Shakespeare and CreativityMA

Pursue your creativity and your passion for Shakespeare and experience the thrill of producing your own creative response to his poetry and plays. This course is ideal for any aspiring academic, actor, writer, or director looking to explore Shakespeare from perspectives like academic research, theatre performances and public engagement. 

Course structure

The course runs over 12 months full-time. 

• Take part in exclusive workshops from the RSC while learning from our academics specialising in Shakespeare studies.
• Access all the resources you need at our Shakespeare Institute including a library and study spaces.
• Go beyond the classroom and explore using Shakespeare for public engagement by producing your own creative response to his work.
• The University of Birmingham is ranked in the Top 30 for English Literature and Linguistics (QS World University Rankings 2024). 

One of a kind

On this unique course, you'll study everything from the history of Shakespeare in society to literary criticism and theatre practices. You'll be encouraged and challenged to consider new approaches to Shakespeare in the present day. Re-imagine Shakespeare's texts for the modern world with exclusive opportunities to work with RSC artists on the Shakespeare Ensemble and Shakespeare in Society modules. Showcase your own creative response to Shakespeare's work and deliver public engagement activities at the RSC. 

You'll produce academic essays and creative work.

You'll also attend weekly Thursday Seminars at The Shakespeare Institute during term-time. The seminars feature papers presented by a range of established visiting scholars as well as University of Birmingham academics.

• Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
• Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
• Dissertation – you'll undertake a 12,000-word dissertation or a practice-based dissertation.

Facilities

If you study the MA Shakespeare on campus, you'll study and live in Stratford-upon-Avon with easy access to our Shakespeare Institute. There are a range of facilities available for you at the Institute, from the dedicated Shakespeare library and study spaces, to a tranquil garden. Find out more about our facilities and life at The Shakespeare Institute and access a virtual tour.

Our collaboration with the RSC means you may also get to use their facilities for your creative responses, such as The Other Place studio theatre.

The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.

As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.

2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Students should choose one of the following research project modules:

Students should choose three option modules from those available.
An indicative list of modules is provided below.

You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in English or a related subject, or you’ll need relevant professional experience instead.

If you don't have the required academic background, you can study our Fall in with Shakespeare or Spring into Shakespeare short course before applying for the MA. Completing one of the short courses can be used instead of a 2:1 Honours degree as entry onto the MA Shakespeare with Creativity.

If you're applying based on your professional experience, you'll need to document your experience in a portfolio. This needs to catalogue and contextualise your work (e.g. catalogue of a recent art installation, actor’s CV, transcript giving indication of professional training, web-based archive of recent work, folio of published poems, etc.) In your application, you should use the 5,000 character personal statement to indicate your creative potential and reflect on your existing creative work. Your statement should address the following research questions:

• What were/are the objectives of the piece of work, and why did you choose these objectives?

• What obstacles did you encounter in producing this creative work? How might these have been avoided?

• What tradition does this piece of creative work belong to?

• What critical conversations does your creative work contribute to and what are your contributions?

• What are the implications of this creative work for your future works?

• How does your work impact the field of Shakespeare studies?

All prospective students must also submit a 2,000-word writing sample about Shakespeare, his contemporaries, or work adapted from/based on Shakespeare.

If you don’t have an existing piece of writing to submit, you can use 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 your chosen extract and how it contributes to the play as a whole.

You'll need to provide this to us when you make your application or within two weeks of submitting your application to us. If this is not provided in the stated timeframe then your application may be declined.

Your application must also be supported by two letters of recommendation, either from academics or equivalent authorities from creative industries as appropriate.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which 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: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.

The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

Paying your tuition fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.

Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Our Shakespeare graduates enter many roles, including:

• Secondary School Teacher
• Music and Drama Lead
• School Librarian

Employers our Shakespeare graduates have worked for include:

• The Royal Shakespeare Company
• Local schools

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

You’ll study at the Shakespeare Institute in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Its historic rooms and gardens buzz with play readings, theatrical experiments and all sorts of other Shakespeare-inspired activity. Only a few minutes’ walk from the Royal Shakespeare Company, one of the best-known theatre companies in the world, you’ll have the opportunity to live and breathe Shakespeare.

Accommodation

Most of our students choose to live in Stratford-upon-Avon rather than Birmingham to fully immerse themselves in the Shakespeare experience. There are several types of accommodation available to rent in Stratford including flats, houses, bedsits and shared houses.

Living in Stratford-upon-Avon

An attractive market town with over 800 years history, Stratford-upon-Avon blends heritage, culture, theatre, arts and gardens along with a thriving community offering a wide variety of leisure and shopping experiences. You’ll be 50 minutes from Birmingham and 1 hour 40 minutes from London via train.

Our Collaboration with the RSC

Our collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company brings together world leading scholars, artists and students. From productions and use of rehearsal space to Q&A and practical workshop sessions with professional theatre-makers, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of a world renowned theatre company and take a peek in to the behind-the-scenes operation.

Student support

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.