Dance PhD

Why choose this course 

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. 

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. 

As a conservatoire, we can  dedicate time and support to practice research experiments and practical modes of knowledge enquiry. We welcome proposals that will result in a c. 80,000 word thesis or a practice research curated portfolio (c. 40,000). 

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.

Supervisors

Before you submit your formal application form, please contact a potential supervisor or our Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Robert Shaughnessy. 

Once you have found an appropriate supervisor, please contact them to discuss your proposal. You should then proceed to complete and submit your formal application form. 

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.