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International MA Program of Applied Theatre

The University of Arts Tg-Mures participates in International MA Program of Applied Theatre


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The application for the funding of the common project of the Western University of Applied Sciences, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Arts Tg-Mures has been succesful. The MA program issuing a common diploma is planned to start in September 2026. The first session of entrance exams opens in October 2025.

The EMJM Programme Theatre SPACEs (Theatre in Social, Participatory Art, Community and Educational Contexts) is an international and interdisciplinary Master programme which aims to transmit theoretical and practical knowledge on applying theatre in educational, community, cultural and social contexts. Theatre in Contexts is a recent term to describe a wide range of performative practices that share the intention of contributing to societal, pedagogical or community change.

Such performative practices usually

  • involve non-professionals (e.g., citizens, pupils, community members, substance users, activists etc.),
  • occur in non-conventional theatre sites (e.g., hospitals, schools, public squares, prisons, museums etc.),
  • focus on topics relevant for the given community (e.g., poverty, bullying, inequalities, climate change etc.),
  • contain a specific objective of changemaking (e.g., communicating with decision makers, competence development, inclusion of minorities, sharing own stories with the wider community etc.).

 

Theatre SPACEs is the first-ever European joint master programme in this field relying on deep cooperation of five universities:

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (coordinator),

Trinity College Dublin,

University of Arts Targu-Mures,

University of Hamburg (associated partner) and

The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (associated partner).

 

Upon the completion of 4 semesters and 120 ECTS, the programme delivers a joint degree.

Beyond covering a wide selection of European approaches and methods, the programme will also focus on the adaptation and implementation of the learned methods within different cultures and contexts. The programme includes participatory learning, field visits, group projects, elective courses, artistic research and a longer fieldwork at labour market partners worldwide. The programme also has a strong theoretical-academic component which qualifies dedicated students for enrolling to a PhD programme and continue their academic career in research.

What is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM)?

EMJMs are high-level integrated transnational study programmes at the MA level delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions from different countries worldwide. A high degree of jointness/integration and excellence of academic content is a must.

EMJM scholarships can be offered to students from all over the world at the MA level. The only stipulation is geographical balance – i.e., no more than 10 % of the total number of scholarships awarded during project implementation should be awarded to candidates from the same nationality.

During the 74 months (six academic years) of EU support, max. 70 scholarships can be awarded. Additionally, self-financing students paying for their studies, travel and living costs can also participate.

The EMJMs include compulsory physical mobilities for all enrolled students. Each study period corresponds to a workload of at least one academic semester (30 ECTS). Compulsory mobility periods cannot be replaced by virtual mobility (distance learning).

The successful completion of Theatre SPACEs will lead to the award of a joint degree (i.e., one single diploma awarded by the consortium). The programme is accredited in all full partner countries.

The funding has two components: scholarships for the best students worldwide, and a supplement to the full partner universities’ institutional costs. The funding is lump sum based, meaning it is not stipulated how it should be used; it could be used to any cost related to the programme.

More details: erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-b/key-action-2/erasmus-mundus

Coordinator: Adam Cziboly, professor of drama and applied theatre, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, adam.cziboly@hvl.no