Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with Specialisation in Contemporary Performative Arts

The purpose of this degree programme is to support professional artists in theatre, physical performance, live art/performance art, dance, music drama or sound art to further develop their artistic practice and to develop their ability to articulate, contextualise and reflect on their own artistry as well as on contemporary questions in a interdisciplinary context. This programme prepares students for research, and is given in English.

Bachelor of arts degree in fine arts or equivalent, as well as knowledge and skills in performing arts that are assessed at the admission test and are the basis for selection. Professional experience in theatre, physical performance, live art, dance, music drama or sound art is a requirement. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS. Other entry requirements are documented in the respective course syllabus.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Fine Arts (120 credits) in Performing Arts with Specialisation in Contemporary Performative Arts (Konstnärlig masterexamen i scenisk gestaltning med inriktning mot Contemporary Performative Arts).

This programme is targeted at practising artists in theatre, physical performance, live art/performance art, dance, music drama or sound art who have an interest in performative practices in interdisciplinary contexts in non-traditional venues. This programme is intended for professional artists who wish to develop further and conduct an explorative project for 2 years.

A large part of this programme consists of the Independent Project (Degree Project), divided into four sub courses, where the student carries out their own artistic explorative work based on a specific issue or theme. The student is given support through supervision, seminars, workshops, method work and lab forums, where the projects are processed in critique sessions and feedback sessions.

In addition to this, this programme contains courses on the relation that the performative arts have to the surrounding society and other scholarly disciplines, artistic digital practices, contemporary dramaturgies, reflection, communication and sustainability, and artistic and academic writing. The course module Core Values, 1.5 credits, is also included in this programme, and is studied together with other Master's (second-cycle) programmes at the department.

The degree programme is offered on a full-time basis in the daytime and consists of two years of full-time study, each for 60 credits. Evening and weekend studies may occur to some extent.

Course structure
Studies are divided into the following courses:

Semester 1
Independent Project (Degree Project) 1- introduction 15 credits
MPA231 Performative Arts in a Changing World 7.5 credits
MPA221 Reflecting Artistic Practice 7.5 credits

Semester 2
CPA201 Independent Project (Degree Project) 2- experimentation 15 credits
MPA222 Artistical Digital Practices 7.5 credits
MPA232 Contemporary Dramaturgies 7.5 credits

Semester 3
CPA201 Independent Project (Degree Project) 3- in-depth study 7.5 credits
MPA233 Space, Site and Context 7.5 credits
MPA223 Academic and Artistic Writing 7.5 credits

Semester 4
CPA201 Independent Project (Degree Project) 4- presentation 15 credits
MPA214 Art, Communication and Sustainability 7.5 credits
Elective Course 7.5 credits

Second-cycle study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

General outcomes for Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 credits)
According to Higher Education Ordinance (see SFS 1993:100, System of Qualifications, annex 2):

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in areas of the field as well as specialised insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate familiarity with methods and processes for dealing with complex phenomena, issues and situations in the field.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to formulate new issues autonomously and creatively and contribute to the formation of knowledge, solve more advanced problems, develop new forms of personal expression as well as to reflect critically on his or her artistic approach and that of others in the main field of study
• demonstrate the ability to create and execute his or her own ideas with his or her own personal expression, to identify, formulate and solve artistic and creative problems autonomously and also to plan and undertake advanced artistic tasks using appropriate methods within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability both nationally and internationally to clearly present and discuss his or her works and artistic issues in speech, writing or in other ways and in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the competence and knowledge required to work autonomously in a professional capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree in Master of Fine Arts (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant artistic, social and ethical issues
• demonstrate insight into the role of art in society, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

This programme syllabus GU 2025/3559 applies to students admitted to the programme from the autumn 2026. Students who have begun the programme before the autumn 2026 and have unfinished courses according to the older version of the programme syllabus have the right to complete these through additional examinations, at most two years after the courses have been changed or discontinued.

• The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).
• Language of instruction is English.

Students that, at normal pace follow the programme have a guaranteed seat in the programme. There are two types of guarantee: general and restricted.

Restricted guarantee gives the student a seat in a course, but not necessarily the student’s first priority. The Academy of Music and Drama applies restricted guarantee on the elective courses. However, the student is always guaranteed a seat on any elective course.