University of Birmingham Shakespeare MA 2027: Scholarships, Application Steps and Deadlines

The University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare MA is accepting applications for September 2027 entry in the UK, with a £3,000 Birmingham Masters Scholarship available to eligible Home-fee applicants. This one-year, full-time programme is taught at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon and explores Shakespeare through literature, theatre and education.

If you want to turn your interest in Shakespeare into postgraduate study, start with two practical checks: does your academic background meet the entry requirements, and do you qualify for the scholarship? UK and international graduates can apply for admission, but the Birmingham Masters Scholarship has separate Home-fee and residency conditions.

This guide helps you check your eligibility, identify the relevant funding route and submit your course and scholarship applications in the correct order. Keep both deadlines in view: securing a place and securing financial support are separate steps.

01. Do you need an English degree?

You normally need a 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in English or a related subject. Birmingham also allows its Fall in with Shakespeare or Spring into Shakespeare short course to substitute for that academic entry requirement. A roughly 2,000-word writing sample may be requested individually.

Interested in education? Apply for MA Shakespeare, then take Teaching Shakespeare and an education-focused dissertation to graduate through the Shakespeare and Education pathway.

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02. Which scholarship matches your fee status?

The confirmed 2027 Birmingham Masters Scholarship supports eligible Home-fee students; the Shakespeare-specific international award has not reopened.

For the Birmingham Masters Scholarship, you must meet its residency rules, be self-funded or using a postgraduate government loan, have no previous Birmingham study and not already be enrolled on a postgraduate programme. Nationality alone does not establish eligibility.

The College of Arts and Law says 2027 funding will be confirmed in autumn 2026. Neither award should be treated as full funding: budget separately for remaining tuition and living costs.

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03. How do you apply in the right order?

Submit your course application first, then complete the applicable scholarship form.

1. Open the official Shakespeare MA page, select your country to check fees, and click Apply now to enter Birmingham’s Admissions Portal.
2. Upload the requested academic documents, references and English evidence. Provide English translations where required, and any writing sample requested by admissions.
3. If eligible, use your Applicant ID to complete the separate form linked from the Birmingham Masters Scholarship page. International applicants should monitor College of Arts and Law funding for the new call.
4. Track your offer, meet its conditions and follow any deposit instructions. International students need the required deposit before CAS issuance.

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04. Application and Scholarship Deadlines

The last date to apply for the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare MA is 27 August 2027 for UK and non-visa-requiring applicants. The university’s general overseas application deadline is 2 July 2027; apply earlier because the course can close when full.

Birmingham Masters Scholarship rounds close at 23:59 UK time on 8 December 2026, 30 April 2027 and 31 July 2027. Submit both the study application and scholarship form by your chosen round.

For overseas September starters, the general final deposit deadline is 30 July 2027, conditions deadline 30 August 2027, and latest CAS issuance date 3 September 2027. Your portal may specify an earlier deposit date.

The Diane Meyer Lowman scholarship’s 2027 application deadline has not been announced.

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