Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies

The Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The centre's own core courses focus on the program fields of dramaturgy, theatre history, and theory of drama. Within the parameters of these fields, the centre supports research in such areas as performance analysis and reception; Canadian, American, international, and intercultural theatre; Elizabethan and Restoration staging practices; historiography and performance; acting and modern staging theories and practices; performance aesthetics and politics; as well as play and project development.

• Applicants for admission to the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies are considered under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Admissions are selective; possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants must also satisfy the Centre's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applications are open through April 15 and admission decisions are made on an ongoing basis. Applicants, in particular international applicants, are encouraged to apply early. Contact the Associate Director for further information.

• Applicants with a master of arts degree: an MA in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies or the equivalent from a recognized university, must have a standing equivalent to at least a University of Toronto A–. Applicants who have taken the MA through this Centre must be recommended for further study by the instructors whose courses they have taken. Applicants holding the MA of this University in another subject or its equivalent from another university will be considered for admission to the PhD program in light of their previous work and its relation to the Centre's requirements; additional coursework may be required.

• Applicants must arrange two reference letters that address specifically their academic skills and research potential. Admission will be conditional upon satisfactory recommendation.

• Applications must be accompanied by a statement of research intent (up to 5 pages plus bibliography), writing sample (15 pages plus bibliography), and curriculum vitae (CV).

Duolingo English Test:Tests completed on or after July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120 with a score of 120 in production.

Tests completed before July 1, 2024: Overall score of 120, with no subscore below 100.

International Baccalaureate English:A minimum score of at least 4 (predicted or final) in Higher Level or Standard Level English A: Literature or English A: Language and Literature. English B Higher Level is not acceptable. Learn more about IB English.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS):The minimum requirement is an overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0. Results from IELTS (Academic) for UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about IELTS.

Note: We do not accept the IELTS Indicator test or results from the IELTS One Skill Retake. Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date.

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic:The minimum requirement is an overall score of 65 with no part below 60. Results from PTE (Academic) UKVI test sittings are accepted. Learn more about PTE.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):Tests completed before January 21, 2026:

- The minimum requirement is a total score of 89 with 22 in each of Speaking and Writing
- Applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single date. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results will not be used.

Effective January 21, 2026 there will be a new TOEFL scoring format. Admission requirements for the new scale are under review and will be posted once finalized.

Paper based test: Tests will be reviewed on an individual basis. Learn more about TOEFL

We do not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL ITP Plus for China for admission purposes.