Postgraduate Research

GSA’s PhD programmes support innovative research in a wide range of areas, fosters a spirit of independent enquiry, and encourages researchers to challenge received wisdom and extend the boundaries of the discipline.

At school and Faculty level, we host regular research events as well as bespoke training sessions on academic skills and informal research development opportunities. The aim is to offer postgraduates researchers a thought-provoking and supportive research environment in which to complete their PhD studies.

We welcome proposals that will result in a written thesis (c. 80,000 words) or a practice research curated portfolio with complementary writing (c. 40,000). As a research conservatoire, we are fully able to offer time and support for practice research experiments and practical methods of knowledge enquiry.

Three steps to applying

Step 1: Identify and speak to a prospective supervisor: We recommend that you contact our Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Robert Shaughnessy, who can connect you with an appropriate supervisor.

Step 2: Apply for a place on the Theatre PhD programme by the stated deadlines (see below).

Step 3: The strongest applicants will be invited to complete a studentship application form and receive one-to-one support in refining their applications.

Research at GSA is multifaceted and, while we welcome applications on any topic, we have particular interests in:

• Actor training
• Disability and performance
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the arts
• Musical theatre
• Pedagogic research
• Performance and cognitive science
• Shakespeare
• Sustainability and performance