Theatre – Research – Transfer
Theatre – Research – Transfer (M.A.)
With the research-oriented master’s program in Theater – Research – Transfer, FAU offers a qualification that is both academically sound and professionally oriented for those interested in theater studies content and issues with a focus on artistic practices and communication processes in cultural institutions. The students will work as a future generation of theoretically versed practitioners in responsible, formative positions in the field of artistic practice, in the areas of dramaturgy, theater pedagogy, curating, public relations and cultural management, etc.. At the same time, the program opens up the possibility of further academic qualification, for example in the context of a doctorate in theater studies.
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 4
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 1-50
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- Qualification assessment
What is the degree program about?
The triad of theater – research – transfer takes into account recent developments in the arts, sciences and communication. In all of these areas, fundamental social, political, technical, and aesthetic transformations are occurring that challenge established practices as well as the role and self-image of the actors and institutions involved. We meet this challenge by making the content and forms of teaching more flexible and dynamic. The goal of the degree program is not the application of already established knowledge to new areas, but the training of the ability to react flexibly to the cultural challenges of the present and their ever-changing demands.
The starting point for this is theater, understood under the sign of a broad concept of theatricality, which does not limit questions about forms of staging, physical techniques and perceptual processes to the arts, but explicitly includes political and social communication. This results in a variety of references to other humanities subjects (such as philosophy, sociology, literature and art studies), to the positions of performance, body and gender theory, as well as to theories of globalization and interculturality. Special attention is given to the relationship between theatrical practices and digitalization.
The field of research is also currently affected by profound upheavals that affect the self-image of the university as well as its relationship to artistic-creative practice. We understand the latter in the sign of “artistic research” not as an object of disciplinary knowledge, but as an independent method of knowledge generation. This is accompanied by an expansion of concepts and methods, which can only be grasped in an explorative and experimental way and is to be developed in an exchange between scientists, practitioners and students.
In the area of transfer, we dedicate ourselves both to already established dramaturgical and pedagogical professional fields (cultural education, playbill and program design, public relations) and to experimental forms that go hand in hand with the revaluation and dissolution of boundaries in curating. Practice-related questions and contents are developed in close exchange with cultural institutions; the students are involved in the work fields and processes of a concrete professional practice within the framework of internships.
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The first semester is dedicated to the central fields of theater studies (theory, historiography, performance analysis) and fundamental questions of mediation practice. In the second semester, these topics are deepened and tested in the context of an artistic project in exchange with guest artists. The third semester is characterized by two obligatory external internships, which are flanked by accompanying courses. In the fourth semester, the degree program concludes with a master’s thesis and an oral examination.
1st semester
Module 1: Theory and Historiography of Theater (10 ECTS)
Module 2: Performance analysis (5 ECTS)
Module 3: Comparative Analysis (5 ECTS)
Module 4: Basic Module Practices of Transfer (7,5 ECTS)
2nd semester
Module 5: Aesthetics of Theater (5 ECTS)
Module 6: Theatre and other Arts (5 ECTS)
Module 7: Elective module (10 ECTS)
Module 8: Advanced Module Practices of Transfer (7,5 ECTS)
Module 9: Artistic project work (5 ECTS)
3rd semester
Module 10: Practical Reflection (15 ECTS)
Module 11: Research questions (15 ECTS)
4th semester
Module 12: Examination module (30 ECTS)
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Studying at the Institute for Theater and Media Studies
The professionally equipped spatial and technical as well as personnel resources of the Institute for Theater and Media Studies can be used for experimental forms of teaching and learning as well as for independent practice by the students. For scenic project work, the Experimental Theater provides a flexibly usable theater space with state-of-the-art lighting technology, an audio system with multi-channel and surround options, and various video projection options, as well as media studios with flexibly usable audio and video equipment and fully digital editing suites. The GamesLab is a facility for researching digital games.
In addition, there are a number of student initiatives at FAU in which students can gain experience in cultural work and festival organization while studying, such as the ARENA theater and performance festival, the FAU campus media funklust, and the student culture magazine re>flex.
Cooperation with cultural institutionsThe Erlangen-Nuremberg metropolitan region is characterized by a great variety of cultural institutions with supraregional appeal: Theater and opera, museums and exhibition venues for contemporary art, a diverse musical life, and a long tradition of international festivals. As part of the master’s degree program, we will cooperate with the most important institutions and actors in cultural life as well as visiting artists* – including the Nuremberg State Theater, the Tafelhalle Nuremberg, the Erlangen Theater, the Erlangen Cultural Office (Figure Theater Festival, Comic Salon, Poetry Festival), the New Museum Nuremberg and the Erlangen Art Palace.
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This degree program prepares you primarily for the following professional areas:
- artistic practice
- dramaturgy, theater pedagogy, curating, public relations and cultural management, etc.
- At the same time, the program opens up the possibility of further academic qualification, for example in the context of a doctorate in theater studies.
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Here you will find information about some student projects that have been developed within the framework of the master’s degree program Theater – Research – Mediation. The information will be continuously supplemented.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- Qualification assessment
- Application deadline winter semester
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15.07.
- Content-related admission requirements
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Admission requires a degree in theater studies (B.A.) or theater and media studies (B.A.) or in a related bachelor’s degree program that includes a theater studies or theater-related component of at least 35 ECTS credits; if necessary, the qualification is additionally proven by participation in a selection interview.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- General language skills
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If no German degree or German university entrance qualification is available, German language skills at the DSH2 level must be proven. Knowledge of English at the European reference level B2 is an advantage.
- Details and notes
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An application is possible from 140 ECTS credits from the first degree (access subject to reservation).
Together with the application documents, an independently written project outline must be submitted as further proof (length: between 7,000 and 12,000 characters including spaces). This serves to get to know the interests of our applicants as early as possible; it is not an artistic entrance examination.
The current assignment can be found on the program website.
The application takes place exclusively online via the portal campo. No application documents need to be sent by mail.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.