Doctorate of Performing Arts (D.PA)

About the Course

The Doctor of Performing Arts (D.PA) is designed for experienced practitioners who wish to advance creative practice, artistic leadership and professional innovation through doctoral-level research. It is intended for performers, directors, producers, choreographers, artistic leaders, educators and other professionals working across the performing arts who wish to generate original knowledge capable of informing creative practice, professional development and cultural engagement.

The programme recognises that performing arts practitioners develop substantial expertise through professional practice. The D.PA provides a structured pathway that enables participants to build upon this experience whilst developing the advanced research skills, theoretical understanding and critical reflection required of doctoral study.

Unlike a traditional PhD, the Doctor of Performing Arts combines a taught phase with a substantial independent research project. This enables participants to develop confidence as researchers before progressing to the completion of an original doctoral thesis focused upon a significant issue within performance, creative practice, artistic leadership or professional practice.

Throughout the programme, participants critically engage with contemporary professional issues, research methodologies, professional knowledge, ethics, leadership and evidence-informed decision-making. The emphasis is on developing reflective practitioners capable of using research to inform professional practice, organisational development and innovation within their chosen field.

The programme is suitable for experienced professionals working across theatre, dance, music performance, performance education, community arts, arts management, creative industries and related fields. Applicants are normally seeking to undertake research that emerges directly from their professional experience and creative practice.

The Doctor of Performing Arts is a doctorate through practice rather than simply a doctorate about practice. It is designed for professionals who wish to investigate significant challenges and opportunities arising within their own creative and professional contexts and to generate knowledge capable of informing artistic innovation, professional development and cultural impact.

Curriculum Overview

The Doctor of Performing Arts is delivered in two phases.

Phase One: Taught Phase

The taught phase provides a structured foundation for doctoral study through six interconnected modules:

• Critical and Contemporary Issues
• Introduction to Research in Practice
• Literature Review in Your Specialism
• Research Methods
• Methodology and Methods in Your Specialism
• Research Proposal

These modules support students in developing advanced research knowledge, methodological expertise and a clear understanding of the educational issue they wish to investigate. All assessments are designed to contribute directly to the development of the doctoral research proposal.

The taught phase also encourages interdisciplinary discussion with professionals from a range of sectors, enabling participants to explore how research, evidence, ethics and professional judgement operate across different professional contexts.

Phase Two: Research Phase

Following successful completion of the taught phase and approval of the research proposal, students progress to the doctoral research phase.

Working with an experienced supervisory team, students undertake a substantial programme of original research focused upon a significant issue within education or a related professional field. The research phase culminates in the submission of a doctoral thesis and viva voce examination.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally hold a minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.

Applicants should also normally demonstrate a minimum of three years of sustained professional experience relevant to the proposed field of doctoral study. For the Doctor of Performing Arts, applicants would typically have substantial experience as performers, directors, producers, choreographers, educators, artistic leaders or within related performing arts and creative industries contexts.

A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is desirable but not essential.

Applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic requirements may nevertheless be considered if they can demonstrate significant professional experience and the potential to undertake research at doctoral level.

All applicants will normally be required to attend an interview and discuss their proposed area of research with members of the Professional Doctorate team.

International Entry Requirements

International applicants should possess qualifications equivalent to the University's standard entry requirements and demonstrate a high level of competence in written and spoken English. Applicants whose first language is not English will normally be required to achieve IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, or an equivalent recognised qualification.

Teaching and Research

The Doctor of Performing Arts is available through full-time and part-time study at Liverpool Hope University, alongside a Professional Doctorate International route delivered fully online. These flexible study options enable students from the UK and across the world to undertake doctoral study in a manner that reflects their professional and personal circumstances.

Teaching on the campus-based routes is delivered through a combination of face-to-face and online learning, including Saturday and evening teaching. The Professional Doctorate International route is delivered entirely online, enabling students to participate from anywhere in the world whilst remaining fully engaged in a vibrant doctoral learning community.

Throughout the taught phase, students engage with contemporary professional issues, research methodologies, professional knowledge and critical debates concerning leadership, ethics, evidence, professional authority and organisational change. A distinctive feature of the programme is its interdisciplinary nature. Students study alongside professionals from a wide range of sectors, creating opportunities to explore how these issues emerge across different professional contexts. Teaching is discussion-based and research-focused, encouraging participants to draw upon their own professional experience whilst engaging critically with academic literature and contemporary debates.

Each student is supported by a specialist research mentor whose expertise aligns closely with their proposed area of research. Alongside module teaching, students maintain a professional learning journal which supports their development as reflective practitioner-researchers and helps them track their progress towards doctoral-level study.

Research projects are developed around the professional interests, expertise and aspirations of individual students. Participants are encouraged to investigate significant issues arising within their own creative and professional contexts and to undertake research that has the potential to make an original contribution to knowledge, artistic practice and cultural engagement. The programme supports students in developing rigorous, impactful and professionally relevant research capable of informing innovation within performance, arts organisations and the wider cultural sector.

UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees

Visit our Postgraduate research tuition fees page for full details

EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees

Visit our Postgraduate research tuition fees page for full details

Funding your studies

Students on this course may be eligible for doctoral loans to support the cost of study. Further information is available through the University’s funding and scholarships pages.

Careers

The Doctor of Performing Arts is intended for experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their professional expertise and enhance their influence within the performing arts and creative industries.

Graduates develop advanced capabilities in research, critical reflection, leadership and evidence-informed decision-making. The programme prepares participants to contribute to artistic innovation, professional development and organisational leadership through research-informed practice.

Graduates may progress into senior artistic leadership, creative direction, producing, arts management, cultural leadership, consultancy, professional education and research leadership roles. Others may use the qualification to support the development of innovative artistic practice, community engagement and professional advancement within the performing arts sector.

Graduates of the Doctor of Performing Arts are independent researchers and creative practitioners who have generated original knowledge through rigorous doctoral inquiry. They are equipped to influence artistic practice, inform cultural development and contribute authoritatively to debates concerning performance, creativity and contemporary society.