The MA and PhD programs in Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies at York University share a focus on theatre, dance, performance, and cultural politics, examining performance across a range of cultural contexts. The PhD stream is admitted for Fall entry as a full-time program only. Degree completion requires a comprehensive examination, both oral and written, and a dissertation. The application file requires two letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, a statement of interest, and a writing sample of up to 6,250 words. Admission also requires a strong graduate-level academic record, expressed by the program as a minimum B+ average, and, for applicants whose first language is not English, one of the program's accepted English-language proficiency test scores.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants require a minimum B+ average and are admitted for Fall entry as full-time students. English-language proficiency is required for applicants whose primary language is not English: TOEFL iBT 100 (or 5 on the new MyBest scale for tests taken from January 2026), IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo English Test 140, and PTE Academic 76. The application requires two letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, a statement of interest, and a writing sample (maximum 6,250 words). The program requires a comprehensive examination (oral and written) and a dissertation.
