Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
The Ph.D. program enables students to engage in advanced theatre studies through structured coursework, comprehensive exam preparation, and dissertation research. Participants focus on their chosen specialization while gaining foundational knowledge in the field's theoretical, critical, and historical frameworks. With its intimate size, the program particularly welcomes students whose research interests align with faculty expertise or the Department of Theatre and Film's research priorities at UBC. Doctoral candidates will gain valuable teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants in undergraduate theatre courses.
Faculty research encompasses classical theatre and contemporary reinterpretations, modern drama, avant-garde theatre and film reception, performance and wellness, disability performance studies, dramaturgical practices, cross-cultural performance traditions, Asian theatrical forms, 20th century Chinese and Japanese drama, plus Canadian, American, and contemporary British theatre. Students additionally collaborate with faculty and peers from our distinguished directing, design, and film graduate programs.
Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) must have completed one of the following requirements prior to admission: a master's degree (or equivalent) from an approved institution, with clear evidence of research ability or potential and a minimum overall average in the B+ grade range (76-79% at UBC) in all graduate courses; a bachelor's degree, with one year of study in a master's program with 12 credits of first-class average, of which, normally, 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first-class standing, and clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer directly into a doctoral program is normally accomplished after the first year of study and will not be permitted after the completion of the second year in a master's program; or in exceptional cases, applicants who hold an honours bachelor's degree with an overall average in the A grade range and who demonstrate advanced research ability may be granted direct admission to a doctoral degree program on recommendation of the admitting graduate program and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
TOEFL (IBT) OVERALL SCORE REQUIREMENT
100
ibT Reading 22
ibT Writing 21
ibT Listening 22
ibT Speaking 21
IELTS OVERALL SCORE REQUIREMENT
7.0
IELTS Reading 6.5
IELTS Writing 6.5
IELTS Listening 6.5
IELTS Speaking 6.5