PhD Program Requirements

There are six main requirements in the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies' PhD program: 

  1. Fulfilment of the residence requirement
  2. Fulfilment of course requirements
  3. Fulfilment of language requirements that vary according to the student’s major area of study
  4. Successful completion of field examinations
  5. Successful completion of the prospectus defence
  6. The writing and successful defence of a dissertation

For timelines, please see Academic Milestones: PhD Program by Year. 

  • Students must complete a minimum of 4.0 full courses equivalent (FCEs), with no individual course grades below B-  and an average standing of at least of A- across all grades.

    • DRA1011H Sources and Concepts in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies I

    • DRA1012H Sources and Concepts in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies II

    • DRA1013H Modelling New Scholarship in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies

    • DRA1014H Teaching and Learning in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies

    • DRA5002H Research Development

  • Demonstrate reading knowledge of a language other than English by passing an approved language examination no later than the end of Year 2. Students may also be asked to qualify in other program-related languages.

  • Pass field examinations at the end of Year 2.

  • Pass the prospectus defence during September to October of Year 3.

  • Present a thesis on an approved topic embodying the results of original investigation which shall be judged to constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field.

  • Pass an oral examination on the subject of the thesis.

The PhD program provides funding for 4.5 years. 

Language Requirement: A PhD candidate must demonstrate a reading competence in a language other than English. This should be either French or another language useful or necessary to the student’s scholarly work. Students may contact the relevant graduate department to register for the exam or for more information.  
Classics: k.gavrilovic@utoronto.ca 
Italian: Italian.grad@utoronto.ca 
Slavic: slavic@utornoto.ca
Spanish & Portuguese: spanish.graduate@utoronto.ca
East Asian Studies: eas.grad@utoronto.ca 
French: french.gradcounsellor@utoronto.ca
German: german.grad@utoronto.ca
 

Field Exam (May of Year 2): This field exam has two parts. It will examine two fields relevant to the student's areas of research and teaching expertise. Both parts will be written as a take-home exam in essay form, responding to exam questions and requiring original interpretations of the exam material.

View the full dissertation process at Academic Milestones: PhD Program by Year. 

For thesis information, please visit Producing Your Thesis on the School of Graduate Studies website. 
 
For more information about the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies requirements, please visit Academic Milestones: PhD Program by Year. 

What constitutes good academic standing?

The Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies defines good academic standing following the School of Graduate Studies' Maintaining Good Academic Standing requirements.