Postgraduate study at the Shakespeare Institute

Based in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Shakespeare Institute aims to bring Shakespeare to life through our innovative campus-based and online postgraduate degrees.

Shakespeare Institute students benefit from our exciting collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) which allows students to study and create theatre in Shakespeare's own daring spirit, as well as benefit from the expertise of RSC artists and practitioners through innovative modules, workshops and projects in subjects such as directing, playwriting, lighting and design.

The Institute has been a beacon for international Shakespeare scholarship since its foundation in 1951 and is home to its own purpose-built world-class research library, run by a priceless team of expert librarians. It also plays host to the most prestigious international Shakespeare conference in the world, as well as to the biggest postgraduate conference in Shakespeare studies. The Institute offers an environment in which students and staff are encouraged to be creative. We want to bring the directors, actors, writers, arts administrators and teachers as well as the academics of the future to Stratford. We want to bring Shakespeare to life in new ways in the here-and-now across the world

Our vibrant community of doctoral researchers explore Shakespeare from a range of different perspectives, with the support and encouragement of the Institute's world renowned academic staff.

We believe there is no better place in the world to study the life and works of Shakespeare.

Our postgraduate degrees

Request more information 

Postgraduate scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law is offering a range of scholarships for our postgraduate taught and research programmes to ensure that the very best talent is nurtured and supported.

Learn more about our scholarships

Student life at the Shakespeare Institute is wonderful as the staff are all extremely talented, knowledgeable and supportive. Being in the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon really enhances the student experience as we can take advantage of the amazing links the University has with the Royal Shakespeare Company theatres.

Ella May McGrail (Read Ella's story...)

Help with funding

Ambition BLUE cropped

Chat to us online

[Lead image: Measure for Measure, 2019, Royal Shakespeare Company. Photo by Helen Maybanks © RSC.]