Dance PhD

University of Surrey

Why choose this programme

Surrey provides Dance PhD students with a supportive and collegiate research experience within our conservatoire, the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Our research, which encompasses traditional and practice-based forms, addresses performance in history and contemporary culture. It ranges from Shakespeare to performance philosophy and includes:

• work in theatre history
• contemporary dance
• performance and the nonhuman
• actor training
• musical theatre
• performance and cognitive science
• mental health and disability arts.

You will benefit from first-class conservatoire facilities including: a 200-seat theatre, 15 rehearsal studios, six performance studios, an art gallery, a design studio, digital media labs, and high-quality recording facilities. The University Library also hosts the long-standing and internationally renowned National Resource Centre for Dance.

We’re also part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s TECHNE doctoral training partnership, which offers funding and a fully formed training programme for academic, professional and early-career development.

What you will study

GSA’s research activity at Surrey includes access to our two research centres:

• The Centre for Performance Philosophy
• The Surrey Shakespeare Centre.

PhD researchers on all programmes at GSA can expect three levels of research training and support:

• University-level training provided by the Researcher Development Programme and the University Library, including a PhD induction, workshops on writing skills and preparation for the confirmation and viva. There is also an annual student-led University postgraduate conference.
• School-level training is offered in the form of interdisciplinary seminars, visiting speaker events and conferences. This includes events supporting the Centre for Performance Philosophy and the Surrey Shakespeare Centre.
• PhD researchers also receive subject-specific feedback at our biannual GSA postgraduate research symposium, that allows you to share and develop ideas in a supportive environment.

Assessment

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.