Shakespeare MA / PGDip

The University has a unique collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), offering you opportunities outside the MA to enhance your studies and see Shakespeare’s works brought to life on-stage. 

Pursue your passion for Shakespeare and discover new ways to approach his works. Study Shakespeare through different lenses based on the latest research of our Shakespeare academics. If you work in education, or you’re interested in working in education, our Shakespeare and Education pathway offers insights into teaching Shakespeare.

Course structure

Our programme is designed to be flexible. The full-time programme runs from September to September. If you wish to study part-time there are several options:  

You can study part-time either on campus or by distance learning. There is the option to study for 2 years or to have more flexibility – you can take between 3 and 6 years to complete the flexible option. Please note, to apply for a postgraduate loan you’ll have to apply for the 2-year fixed programme to meet the eligibility requirements. 

We also offer the programme as a Postgraduate Diploma which involves studying 120 credits of taught modules without doing the dissertation. You can do the PGDip full-time or part-time on campus, or part-time by distance learning. 

What’s more, you can specialise with our Shakespeare and Education pathway. This pathway blends the expertise of our academics at the Shakespeare Institute with practical insights from the RSC on the ‘Teaching Shakespeare’ module taught in collaboration with the RSC. 

• Stratford-upon-Avon is the perfect place to study Shakespeare, with RSC theatres and Shakespeare’s birthplace on your doorstep.
• The Shakespeare Institute is home to many resources, academic expertise and a dedicated Shakespeare Library to enhance your studies.
• Join a welcoming postgraduate community at the Shakespeare Institute: take part in student theatre or seminars and conferences.
• If you can't come to Stratford, learn from anywhere in the world with our distance learning options.

The University of Birmingham is ranked in the Top 30 for English Literature and Linguistics (QS World University Rankings 2024).

Our unique collaboration with the RSC

You'll have exclusive opportunities to go behind the scenes and learn directly from theatre practitioners. Access internationally renowned archives and learning resources, take part in student theatre and reading groups, or come along to weekly Thursday seminars led by Shakespeare academics. 

You can study this course on-site at The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-Upon-Avon full time or part time, or you can study online through distance learning part time. 

If you choose to study by distance learning, you'll access learning materials through the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

• 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 in an area that interests you.

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.

If you study by distance learning, you can choose between studying at any time, using resources that are uploaded in advance - or you can attend weekly live online classes. You'll be able to consult academic staff in Birmingham via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Students must choose one of the following Dissertation modules. Students wishing to graduate with MA Shakespeare and Education must complete an Education-focussed dissertation.

Students studying for a postgraduate diploma will not be required to complete a dissertation.

Students choose three option modules from those available. 

Students wishing to graduate with MA Shakespeare and Education must select Teaching Shakespeare in addition to their other compulsory modules. 

An indicative list of modules is provided below.

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 or MA Shakespeare with Education pathway.

As part of your application, you’ll need to provide an essay of approx. 2,000 words on Shakespeare or a similar topic related to Early Modern drama. If you don’t have an essay about Shakespeare to submit, we can accept an essay on another literary topic if necessary. Please contact the programme lead, Dr Abigail Rokison-Woodall, if you have any queries about the writing sample.

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.

Fees for part-time and distance learning students are £1,210 per 20 credit module and £3,630 for the dissertation.

Paying your tuition fees

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.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

The programme has two pathways – the MA Shakespeare pathway, and the MA Shakespeare and Education pathway. If you'd like to graduate with an MA in Shakespeare and Education, you'll apply for MA Shakespeare but you'll need to take the module ‘Teaching Shakespeare’ and undertake an Education-focussed dissertation. 

We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

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.