Master's in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research

Brief Programme Description

The Master of Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR) programme is a two-year fulltime study that leads to a double degree where students receive a diploma from both the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) and one of the programme’s partner institutions:

• the University of the Arts Helsinki
• Université Paris Nanterre
• Goethe-Universität, Institut für Theater-, Film- und Medienwissenschaft, Frankfurt am Main
• Université Libre de Bruxelles.

The CDPR network consists of five European art academies and universities and is aimed at students who are interested in dramaturgical practice and theory in an international context. The programme responds to possibilities and challenges within a field of theatrical art that more and more is being developed and shaped across national borders, something that affords students the opportunity to understand different theatre cultures and thereby also set up collaborations between interested parties and organisations across national borders and theatre cultures.

At KHiO, the programme is closely linked to the Master of Theatre programme, but with an expanded focus on dramaturgical theory and practice. The programme spans four semesters, with students spending either semesters 1 and 4, or else semesters 2 and 3, at KHiO, while the other two semesters are spent at one of the CDPR network’s partner institutions. The programme is particularly well-suited to students who are interested in working in international and intercultural contexts, such as festivals, co-productions and supranational collaborations.

The programme provides practice with and insight into theatrical art as a collective art form, develops dramaturgical competence and provides an understanding of the organisational, economic and social premises and conditions of the theatre and theatrical art.

The programme qualifies students to work within the field of theatrical art at a high level, whether locally, nationally or internationally, and students who achieve the degree will be able to apply for admission to the artistic research programme and other relevant PhD programmes.

Admission Requirements

The Master’s programme is based on a three-year Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits) or equivalent education. Applicants must document specialisation of at least 80 ECTS credits in disciplines or courses within the theatre, theatrical art or equivalent.

In exceptional cases, the Academy may approve other documented qualifications as being either completely or partially equivalent to the educations mentioned above.

Admission takes place on the basis of a written application and admission tests.

When applying, the applicant must submit a letter of motivation in addition to a written assignment. The admission process will emphasise the applicants’ theatrical practice, in particular their dramaturgical practice, artistic potential and level of reflection.

All applicants must master and be able to document proficiency in English, equivalent either to TOEFL with a minimum score of 500, IELTS with a minimum score of 5.0, or other documentation on an equivalent level.

Applicants who document an educational background from Nordic countries or from English-speaking countries do not need to submit additional documentation of their proficiency in English.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the programme, students shall

• be able to work as a dramaturge within various theatrical forms and formats
• be familiar with and have knowledge about national and international organisations/platforms for the production of theatrical art
• be able to create and help create theatrical art at a high artistic level, and be capable of understanding and working on theatrical art as a cross-aesthetic, collective art form
• be able to develop their own and others’ practice through specialisation, oral and written reflection, critiquing and understanding
• be able to take part in discussing and developing the ethical and aesthetic conditions of artistic processes
• have practical and theoretical knowledge about, and experience with, various theatrical development processes and their conditions of production
• have extensive knowledge about, and experience with, the expressions, theoretical discourses and work methods of today’s theatre
• have knowledge about the connections between theatrical art and society, both nationally and internationally
• be able to gather, analyse, document and present complex discipline-specific knowledge and thus help develop the field
• be able to apply their knowledge and skills to other relevant practices/fields

Structure and Progression

The programme spans four semesters, and students spend either semesters 1 and 4, or else semesters 2 and 3, at KHiO, while the other two semesters are spent at one of the partner institutions within the CDPR network. The various courses support, develop and create a basis for the professional competence the students will need later in their careers.

The programme consists of courses that contain various components. All the courses emphasise the students’ work on the basis of their own area of specialisation.

DRAMATURGY

The Dramaturgy 1–3 courses provide insight into dramaturgical theory, method and history as well as an understanding of theatrical art as a composition that is based on various artistic parameters. Central elements include analyses of text, space, music, visuality and movement, as well as a focus on an experience-based application of the dramaturgical competence.

The courses also emphasise dramaturgy as an ability to understand and analyse an artistic work’s organisational, cultural, political and economic contexts.

COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT

The Competence Development 1–3 courses are based on the student’s defined specialisation and build on the competence the students acquired from previous education and practice. In these courses the students shall continue to develop the skills that are necessary to enhance and realise their art. Each student will play a part in defining their goals, their progression and the skills they shall improve.

PROJECT REALISATION

The Project Realisation 1–2 courses encompass various forms of individual and collective presentations, work demonstrations, études and productions. Central elements include conceptual development, investigation, project development and execution, reception and effect analysis, documentation and presentation. The various formats will entail encounters with diverse audiences. The courses will enable the students to create and present theatrical expressions and productions, in various formats and of a high quality, that can unfold in relevant contexts and showcase the student’s artistry.

MASTER’S PROJECT

The Master’s project consists of one or several independent artistic works related to the student’s specialisation. An individual artistic expression and personal distinctiveness is required. During the Master’s project, the student shall submit a reflective text that clarifies the context of the artistic work and that documents its process and applied methodology. The course is assessed individually but takes place in creative interaction with others. The Master’s project is taken during semester 4, but developing the problems and methods of the project is an integral part of the other courses.

ECTS credits are used to determine the scope of the study/work required by the programme’s courses. 60 ECTS credits correspond to a year of full-time study. One ECTS credit corresponds to 30 actual hours of work for the student. In total this amounts to around 1,800 actual hours of work per year. Actual hours of work include educator-led teaching, lectures, thesis writing, seminars, independent studies, artistic investigations, performance work, etc. Some courses are primarily carried out through educator-led teaching, while other courses emphasise the student’s independent work.

Go to course structure

Teaching and Learning Methods

The instruction builds on art-, research- and experience-based knowledge and takes place in close contact with the development of theatrical art at the Academy of Theatre (the Oslo National Academy of the Arts) and the various CDPR partner institutions.

Teaching may take place individually, in classes and in groups consisting of different cohorts/programmes. Taking responsibility for one’s own learning, reflecting on this learning and being able to cooperate are all central to the programme.

The programme’s work methods include educator-led teaching, supervision and independent work and may consist of for example practical exercises, lectures, work demonstrations, independent study, written assignments and the use of technology.

The semesters spent abroad allow for a comprehensive investigation of theatre practices and studies in various cultural surroundings. The practice provides incisive and valuable insight into a variety of production methods and production processes in different countries.

Project work and theatrical productions are central to the programme. These are adapted to the individual student groups, external partners and the programme’s learning outcomes.

The programme’s medium of instruction is English.

Coursework requirements for the programme:

• active participation in the education
• fulfilled coursework requirements within each course and the completion of all mandatory assignments
• mandatory attendance in the scheduled classes (provisions on absence and leave are laid down in the regulations concerning studies at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts)
• for further information on coursework requirements, see the individual course descriptions
• for information about coursework requirements for the two semesters abroad, see the partner institutions’ respective web pages

Assessment

All coursework requirements must be approved in order for the student to receive a final assessment in the given course.

The students’ work in the programme shall be supervised and assessed on an ongoing basis. The assessment is based on supervision, teacher assessments and student’s academic development as seen in relation to the course’s learning outcomes. The assessment usually takes place in cooperation between the student, teacher/supervisor and course coordinator.

In addition to the ongoing assessments, a course may also be concluded with a written exam, assessment of artistic results or a practical demonstration related to the course’s learning outcomes.

The Master’s project will be assessed by an internal and an external examiner.

For further information on how each course is assessed, see the individual course descriptions.

All learning outcomes and coursework requirements for the programme and for each individual course must be passed in order to achieve the Master’s degree.

The course uses a grading scale of A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a failing grade.

Further provisions on assessment and exams have been laid down in the regulations concerning studies at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Forskrift om studiene ved Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo).

Quality Assurance

The Oslo National Academy of the Arts has systems for assuring and enhancing the quality of all parts of the education. Students are important contributors to this work, for example by participating in student evaluations and the annual learning environment survey.