Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Theatre & Performance Studies at York St. John University is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at York St. John University. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in humanities & arts, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 12 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in humanities & arts.
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at York St. John University.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Humanities & Arts.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 12 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Career outcomes
Where could Theatre take you? This postgraduate degree could lead you to a career directly related to working in the community music industry, or it could take you in a completely different direction, using the many transferrable skills you will develop. This will give you an advantage in careers such as: Actor Community arts worker Choreographer Dancer Drama/music therapist Theatre director Alumni stories Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees. Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Our careers service, Future You, provides support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access: Employer events LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions Workshops on application writing and interview skills Work experience and volunteering opportunities Personalised career advice This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Program Curriculum
Course overview
This course has been designed for you to develop your artistic practice and gain the skills needed for a career across the creative sectors of different industries. Learn from tutors who are active practitioners and experts in their field. Your learning experience will be based around contemporary artistic experiences and engagement with working professionals. Research and practice come together in a knowledge exchange with communities and local, regional and national partners. We welcome all theatre makers, facilitators, producers, educators, actors, creative writers or artists. Whatever your artistic focus, join this course and expand your work in performance platforms, and those wishing to start as professionals in any of these areas. You can choose 1 of 2 routes to focus your practice on. These are: Contemporary Theatre Making By taking this route, you are following your passion for creative live performances. As well as focusing on making, you'll work with touring artists to discover more about how to apply for festivals, gain commissions, and the logistics of planning and budgeting. Our experienced tutors and guest artists will equip you to create performances for: Festivals City centre venues Site-specific projects The touring studio Throughout the course, you will develop strategies to reflect, theorise, and document your practice, as well as being given a platform to share your thinking. Your studies will focus on the relationship between theory and practice. You'll have the opportunity to take full advantage of all the workshop, studio, seminar, and virtual environments the University has to offer. Applied Theatre Practice When you study with us, you will grow your professional profile in the field of applied theatre by engaging in a range of well established local, regional, and national partnership projects, adding new skills and experiences to your repertoire. Partnership projects have included: Converge This is a York St John partnership with the NHS that offers educational courses to local people who use mental health services, taught by our staff and students on campus. York Theatre Royal Our partnership with this local theatre provides opportunities for placements with their weekly youth theatre and community projects, facilitated in the theatre and across the city.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
Qualifications Minimum entry requirements 2:2 honours degree in a related subject Interview if your honours degree is in an unrelated subject International students If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements. Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our international pages. If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent. INTERNATIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Interview and portfolio Entry onto this postgraduate course is subject to attending an interview. At interview you will be asked to give a presentation which will: Demonstrate your readiness for graduate level practice Show evidence of your engagement with critical thinking You will also be asked to complete a portfolio. This portfolio should show examples of previous and current theatre and performance practice. We are happy to arrange interviews through Microsoft Teams for international students. Additional requirements For entry onto this course, you will also need: DBS check - For certain activities a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required (for instance if working in schools or with young people). It is your responsibility to obtain DBS checks as appropriate. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment need to be presented to support your case for admission. Terms and conditions Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
Contact university
Fees and funding
UK 2026 - 2027 entry The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is: £8,800 for full time study £4,400 for part time study These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students. Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies. Funding opportunities International 2026 - 2027 entry The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is £11,800 for 1 year of full time study. These costs apply to all students living outside the UK. Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies. International Fees and Funding Tuition fees UK 2026-27 £8,800 per year full time International 2026-27 £11,800 per year full time Alumni Scholarships If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies. Scholarships for alumni
Additional costs and financial support Course-related costs While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips. Accommodation and living costs View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
UK 2026 - 2027 entry The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is: £8,800 for full time study £4,400 for part time study These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students. Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies. Funding opportunities International 2026 - 2027 entry The tuition fee for 2026 entry to this postgraduate course is £11,800 for 1 year of full time study. These costs apply to all students living outside the UK. Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies. International Fees and Funding Tuition fees UK 2026-27 £8,800 per year full time International 2026-27 £11,800 per year full time Alumni Scholarships If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies. Scholarships for alumni
Additional costs and financial support Course-related costs While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips. Accommodation and living costs View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
About York St. John University
York St. John University
York, United Kingdom
York St John University is a modern, student-focused institution located in the historic city of York, United Kingdom. With origins dating back to 1841, the university has evolved into a vibrant...
University Profile- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)