University of New England
Master of Theatre and Performance
Online
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
AUD 30,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* international students fees. contact the university for domestic students tuition fees
Introduction
Are you an experienced theatre practitioner and/or drama educator who wants to refine your professional and academic skills? Our fully online Master of Theatre and Performance gives you a unique opportunity to extend your knowledge and skills in theatre practice, dramaturgical research, and academic writing, and upgrade your qualifications as a performer, director, designer, playwright or teacher.
This degree will help you future proof your career by broadening your knowledge and building on your professional experience and capabilities.
Why study the Master of Theatre and Performance with UNE?
The Master of Theatre and Performance is a creative practice and research course, integrating theoretical and practical study. At the core of the course is a substantial creative project* which you undertake as playwright, director, actor, designer or drama educator, and on which you write a short dissertation which builds in the knowledge and understanding gained through the creative work.
You will also undertake research, and gain skills in the entrepreneurial aspects of the theatre and arts management.
There will be an opportunity to choose areas of study to further develop your skills in writing, contemporary theoretical approaches, research methodology and/or the study of theatre history.
On completion of this course you will have gained an advanced understanding of theatre theory and production, valuable research skills, and the ability to apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice.
What makes our course different?
Our Master of Theatre and Performance is the only course of its kind in Australia.
- You will learn from lecturers and tutors who have years of industry and/or research experience in the field.
- Choose to study when it suits you. Our fully online degree allows you to fit study around your busy lifestyle, not the other way around, no matter where you are in the world.
- UNE is Australia’s oldest regional university and a pioneer in the delivery of distance education – more than 80% of our students are online.
- We’re highly rated - UNE’s humanities and social sciences postgraduate courses were given the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience, Student Support and Teaching Quality in the 2021 Good Universities Guide.
Year after year students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support, so when you choose to study with us, you are in very good hands.
Listed units include (but are not limited to):
- Writing for Performance: Stage and Screen
- The Classic Play and Performance Now
- Australian Theatre
- The Actor’s Craft
- Directing and Production
- Drama Skills for Secondary Teachers
- Perspectives on Shakespeare
- Indigenous Business and Community Development.
*It is your responsibility to arrange a practical theatre project on which some of your studies will be based, independently of UNE. Appropriate organisations include a professional, independent, or community theatre company, or a school or university.
Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.
Study on campus
Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.
24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.
The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 30%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2023.
We currently are offering a 20% Bursary for the 2024 intake.
UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying for research-based degrees.
View detailed Bursary information.
Curriculum
Course structure
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 48 credit points with at least 36 credit points at 500-level.
Core Units
36 credit points
Complete the following units:
- Major Research Project (HASS512)
- Performance Preparation and Research (THEA501)
- The Entrepreneurial Creative Artist (THEA502)
- Advanced Theatre Performance and Analysis (THEA503)
Listed Units
12 credit points
Complete 12 credit points from the following units:
With the approval of the course coordinator candidates may include any other 400-level or 500-level unit in a relevant discipline.
- Research Project (HASS506)
- Perspectives on Shakespeare (ENGL542)
- Indigenous Business and Community Development (PAIS523)
- The Actor's Craft (THEA407)
- The Role of the Director (THEA430)
- The Classic Play and Performance Now (THEA504)
- Major Creative Project (THEA505)
- Australian Theatre (THEA517)
- Writing for Performance: Stage and Screen (THEA521)
- Pitches and Partners (THEA560)
- Work Integrated Learning - Professional Skills Development (WORK500)
Program Outcome
- Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of theatre theory and production; research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice;
- Demonstrate expert cognitive, technical and creative skills in theatre and performance to interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
- Research, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice;
- Plan and execute a substantial research based performance project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship;
- Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and ethical conduct as a practitioner and learner; and
- Show initiative in exploring career and further learning pathways and opportunities with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability; consistently take responsibility for seeking improved learning and maintaining accurate evidence of learning achievements from within formal course experiences; and demonstrate the ability to plan a course of action for further learning and continuing professional practice.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
By enhancing your experience in both theoretical and creative practice, you’ll be paving your career path in the direction of your choice. Examples of careers that can be assisted through a Master of Theatre and Performance include:
- professional theatre direction and production
- professional playwriting, design or performance
- arts management
- the teaching of theatre and performance
- entrepreneurial theatre making.