Facilities for research work leading to the degrees of MPhil, MLitt and PhD are offered by the Department. This research may be undertaken as a wholly written dissertation or as practice-based research. On admission, each candidate is assigned to a member of staff with special competence in the candidate's chosen subject, who will supervise progress on the research. With the prior agreement of the unit tutor, candidates may attend any undergraduate units relating to their subject. The research should normally fall within the areas covered by the competence of the Department's staff embracing theatre history, film, cinema and television studies, dramatic theory and practice, critical studies (including comparative studies and studies relating to films or broadcast drama). Where a subject spans the work of another department, arrangements will be made where possible for joint supervision.
The research is presented for examination in the form of a dissertation and there is an oral examination based on the dissertation. The minimum period of study is prescribed by the Board of the Faculty. The MPhil is one year full-time; two years part-time. The MLitt is two years full-time; four years part-time. The PhD is three years full time; six years part time.
Candidates for the degrees are examined on either a wholly written thesis or combination of written component and practice.
Most candidates for the degree of PhD, in the Faculty of Arts, register initially for the MLitt (candidates already holding a Masters degree by research can, by special permission of Senate, be admitted directly to PhD); transfer to PhD is made on the recommendation of the Department, usually after the completion of one or two years of study.
Applications from candidates wishing to undertake part-time study will be considered, and further details are available upon request.
Students may participate in aspects of the Department's production work that are appropriate to their own studies, but no guarantee of production work can be offered. However, the student drama society in the Department may offer opportunities to participate in productions, and in addition the University Students' Union has its own enterprising drama groups.