Comparative dramaturgy and performance research (CDPR), master
Delve into diverse performance cultures and dramaturgical practices in this research-oriented international double-degree master’s programme. Study two semesters in two European universities and graduate from both.
Why study here?
The Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR) programme offers students a unique opportunity to experience distinctly different forms of dramaturgical thinking and performance cultures. This model enables a comparative approach to dramaturgical practice and theory.
The programme is the first double-degree programme at Uniarts Helsinki. You will study two semesters at two European universities and graduate from both.
We have tailored this programme for process-oriented students who wish to work in international and multidisciplinary contexts. The contexts include collaborative productions, research-oriented artistic projects and institutions that combine artistic activities and research.
Content and objective of the programme
Our goal is to educate internationally active professionals with the ability and determination to cross a wide range of boundaries – artistic, cultural, linguistic and disciplinary – in order to create inventive performances.
The CDPR programme trains students to become research-oriented artists with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse issues of their choice through the performing arts.
The curriculum prepares students for important challenges that have shaped the field of performing arts in recent decades. These include the expansion of the concepts of performance and dramaturgy; changes in what constitutes the work of the dramaturge; changes in the relationship between art and research; and increased international and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Studying at two different universities will allow you to delve into diverse performance and research practices and gain a detailed understanding of different local performing arts scenes. You will develop the ability to compare and connect different artistic practices, cultural systems, languages and fields of research and act as an active intermediator between them.
You enter the programme with an existing performance practice and a preliminary master’s research plan. This will give direction to your studies from the outset. The plan is revised and expanded during the studies.
The comprehensive and demanding CDPR programme comprises four semesters and requires full-time attendance.
A network of five European universities
The CDPR programme takes place through a partnership network of five European universities.
Each partner has a unique approach to dramaturgy and performance, and all partners create their curriculum independently. The main languages of the network are English and French. Students create their own speciality in CDPR depending on which two network universities they study at.
This education at two different universities provides you with the opportunity to understand and take advantage of varied forms of dramaturgical processes. You will study using a comparative approach to performance creation and research.
In addition to Uniarts Helsinki, the CDPR network partners are:
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- Oslo National Academy of the Arts
- Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Université Paris Nanterre
Of the four partner universities, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Université Paris Nanterre have French as the main language of education. At the other two universities, CDPR studies are offered in English.
What is a double-degree programme?
In the double-degree master’s programme, all students study two semesters at two European universities and graduate from both.
If you are accepted to the programme at Uniarts Helsinki, we will then become your home university and you begin your studies here. For the second and third semester, you will study at one of our partner universities, which you choose at the beginning of your studies. During these two semesters, you will follow the visiting university’s curriculum and participate in their artistic projects. During the fourth semester, you will complete your master’s thesis project at your home university. You submit the final thesis to both universities.
In short: for the same workload as a regular master’s degree, you get two degrees and in-depth international experience.
Degree structure and studies at Uniarts Helsinki
The CDPR studies have a different structure for students commencing their studies at Uniarts Helsinki and for those who participate in the programme from one of the partner universities.
As a student commencing your CDPR double-degree studies at Uniarts Helsinki, your studies consist of programme-specific studies, seminars in dramaturgy and optional advanced studies. In the fourth semester, you return to Uniarts Helsinki to complete your thesis, which you started planning already in the first semester. The thesis usually consists of an artistic part and a written thesis. The artistic part can be an independent project or you can work as a dramaturge in a collaborative production with other students of Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy.
If you are a student participating in the programme from one of the partner universities, studies at Uniarts Helsinki consist of both programme-specific and optional advanced studies. Your studies include workshops and seminars as well as advanced studies in dramaturgy and other fields of theatre and performance arts.
This programme admits new students every two years.
Doctoral studies
A master’s degree allows you to complete, for example, a Doctor of Arts (Theatre) degree as a third-cycle degree.
If you are interested in going on to practice-led doctoral studies, our goal is to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to do so.
Doctoral studies in artistic research are offered by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).
Learn more about the programme
Target degree and length of study
Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama). Double master’s degree from two universities.
2 years
Application period
Next possible time to apply is in January 2025. Studies begin in August 2025.
