University of Birmingham - Undergraduate Open Day
27 Jun 2025, 09:00
Birmingham
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Course summary
This programme offers an unrivalled opportunity to study Shakespeare in the heart of his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Delivered by and taught at The Shakespeare Institute, it develops a critical but appreciative understanding of Shakespeare’s contribution to literary and theatrical history, and the place his works occupy in today’s cultural landscape.
It provides you with a rigorous and wide-ranging knowledge of approaches to the study of Shakespeare, with emphasis on criticism, textual studies, the plays in performance, and the history of Shakespeare's reception.
The programme has two pathways – the MA Shakespeare pathway, and the MA Shakespeare and Education pathway. Students wishing to graduate with an MA in Shakespeare and Education must take the module ‘Teaching Shakespeare’ and undertake and Education-focussed dissertation.
The dynamism of the programme owes much to the sheer diversity of critical, theatrical, and historical approaches. It offers sustained study in a variety of fields, drawing on the special interests of a dedicated team of Shakespeare scholars.
It has proved invaluable for students heading towards a variety of careers, and it provides a solid foundation for research at a higher level.
Students have the opportunity to study this programme on-site at The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon or by online, distance learning. Studying via distance learning, means you can continue in employment alongside studying for your Masters.
Modules
You will study three core modules: Plays and poems of Shakespeare A; plays and poems of Shakespeare B; Research Skills and Methods. You will choose three optional module from a range of Shakespeare Institute modules.
Assessment method
12,000-word dissertation.
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Entry requirements
In addition to the usual supporting documents, when applicants apply for this course we ask them to submit an example of their written work; this will preferably be an essay on Shakespeare, of about 2,000 words. If applicants do not have a piece of work that is of the right length it is better to send something that is longer rather than shorter so that we have a better chance to assess their critical writing on a literary topic. Not everyone has written at any length on Shakespeare at the time they apply, and we are therefore prepared to assess an applicant's work on another literary topic if necessary. Ideally this would be based on a comparable subject (e.g. on drama, or on another author of Shakespeare's time), but of course applicants will also want to choose something that gives a fair representation of their work.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
For more detailed information on available funding and fees for postgraduate courses please visit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/fees-funding
Sponsorship information
Arts and Humanities Research Board; Stafford student loans (USA).
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
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Course contact details
Postgraduate Enquiry Service
Email:pgadmissions-noreply@contacts.bham.ac.uk
The Shakespeare Institute
Email:shakespeare@bham.ac.uk
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