Performing Arts as Critical Practice - Master Programme

This programme is designed for you who are an artist within theatre, dance, or performance. Further, for you who want to embark on a research-led study and situate your practices within the social, political and economic conditions of the contemporary world. In the first year, you explore your own artistic interests through workshops, seminars, studio practice and peer learning, while engaging with artistic and research methods, theory, reflection, writing, and fieldwork.

The second year focuses on an independent final project, developed in collaboration with one or more partner organizations outside the academy. You will document your work in a digital notebook and write your MA thesis. Through the programme, you build skills in critical and ethical performance practice, reflection and collaboration, preparing you for a professional career in the performing arts. 

Partner organisations  

Characteristic of socially engaged art is to clearly identify who the artist wishes to address and how they wish to engage with them. The programme focuses on creating relationships and building alliances with relevant art organisations and institutions in the region and internationally.  

You will develop your practice through artistic experimentation, observation reflection and peer feedback. Together with your peers, you will explore critical and ethical approaches to performance and work closely with supervisors and international guest artists. Collaborative methods and situated projects help you connect to communities, while building an international network of peers. 

During your studies, you will gain the ability to create socially and politically relevant artistic projects, apply critical and ethical methods, plan and execute complex processes, collaborate with partners, and communicate your work to diverse audiences. You will develop your artistic practice in an international environment, supported by leading artists and theorists. 

The first cohort of students (2023-25) developed their artistic practices and exam projects in collaboration with organizations such as Skånes Dansteater, Unga Klara, Warehouse9 and Malmö Stadsteater. 

Building on the experiences from these partnerships and on the artistic practices of the current cohort (2025-27) the partners for the new cohort will be a mix between these partners and new partners. 

After you graduate you will be prepared for professional career in the performing arts, social practices, curating and teaching. The programme equips you to engage critically with the contemporary performing arts field, collaborate internationally, present work to diverse audiences, and contribute to shaping the future of theatre and performance.

The programme prepares you to build professional networks, pursue further research, or teach in higher education. 

When applying for this program, you will need to complete a work sample.

Please read the information carefully! If the instructions are not followed, your work samples may be considered invalid.

Remember that you must always apply for the program at antagning.se. 

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts (180 credits) or equivalent, and English course 6 (advanced proficiency).

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 800,000
First payment: SEK 200,000

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective  scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA. 

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarship: Global professionals

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden.  

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students. 

Country-specific scholarships

External scholarships

In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries.  

External scholarships