Shakespeare Studies,PhD

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom, Birmingham

University RankQS Ranking

Apply Now!

Go to Official Website

Home/United Kingdom/Birmingham /University of Birmingham/Shakespeare Studies,PhD

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom , Birmingham

Key Facts

Program Level

PhD (Philosophy Doctorate)

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Stratford-upon-Avon

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,390 / year

Next Intake January-2026

Shakespeare Studies,PhD

About

Course overview

Conduct your research at The Shakespeare Institute, our leading centre for Shakespeare studies. You'll join a community of scholars in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon and access the most comprehensive Shakespeare studies collection in the UK.

Benefit from our unique resources including dedicated Shakespeare library facilities and weekly seminars sharing the latest research.

Enhance your research through our collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). This dynamic collaboration sees researchers and academic staff join RSC artists to explore Shakespeare through creative and critical approaches.

Course structure

Our PhD programmes are normally undertaken in three years full-time or six years part-time, and our Masters-level research programmes are taken in one year full-time or two years part-time. The period of maximum registration for a PhD includes a further year, designated "thesis awaited," which is usually a period of final revisions and more occasional supervision.

The first year (or part-time equivalent) of a PhD usually includes a literature review specific to your thesis and topic. You'll begin to undertake your research and relevant training.

Your thesis is usually written in stages over the course of your PhD, and you’ll receive regular feedback.

For an MA by Research, these timescales are condensed into one year (or two years if studying part time).

Ask us a question or join our mailing list

Ask our subject team a question or sign up to our mailing list to stay up to date with our latest events, scholarships and subject news.

Ask us a question Join our mailing list

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Career

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report.

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: The Shakespeare Institute

As a postgraduates at the Shakespeare Institute, you will develop a broad range of creative, research and theatre skills, as well as in-depth subject knowledge.

In recent years, our postgraduates have successfully entered a variety of sectors from teaching in secondary and higher education to performing arts, publishing, and museum, library and archive work. Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include National Trust, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare's Globe, University of Birmingham and University of Oxford.