Master's Program in Live Art and Performance Studies
University of the Arts Helsinki
About this program
Master's Program in Live Art and Performance Studies
A full-time, two-year Master's program in English that uniquely combines performance theory with live art and performance art.
The LAPS program provides an interdisciplinary approach to performance art / live art and performance studies, which is reflected in the diverse fields of our lecturers, mentors, visiting artists and theorists. LAPS is partly constructed around rotating 1-to-1 mentorships, and includes group seminars in areas of core knowledge, art criticism, actionism and live art.
LAPS combines critical thinking with practice-led research, and seeks to flesh out synergies between research and practice. The program’s lecturers, mentors, visiting artists and theorists provide diverse approaches to the field, which include, but are not limited to: visual culture, gender studies, performance philosophy, performative research, embodiment, community-based practice, anthropology, mediated performance, performative writing, or the political theory of performance and activism. These approaches provide practical and theoretical tools for students in the context of performance studies and artistic research after the post-humanist turn.
Admission requirements
Language skill requirements
In order to be admitted as a degree student to Uniarts Helsinki, applicants must have command of the language of instruction used in the program. Having sufficient language skills is, in principle, a requirement in order to be eligible to apply, and it ensures that the applicant has demonstrated educability and suitability for university-level education and has the communication skills needed as a student.
The academies determine the languages of instruction for each degree program. The languages are stated in the program’s admission criteria as well as the syllabus.
If a program has several languages of instruction, applicants are only required to prove their proficiency in one of the languages.
Applicants must demonstrate their skills with a language certificate or prior studies. Language skills may also be assessed as part of entrance examinations.
A number of our study programs is offered in Finnish, Swedish, and English. This means that the student has the right to use any of these languages in teaching and study attainments, unless it is otherwise stated in the curriculum or the character of teaching makes it impossible. Please notice that most of our group instruction is held in Finnish or English.
These requirements are followed in our bachelor’s and Master's admissions, and in doctoral admissions where appropriate.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Learn moreProgram content
Master's Degree Program in Live Art and Performance Studies, Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama), 2021-2024
Methodologies of Performance and Live Art
- Orientation to LAPS(in English)
- Techniques and Practices(in English)
- Defining your practice(in English)
- Post-human performance(in English)
- Performance virtually(in English)
- Performances and projects I(in English)
- Performances and projects II(in English)
Methodologies of Performance Studies and Artistic Research
- Performance studies(in English)
- Artistic research(in English)
- Performing histories(in English)
- The futures of performance(in English)
- Performance economy(in English)
- Research tools(in English)
- Research practices(in English)
- Research seminar(in English)
- Thesis seminar(in English)
- Lectures and conferences(in English)
Collaborative and Institutional Practices
- Institutional performance(in English)
- Mentoring I(in English)
- Mentoring II(in English)
- Field work(in English)
- Curating a festival(in English)
For more information, please check the course webpage.
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Tuition
The tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is €5000 per year.
Tuition fees at Uniarts Helsinki are only applicable to Non-EU and non-EEA students studying for a BA or a MA degree in English.
Qualification
The LAPS program empowers its students to develop and activate new knowledge in performance and theory. The applicants may already have a foundation in live art or performance art, but are now interested in performance studies and want to develop their discursive research skills alongside their artistic practice, or they may have already carried out research in another field in the humanities, but want to focus more on e.g. embodied practices or performative research.
Continuing studies
A Master's degree gives you eligibility to pursue a doctoral degree in the Arts in e.g. Theatre and Drama. Doctoral studies in Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy are provided by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).
About this institute
University of the Arts Helsinki
The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) offers the highest education in fine arts, music, dance and theatre in an inspiring multidisciplinary environment. Uniarts Helsinki’s wide selection of programs in the field of arts and productive dialogue between teaching...
Why study at University of the Arts Helsinki
- The University of the Arts is one of the leading performing arts universities in the world: Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy has ranked among the top 22 universities in the QS World University Ranking for five consecutive years (2016–2022).
- We have unique facilities for creating arts with two campuses in Helsinki and a new building for fine arts which was opened in 2021. The facilities are in the use of the Academy of Fine Arts as well as students of light design, sound design, and design for the performing arts. We host over 1,000 public performances or exhibitions per year.
- At Uniarts Helsinki you can study in an inspiring environment where different disciplines of art influence each other. The academies of Uniarts Helsinki;Academy of Fine Arts, Theatre Academy and Sibelius Academy, have roots deep within the Finnish arts education and history of art. The predecessors of all three academies were founded in the 19th century although then they operated under slightly different names.
- The Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki is an international academy with a focus on fine arts. Students' personal aspirations and one-to-one guidance in teaching are at the heart of the academy.
- The Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is one of the largest music academies in Europe. It is the cornerstone of the Finnish music culture through its expertise in teaching, research and artistic activities.
- The Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is a reformer of the performing arts and offer the highest education in theatre, dance and writing in Finland.
