Programme description
Our PhD Drama programme enables you to carry out an in-depth piece of research before either writing a full 80,000-word thesis or completing a practice-based dissertation.
Drama at Manchester offers three main strands of research: Theatre Studies, Applied Theatre and Film Studies, including television, new media, and aspects of socially engaged film practice.
All staff are research active within our three main research strands. These areas interlink, and both staff and students are keen to cross the boundaries from one area of research to another.
The notion of 'dialogue' - with ideas, practices, communities - is at the heart of all our practical and intellectual explorations.
We regularly initiate research-council-funded projects, present seminar series and host conferences.
Find out more about our Drama research .
Additional programme information
Humanities Doctoral Academy
Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high-quality services for postgraduate researchers.
We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey. This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination, and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.
EDI
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities.
We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.
We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
All appointments are made on merit.
The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Teaching and learning
Coursework and assessment
You will have the option to write a full 80,000-word thesis or complete a practice-based dissertation.
The practice-based dissertation gives you the opportunity to submit practice as part of your final thesis submission.
Related research
REF 2021
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), Drama at Manchester was ranked second nationally (by grade point average) among the 300+ departments whose research was assessed under Unit of Assessment 33 (Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies).
More of our research (76%) was scored in the highest, 4* assessment band than that of any other department in The University of Manchester. This included our being awarded the maximum possible 4* grading (100%) for the 'outstanding' impact of our research.
Find out more about our Drama research .
What our students say
Facilities
Postgraduate study is supported in the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama through an exclusive postgraduate computer cluster and postgraduate common room.
Postgraduates are also able to borrow DVDs and videos from the Lenagan Library in the basement of the Martin Harris building.
Postgraduates are encouraged to contribute to the research culture of the department by contributing to and taking part in seminar series and public lectures within Drama as well as the larger School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.
Postgraduates working on screen practice are able to book professional digital video cameras, equipment for sound recording, an AVID suite for non-linear editing and a digital recording studio available for audio projects.
Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.
Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.
We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes, all connected to the campus network and internet.
Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division can provide high-end and specialist computing services.