis for doctoral study; indicatively theatre directing, acting, dance, music or technical practice such as sound and lighting.

In achieving both artistic ambition and academic astuteness, prospective postgraduate theatre research students will join a thriving research environment. We offer a Theatre degree at University of Chichester.

Undertaking PhD in Drama and Performance from University of Essex study gives you the opportunity to engage with an area of drama, theatre, or performance in depth and at an advanced level. East 15 Acting School, with its growing research profile and internationally recognised research quality is an obvious home for such research.