University College Dublin (UCD) is a world-renowned university located in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1854, it is one of the oldest and largest universities in the country, with a current student population of over 34,000.

UCD offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs across a broad range of disciplines, including arts, humanities, business, law, engineering, medicine, and science. The university is particularly well-known for its programs in agriculture, veterinary science, and architecture, and is also a leader in research in areas such as nanotechnology, information technology, and food science.

The campus itself is situated on 350 acres in the south suburbs of Dublin, providing a picturesque and spacious setting for students and staff. Facilities on campus include state-of-the-art lecture theaters, research labs, libraries, sports facilities, and accommodation options for students.

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The MA in Drama and Performance Studies gives students the opportunity to analyse, explore, and reflect critically on contemporary theatre and performance. The programme engages with current theoretical and practical philosophies of performance, taught by a mix of academic staff and special guest contributors from professional fields. This programme is designed for students who like going to the theatre and are interested in learning skills to critically review and analyse such performances. The UCD School of English, Drama and Film offers unique insights to students. through its deep involvement in the progress of Irish literary affairs. Many of Ireland’s leading writers were educated at UCD including: James Joyce, Edna O’Brien and Roddy Doyle. Show less

Programme outcomes
Advance critical, artistic, reflective, evaluative and conceptual research paradigms in this subject area and beyond
Advocate on behalf of the cultural sectors
Apply detailed and advanced theoretical knowledge and research methods in drama and performance studies
Be confident, assured and responsible for career goals and progression
Demonstrate innovative, independent thinking and creativity in approaches and responses to complex issues
Develop original conceptual ideas in theatre production
Engage critically as spectators and as citizens of culture and performance more broadly
Enhance employability by extending transferable and adaptable skills
Foster and appreciate self-evaluative and reflective learning
Grasp the historic, cultural, political, social and economic contexts from which theatre work emerges and to interrogate, reflect and evaluate plays and performances in the light of current critical practices
Impact on and advance individual discipline-specific and transferable skills
Initiate projects in self-motivated, self-directed, autonomous and group learning settings
Manage the appropriate resources, (including online resources, databases, digital tools), and possess the faculty to critique and synthesise information
Nurture and advance the well-established relationships of UCD Drama Studies with the Irish and international academic and artistic theatre and performance communities
Organise, present, articulate and disseminate advanced ideas appropriately and effectively
Utilise the opportunity of being based in a city like Dublin and benefit from the experience of its thriving theatre activities
Work knowledgeably and collegially in multidisciplinary contexts and in practice-based creative processes

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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