Ph.D. Program in Theatre and Performance Studies

Applications for the Sep 2026 intake are due by Jan 4, 2027; tuition is Brown guarantees 6 years of funding for all admitted Ph.D. students, which includes full tuition remission, a generous living stipend, and health insurance..

The Ph.D. Program in Theatre and Performance Studies offers a rigorous environment for doctoral research with a broad-spectrum, global perspective on theatre and performance histories, theories, and methods. It trains students to use performance as an analytical lens to explore social dynamics. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary connections with practice and theory across various university arts initiatives and research collections.

Graduates secure academic positions, with many holding tenured or tenure-track roles at prominent universities, and the program reports a 100% placement rate into tenure-track positions.

Admission requires a statement of purpose (2-3 pages), a 10-25 page academic writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all prior institutions. International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The GRE is not required.

On-campus, full-time study, with most students completing the degree in 5 to 7 years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 5% of applicants.

Brown University in Providence is an Ivy League research university founded in 1764, serving about 10425 students and offering 82 programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. The university’s Open Curriculum encourages intellectual freedom, enabling students to design individualized study plans, combine disciplines and learn directly from distinguished faculty. Brown blends long academic traditions with a modern emphasis on creativity, rigorous scholarship and collaborative problem solving in classrooms and labs.

Campus life is academically intense but supportive, with research opportunities across the humanities, engineering, medicine and social sciences. Undergraduates frequently join faculty labs, community initiatives and entrepreneurial projects, while the city of Providence offers cultural venues, internships and industry connections that broaden learning beyond the classroom. State-of-the-art facilities, libraries and interdisciplinary institutes support hands-on projects and entrepreneurship, and a vibrant student community fosters inclusive dialogue and extracurricular engagement.

International students benefit from dedicated advising, language assistance and a global alumni network that supports internships and careers worldwide. Brown’s focus on original inquiry cultivates critical thinking, communication and leadership skills prized by employers and graduate programs. Prospective students should emphasize curiosity, cross-disciplinary interests and collaborative experience in applications to take full advantage of Brown’s flexible curriculum, research opportunities and richly resourced campus.