National University of Singapore

Master of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Arts (Theatre and Performance Studies), hereafter referred to as the MA (TPS), is offered by the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies in the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).

This distinctive one-year Master of Arts degree programme equips students with the latest approaches to understanding and engaging traditional and contemporary forms of theatre, performance and cultural activity, while also enabling them to apply their studies toward professional development and industry contexts.

Grounded in our department’s world-class expertise, the MA (TPS) integrates theory and practice, training students in close critical and historically contextualised analysis while equipping them with a host of transferable skills. Students desiring to create and develop performance will have hands-on learning opportunities.

Our courses develop critical thinking, research abilities and presentation skills, particularly for those who seek to work between arts practice, industry, research and community advancement. They are taught by globally recognised leaders in areas such as theatre history, Asian performance, play analysis, practice-based research, collaborative performance creation, digital humanities, and interdisciplinary study of literature, film and performance.

Students will be equipped with practical and conceptual skillsets required to meet the demands of current theatre and performance industries, and for cultural leadership in a wide range of roles from arts educator, to arts organisation leader, to cultural research associate, to arts policy maker. Additionally, with our emphasis on digital skills in the arts and humanities, students will be uniquely poised to apply digital tools to a variety of public, educational and industry contexts. Expertise in digital skills for humanities research will open doors for students interested in intersections between theatre, performance and professional activities such as archive development, multimedia interface, data-storytelling and web design.

Why This Programme?

Develop skills that are highly relevant in the theatre and performance industries, which are also transferable across domains.

Cultivate a range of competencies (e.g. critical thinking, research abilities, presentation skills as well as close critical and historically contextualised analysis) crucial for those who seek to work between arts practice, industry, research, community advancement and cultural leadership.

Take advantage of opportunities for the study of digital skills in the arts and humanities, and gain familiarity with the contemporary tools used for professional activities such as archive development, interaction design and multimedia interface, along with data-storytelling and web design.