MA in World Theatres

Successful applicants will normally hold a first degree at 2:1 level or higher (or its equivalent in the case of applicants from abroad) in an arts or humanities subject. 

For candidates with unrelated degrees/backgrounds, they must demonstrate a keen interest in the theatre evidenced by having previously taken part in productions as a performer, writer/critic, director or producer. 

In all cases, candidates must demonstrate in their written application/personal statement and at interview that they have an interest in theoretical and analytical work and that they are also able to meet the intellectual demands of a programme designed to be theoretically challenging. 

Students will be expected to engage with historical research, as well as have some awareness of how world contemporary performance and theatre involves a diversity of forms, practices and traditions. 

Criteria for entry into the programme also includes independence, self‐motivation, intellectual and personal initiative, and commitment to scholarly investigation, especially investigation into performance practices. 

Applicants whose first language is not English must have achieved a score of 6.5 or more in the IELTS (or equivalent) examination for written English.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Find out more about tuition fees.

Additional costs

The Department of Theatre and Performance provides students with budgets for all practice-based exercises, which students manage as part of their learning. Students also receive free printed readers for most lecture seminar classes. On this basis, there is no essential additional cost to students on our programmes.

Funding

Find out more about funding opportunities for home/EU applicants, or funding for international applicants. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

• Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online

          Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. 

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching is via lectures, seminars, workshops and practice sessions with our resident teaching team alongside guest lecturers and theatre companies. A mixed mode of assessments are used which can either be in the form of a written assignment or PaR submission.

Academic and Pastoral Support 

The Department recognises the importance of supporting students’ learning with high quality teaching that is responsive to their individual and collective needs. The programme has been designed to be as accessible as possible to all students. 

Goldsmiths also provides a range of other student support services. Students have access to the College Library, Multi-media, Audio Visual study resources and Computer Services and Language Resources and these provide a substantial means of supporting other aspects of student learning. All postgraduate students also have access to a dedicated Postgraduate resource centre, which houses a number of online resources and offers space for seminars and the informal exchange of ideas. 

Support for student learning is provided by the study resources that are available in the Rutherford Information Services Building: extensive book and audio-visual collections, electronic journal and book resources such as the Alexander Press Black Drama, Asian American Drama, African Writers Series database, the computer and multi‐media equipment, Library and IT staff with expert knowledge. The Library also houses the LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) Living Archive, an important resource for international theatre in London since 1980. All registered students also have access to the University of London libraries network.

Skills

The department is home to the African Theatre Association (AfTA) and its bi-annual journal, African Performance Review. The Department of Theatre and Performance has close links with two research centres: The Pinter Centre for Performance and Creative Writing and The Centre for the Body, that each generate learning opportunities via programmes of talks, conferences and workshops. The Department runs regular extramural activities, including hosting international practitioners in the Performance Research Forum (Dis-Play) series. The department’s special relationship with the Goldsmiths Confucius Institute and its association to the Beijing Dance Academy, also contributes to the global performance practice opportunities offered. Together, these organisations provide a unique research and professional resource for students on Theatre and Performance programmes. 

Expertise is provided by the Department's resident staff, most of who are not only dedicated and experienced teachers, but are also distinguished practitioners and researchers in their own right, working in national and international contexts. The Department also draws on a large pool of visiting practitioners and academics to provide a breadth of expertise and contact with current practice.

Careers

The broad range of interests combined in this programme will prepare you for a diverse range of employment and/or a portfolio of careers in theatre and performance as well as the arts industry as a whole in different socio-cultural environments:

• facilitation and animation in both mainstream, applied and community theatre contexts nationally and internationally
• administrative and support servicescultural leadershipgovernment organisations
• journalism and broadcasting (including radio, television and print journalism)
• teaching at all levels
• interpretation and translation in theatre and performance contexts
• acting, directing, design, dramaturgy

In addition, you can use this programme as a springboard for further study, either vocational or intellectual (including entry into MPhil/PhD programmes).

In short, the multiple skills – intellectual, critical and creative – developed by this programme will provide you with the flexibility of thought and approach necessary for creative insertion into the global job market. 

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.