Application languages
English
Read more about the language skill requirements
Tuition fee
From August 2025, the annual tuition fee is € 12,000 for students who are studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Supervising teacher
-
Katalin Trencsényi
Lecturer, Degree Programme in Dramaturgy and Playwriting, Theatre Academy+358504784043katalin.trencsenyi@uniarts.fi
Unit
Theatre Academy
Ask about applying
Why study here?
The Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR) programme offers students a unique opportunity to experience distinctly different forms of dramaturgical thinking and performance cultures. This model enables a comparative approach to dramaturgical practice and theory.
The programme is the first double-degree programme at Uniarts Helsinki. You will study two semesters at two European universities and graduate from both.
We have tailored this programme for process-oriented students who wish to work in international and multidisciplinary contexts. The contexts include collaborative productions, research-oriented artistic projects and institutions that combine artistic activities and research.
Content and objective of the programme
Our goal is to educate internationally active professionals with the ability and determination to cross a wide range of boundaries – artistic, cultural, linguistic and disciplinary – in order to create inventive performances.
The CDPR programme trains students to become research-oriented artists with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse issues of their choice through the performing arts.
The curriculum prepares students for important challenges that have shaped the field of performing arts in recent decades. These include the expansion of the concepts of performance and dramaturgy; changes in what constitutes the work of the dramaturge; changes in the relationship between art and research; and increased international and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Studying at two different universities will allow you to delve into diverse performance and research practices and gain a detailed understanding of different local performing arts scenes. You will develop the ability to compare and connect different artistic practices, cultural systems, languages and fields of research and act as an active intermediator between them.
You enter the programme with an existing performance practice and a preliminary master’s research plan. This will give direction to your studies from the outset. The plan is revised and expanded during the studies.
The comprehensive and demanding CDPR programme comprises four semesters and requires full-time attendance.
A network of five European universities
The CDPR programme takes place through a partnership network of five European universities.
Each partner has a unique approach to dramaturgy and performance, and all partners create their curriculum independently. The main languages of the network are English and French. Students create their own speciality in CDPR depending on which two network universities they study at.
This education at two different universities provides you with the opportunity to understand and take advantage of varied forms of dramaturgical processes. You will study using a comparative approach to performance creation and research.
In addition to Uniarts Helsinki, the CDPR network partners are:
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- Oslo National Academy of the Arts
- Université Libre de Bruxelles
- Université Paris Nanterre
Of the four partner universities, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Université Paris Nanterre have French as the main language of education. At the other two universities, CDPR studies are offered in English.
What is a double-degree programme?
In the double-degree master’s programme, all students study two semesters at two European universities and graduate from both.
If you are accepted to the programme at Uniarts Helsinki, we will then become your home university and you begin your studies here. For the second and third semester, you will study at one of our partner universities, which you choose at the beginning of your studies. During these two semesters, you will follow the visiting university’s curriculum and participate in their artistic projects. During the fourth semester, you will complete your master’s thesis project at your home university. You submit the final thesis to both universities.
In short: for the same workload as a regular master’s degree, you get two degrees and in-depth international experience.
Degree structure and studies at Uniarts Helsinki
The CDPR studies have a different structure for students commencing their studies at Uniarts Helsinki and for those who participate in the programme from one of the partner universities.
As a student commencing your CDPR double-degree studies at Uniarts Helsinki, your studies consist of programme-specific studies, seminars in dramaturgy and optional advanced studies. In the fourth semester, you return to Uniarts Helsinki to complete your thesis, which you started planning already in the first semester. The thesis usually consists of an artistic part and a written thesis. The artistic part can be an independent project or you can work as a dramaturge in a collaborative production with other students of Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy.
If you are a student participating in the programme from one of the partner universities, studies at Uniarts Helsinki consist of both programme-specific and optional advanced studies. Your studies include workshops and seminars as well as advanced studies in dramaturgy and other fields of theatre and performance arts.
This programme admits new students every two years.
Doctoral studies
A master’s degree allows you to complete, for example, a Doctor of Arts (Theatre) degree as a third-cycle degree.
If you are interested in going on to practice-led doctoral studies, our goal is to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to do so.
Doctoral studies in artistic research are offered by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).