Theatre Studies

Deadline for submitting applications: August 1 - November 30

Who the programme is intended for: The programme is intended for graduates of any Bachelor’s degree programme.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: The entrance examination for the follow-up Master’s degree programme consists of three parts:

• a written test that tests factual knowledge of the field/programme Theatre Theory and History at the level of completed Bachelor’s studies;
• written analysis of a short sample of a theatrical play;
• discussion with the applicant (the discussion will examine the audience's view and the ability to talk about the theatrical experience, the submitted Master’s thesis project is also discussed).

As a basis for discussion, applicants shall prepare a Master’s thesis project (including the name of the research problem, evaluation of elementary literature, and work plan) and submit a list of at least 10 theatrical plays they have seen during the last six months.

Applicants will submit the project and the list of plays in electronic form in their e-applications by 10 January. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on all attached documents.

Web Department of Theatre Studies.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 70 points (out of 100). Knowledge test max. 10 points, analysis of a preview of the production max. 40 points, discussion of the project and the productions seen max. 50 points.

The aim of the follow-up Master studies is to deepen knowledge and skills acquired during the undergraduate studies. The stress is put on the development of the basic professional skills (working with archival materials, theatre criticism, dramaturgical work, historiographic research), as well as on the interdisciplinary aspect of theatre research (overlaps with psychology, philosophy and sociology of art, and cognitive studies). Students familiarize with up-to-date research methods and trends in Theatre research and related disciplines. At the same time, individual creative activities in research, criticism, and praxis are accentuated. All the aspects of the Master studies aim at developing a complex understanding of theatre in both current and historical contexts.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• orientate themselves in current branches of thinking about theatre theory and history
• understand theatrical phenomena in an interdisciplinary context
• apply theoretical thinking of and practical experience with theatre and drama in its critical assessment
• use acquired knowledge in creative and/or management processes in theatre (or culture in general)
• deal with a research issue adequately and independently, using a relevant research method
• use acquired knowledge in editing, translating, or in creative activities

The graduate finds employment especially in theatre and/or art criticism, theatre/art research, and theatre/art/cultural management. Graduates usually find employment in research and archival institutions, theatres of all kinds, institutions targeted at preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, and in media (newspapers, journals, TV, radio). Other positions include PR managers in both public and private sphere, administrative workers in culture and arts management, administrators of cultural politics and cultural industries, dramaturges, cultural critics, and editors.

The minimal number of pages for the Master final thesis is 80 standard pages (i.e. 144,000 characters) including footnotes, title sheet, contents, index, list of works cited, and summary. Students are allowed to use all kinds of published texts and data available, if subject to further treatment. Students are supposed to prove their ability to approach their sources critically, process them effectively, make them subject to theoretical rethinking and conceptualization, and find in them answers to their research questions. It is preferable that the thesis be based either on the research of archival materials, issues concerning current phenomena related to theatre and/or drama, or theatricality/performativity.

The graduate (when meeting the requirements for admission) can continue their studies in the post-graduate programmes.