Thirty-seven plays, 154 sonnets, 1,233 characters, and over 1,700 newly-created words – this is what William Shakespeare left the world with when he died on 23 April 1616.
If you’re passionate about Shakespeare and want to focus your studies on an aspect of his works, then the UK is the perfect place to look. Want to do a specialist literature course? What about a drama course that lets you explore innovative ways of staging his plays?
Here are just some of the ways you can get to know Shakespeare through your studies.
Take a course about Shakespeare
Some universities offer specific courses about Shakespeare in performing arts, literature and history. Many are postgraduate courses that let you focus on Shakespeare after completing your undergraduate studies – for example, you could study for Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma qualifications in ‘Global Shakespeare’, ‘Shakespeare and Renaissance Literary Culture’ or ‘Shakespeare Studies’.
There are also a few options for studying Shakespeare at undergraduate or pathway level.
There are also a variety of Shorter courses that focus on Shakespeare, including summer schools and online courses. Please remember to check the requirements of your visa if you are applying to do a short course in the UK.
Focus your course on Shakespeare
Other courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level might allow you to focus on Shakespeare by picking special modules (many UK universities and colleges allow you to choose your modules, or subjects, from a list each year). If your interest is in drama or performance, you could choose a vocational course at a further education college or conservatoire that helps you focus on Shakespeare.
School or college students who do English literature courses will also find they can study Shakespeare. His plays are part of the National Curriculum (the UK’s required curriculum) for pupils aged up to 16, as well as A–level studies in English literature or drama. Many schools that teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) also include the study of Shakespeare’s texts.
Learn English with Shakespeare
Learning English in the land of Shakespeare can be a true inspiration.
After all, Shakespeare invented literally thousands of the words we use in modern English today (see right).
Some English language centres offer short courses with a Shakespeare theme. These might combine English language practical workshops and lessons with sessions where students explore Shakespeare’s works, perform scenes from his plays and go on excursions to the theatre to see the plays in action.
Most summer and winter language schools have varied programmes that offer lots of day trips and excursions. Ask the institution you are applying to if there will be the chance to visit any Shakespeare sites.
Study Shakespeare online
The British Council has a lot of materials online that can help you learn and practise your English. TheShakespeare episodes of the LearnEnglish Word On The Street series combine short videos about Shakespeare’s life and times with questions to check your understanding.
The British Council will run an online course with FutureLearn in January 2016. This is for intermediate English language learners to explore the key themes and characters in Shakespeare’s plays. Keep an eye on the British Council's online courses for updates.
FutureLearn has a number of other courses that explore Shakespeare, including a course on Shakespeare and his world by the University of Warwick and two courses on Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing by the University of Birmingham.
You’ll also find lots of useful resources that allow you to explore every side of Shakespeare and provide help understanding his texts on the website of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
