Dance PHD

Why choose this course

Surrey provides postgraduate researchers in dance with a supportive and collegiate research experience within our conservatoire, the Guildford School of Acting (GSA). 

Our research-active staff are internationally known for the quality and significance of their research, which includes undertaking leading roles within national and international research organisations. All of our potential PhD supervisors regularly publish and present challenging work – an ethos that we would encourage you, as a prospective postgraduate researcher, to share with us. 

We have research strengths in a range of diverse areas including, kinaesthetic empathy, postcolonial approaches to dance, dance and movement philosophies, and Afro-Caribbean dance. 

Our research programme in Dance prepares you for success at each stage of the development of your PhD project. The structure is designed to provide intensive graduate preparation for a future career and is suitable for either part-time or full-time candidates. Completion of the programme entails submission of a thesis, the submission of practice or a practice research curated portfolio, and an oral viva with external examiners. 

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 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

The research activity in GSA at Surrey is supported through our new Institute of Performance. The Institute acts as the conservatoire’s research hub providing the base for all our postgraduate research and training. This includes regular research seminars with visiting speakers as well as bespoke training sessions on academic skills. The Institute also hosts our Centre for Performance Philosophy that fosters innovative and creative research. 

PhD researchers on all programmes in 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, reading groups, visiting speaker events and conferences. This includes our annual Practice Research Festival as well as the events aligned with the Centre for Performance Philosophy.
• PhD researchers will also receive subject-specific training through regular reading groups or research seminars. We also host PhD researcher presentations that allow you to share and develop ideas in a supportive environment. 

As a research conservatoire, we are fully equipped to offer dedicated time and support to practice research experiments and practical modes of knowledge enquiry. We welcome proposals that will result in an c. 80,000 word thesis or a practice research curated portfolio.

Supervisors

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

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

Research support

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.