Acting in Finnish, bachelor and master

Perfect your acting skills in an intense degree programme that requires a high level of commitment.

Aya Brace

Why study here?

Action and practicing are at the core of acting studies in Finnish. You will study acting techniques like movement, music, singing, voice control, and speech techniques. As a student, you will be part of a community that emphasises interactive teamwork and respectful collaboration.

Every year, a total of 12–14 new students begin their acting studies in Finnish. 

Content and objective of the programme

We consider acting an activity-based way of thinking. This psychophysical activity includes interactive situations that one can practise. This is the starting point for our approach to learning about acting techniques, speech, movement, music and singing. This programme aims to provide students with diverse professional skills and identities as creative artists who are capable of developing their art form. The focus is on drama-oriented theatre.

The studies take five years to complete: three years of bachelor’s studies and five years of master’s studies.

As a bachelor’s student, you will participate in full-time intensive contact teaching, which requires commitment to both group lessons and independent work. Action and practicing are at the core of the studies.

Each student has individual study paths in their master-level studies, which push the students to take an increasing amount of responsibility for their own development, long-term planning of their studies and overall independent work.

Beginning of an artistic career

Not only does the programme refine your acting skills, but it also challenges you intellectually. The studies include reflection on your views on humanity, the world and art and encourages you to adopt a curious, independent and broad-minded way of thinking. The studies highlight interaction between acting studies and research-based knowledge.

We will help you find your own place in the continuum of the acting tradition and encourage you to live out the tradition in novel ways. Performing arts are in a constant state of change. Acting as a profession is expanding into new areas, and the art of acting is taking place in increasingly diverse contexts. As a student, you will enter the programme with your own personal observations of the world and with the views and experiences of the generation that you represent. During your studies, we will both support and challenge your views. We encourage you to observe discussions on topical social issues and analyse their connection to the representations produced by theatre and films.

We highlight the importance of cooperation and steer you towards interactive and respectful teamwork.

Teachers

Our teachers are experienced experts in their field. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top talents as guest teachers on a regular basis.

Doctoral studies

A master’s degree gives the eligibility to complete a Doctor of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree, for example, as a third-cycle degree. Doctoral studies in theatre are offered by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).

Admissions guide

Target degree and length of study

Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama)
5 years

Application period

Next possible time to apply is in January 2025. Studies begin in August 2025.

Application languages

Finnish

Read more about the language skill requirements

Tuition fee

There is no tuition fee for this degree programme, as the language of instruction is not English.

Read more about tuition fees

Supervising teacher

  • Elina Knihtilä

    Professor, Degree Programme in Acting, Theatre Academy
    +358505240927
    elina.knihtila@uniarts.fi

Unit

Theatre Academy

Ask about applying

teak.admissions@uniarts.fi