Course Overview

This innovative Shakespeare Institute programme allows you to study the way in which Shakespeare’s plays have been read, interpreted and performed through history, up to the modern moment.

You will have the opportunity to look at different productions and adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays in their historical, political, and cultural contexts and to think about the performance choices actors and directors make when approaching Shakespeare’s texts. You will also explore how the textual history of Shakespeare’s plays influences performance today.

The flexible programme takes a historical approach to interpretation and styles of presentation and promotes the value of ‘close reading’ as the basis for evaluating the plays on the page, stage, and screen.

Made up of a diverse community of Shakespeare enthusiasts, this programme is well suited to anybody with an interest in the relationship between Shakespeare and the Theatre.

General Eligibility

Our usual entry requirement for this programme is a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in English or a related subject.

However, if you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we would still encourage you to apply and we will consider you for our Affiliate entry route. This enables you to register for the programme’s core modules initially, and upon successful completion you are able to register for the full programme.

Please note that all applications are treated on their merits, and we will review your references, personal statement and past experience alongside your qualifications when considering your application.

All prospective students must also submit a sample of written work as part of the online application process. You can do this before you submit your form, or return to the application to upload your sample at a later date; however, we will need to see an example of your work before an offer is made. The writing sample should focus on Shakespeare and be around 2,000 words in length. If you do not have an existing piece of writing to submit, please take a short passage of up to 60 lines from any Shakespeare play and write an essay of around 2,000 words which discusses the performance possibilities of this extract and how it contributes to the play as a whole.

International/EU students

Academic requirements: We accept a range of qualifications from different countries - use our handy guide below to see what qualifications we accept from your country.

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band is equivalent to:

  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing

  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills

  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component