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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Performance Studies (Drama)

Canada

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What will I learn?

The Department of Drama offers graduate programs leading to the degree of PhD in Performance Studies, Master of Fine Arts degrees in Theatre Design, Directing, Theatre Voice Pedagogy, and Theatre Practice, and Master of Arts in Drama degree.

The Department offers students access to a range of professional facilities during their studies including performance, workshop, rehearsal and classroom space, libraries, graduate student offices, and access to computers and seminar rooms. The Timms Centre for the Arts provides a fully equipped, 289-seat-proscenium theatre, a black box second playing space, theatre collections, props shop, production offices, wardrobe, dressing rooms and a green room. The Fine Arts Building offers students the opportunity to study and work in a variety of studio and performance spaces.

In addition, the theatre collection in the library is extensive. It includes a substantial collection of research materials on theatre worldwide.

The PhD in Performance Studies offers students advanced-level scholarship, study and research in Drama and Performance, with a thorough interdisciplinary focus.

Program Requirements:

Students are required to complete a minimum of ?18 in coursework and a thesis.

Required Courses (?6):

DRAMA 608 - Historical Approaches to Dramatic and Theatrical Critical Theories

DRAMA 609 - Contemporary Approaches to Dramatic and Theatrical Critical Theories

Required courses may be replaced with an equivalent approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Elective courses (?12):

A ?3 practical requirement in theatre practice

Three graduate-level courses

Up to two of these courses can be taken outside of the Department of Drama.

Students can take one directed reading/special project course (DRAMA 605).

All coursework is selected by the student in consultation with the PhD or Graduate Coordinator

Thesis:

Registration in 900-level THES. Students must complete a written dissertation, founded on high scholastic achievement, original research, and firm theoretical grounding. It must be defended before an examining committee.

Departmental Exams:

During their second or third year, students prepare for and undertake their departmental examination. This examination has three written components:

  • General examination:
  • Short Dissertation Proposal
  • Long Dissertation Proposal

Candidacy Exam:

The (oral) Candidacy exam is normally held within two weeks of completion of the Long Dissertation Proposal.

Ethics Requirement:

PhD students should normally have completed their FGSR Academic Integrity and Ethics Training Requirement by the end of their first year (if they have not already done so at the Master's level).The Ethics requirement is met through DRAMA 601, the GET course and/or Department-based workshops, seminars, tutorials. Contact the Department for further information.

Language Requirement:

PhD students are required to demonstrate reading proficiency in a language other than English (normally the language that is most relevant for the proposed research) completion of a language requirement for an MA degree may satisfy the requirement for the PhD, provided proficiency was demonstrated no earlier than two years before the start of the PhD.

Residence Requirement:

The minimum period of residence is two years of full-time attendance on campus at the University of Alberta.

Length of Program:

The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.

Which department am I in?

Faculty of Arts

Study options

Full Time (6 Years)

Tuition fees
CAD$8,874.00 (US$ 6,378) per year
Given fees may be subject to change in future

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

University of Alberta

North Campus,

116 Street and 85 Avenue,

EDMONTON,

Alberta (AB),

T6G 2R3, Canada

Entry requirements

For international students

The Department's minimum admission requirements for the PhD degree are a Master's degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution.

English proficiency requirements:

  • TOEFL: total score of 90 with a score of at least 21 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based) or equivalent;
  • Academic IELTS: 6.5, with at least 6.0 on each test band;
  • CAEL: overall 70 with at least 60 on each subtest;
  • PTE Academic: 61 with a minimum band score of 60. Applicants who take the Pearson test must request that this University be given access to their score.

The application deadlines: Jan 31 for September admission.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About University of Alberta

One of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, the University of Alberta has an international reputation for academic excellence.

  • Top 100 university globally (QS, 2025)
  • 18 faculties, offering more than 200 undergraduate programs
  • Students from over 157 countries
  • 6th in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

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