Theater and Digitality

Theater stages have for thousands of years been the home for stories of humans (and other creatures) and their worlds. Theater and the Performing Arts can permeate the present, the past and the future alike, can build bridges through times, can zoom out or go into close-ups: onto hopes and dreams, enhancing wonders and abysses alike, looking through the surfaces of societies.

Theater, as an ever-contemporary artform, has at all times kept a curious and, at the same time, a critical eye on the inventions of new technologies - wondering whether these inventions could be interesting for being incorporated on its stages. Very often, the answer was "yes" (just think of electricity and cameras).

Theater has always been created by storytellers with different expert knowledge. The Master "Theater and Digitality" is therefore aimed at students with either artistic or technical background (or both) - students who are interested in exploring theatrical narratives in context with technologies.

The Master "Theater and Digitality" is an interdisciplinary, 3 semester, English-language study at the Faculty of Design of Fachhochschule Dortmund - University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The start will be the spring semester of 2025. Graduates will be awarded the Master of Arts.

The study is implemented in cooperation of FH Dortmund's Faculty of Design, of the worldwide renowned Academy for Theatre and Digitality  and FH Dortmund's Faculty of Computer Science.

Creativity, interdisciplinary expertise and critical thinking: The Master's Program "Theater and Digitality" includes research and development in the field of digital-technologically supported theater and performative art. With its curriculum between technology, storytelling, dramaturgy and performance, the study aims to provide students with a broad range of theoretical as well as practical and application-oriented, professionally qualifying skills in the intersection between digital technologies and narratives on analog, virtual and hybrid stages (including topics such as human-machine interfaces or the use of machine learning).

Further information will be available in the next weeks.

This is a thematic overview of the course contents. Detailed information on the exact names of the courses, information on Electives, ECTS or semester hours per week can be found in the module handbook.

A preceding preparatory semester is offered in which students can individually take courses from the Faculties of Design
and Computer Science to reach a comparable level of prior knowledge. Here, 30 credit points (LP) must be accumulated.

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Further information will be available in the next weeks.

A diploma or bachelor's degree in fields such as Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Exhibition Design, Dramaturgy, Acting, Scenography, Object Theater, Visual Media, Set Design, Performance, Film, Directing, Dance, and Theater Studies, Applied Computer Science, Machine Learning, Actuators and Robotics, Creative Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Creative Coding, Theater and Event Technology, Lighting Technology, Sound Technology, Video Technology or a comparable program at a university that includes scenographic-design or IT-related technical components; or relevant artistic and creative aptitude for the program or a comparable program at a university that includes scenographic-design or IT-related technical components; or relevant artistic and creative aptitude for the program.

Admission to the program Master Theater and Digitality (MATHEAD) requires, in accordance with Section § 4 (1) of the Study Program Examination Regulations (StgPO) for the program Master Theater and Digitality (MATHEAD) in its current version, the completion of a study program with at least 210 credit points according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

If the BA study program comprises only 180 ECTS credit points (for degrees not using the ECTS system, equivalent conversion is required, please contact FH Dortmund's International office if you have any questions), the missing 30 credit points may be earned through successfully completing an internship or multiple internships totaling 20 weeks, which may be completed before, during, or upon application for program admission.

Students with a primarily design/artistic background should gain experience in the technological field by completing the internship/practical project. It can take place for instance in companies and start-ups in the fields of creative technologies, robotics, digital scenography (e.g. game design, immersive arts, mapping, mixed realities...), machine learning, data mining, motion capturing, sensors and actuators, applied computer science, mechanical engineering.

Students with a primarily technological background should gain experience in the design/artistic field. Especially, specific responsibilities within companies or other institutions of the profession must be addressed methodically, systematically and in a design and/or technological manner.
It can take place e.g. in design studios and museums, institutes and laboratories in the field of digital technology, scenography agencies, event agencies, in theater, film production, stage construction.

Please note:

As a practical project, the successful completion of bridge/preparatory modules from the preparatory semester, in accordance with Section § 4 (7) of the Study Program Examination Regulations (StgPO) for Master Theater and Digitality (MATHEAD), can also be recognized, either in design-related modules (for students with primarily technical background) or in Computer Science-related modules (for students with primarily artistic background).
Bridging and preparatory modules may include modules from the study plan for the preparatory semester or modules from a pool from the Bachelor's programs or the Master Scenography and Communication program of the FH Dortmund's Faculty of Design - or modules from a pool from the Bachelor's programs of the FH Dortmund's Faculty of Computer Science. A list of possible modules will be provided by the head of program.

The MA "Theater and Digitality" program is offered in English.

The applicant must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency demonstrated by a TOEFL ITP test with at least 550 points or TOEFL iBT with at least 90 points, taken within the last two years before the application was submitted. The proof can also be provided through other test methods equivalent to the TOEFL test according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (e.g., IELTS with a minimum score of 6.5). In exceptional cases, an equivalent certificate at C1 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR) may be used. The expert committee determines whether an equivalency exists.

Proof of artistic and creative or technical aptitude is required for enrollment in this Master's program. In the assessment procedure, the applicants must prove that they have the artistic-creative or technical aptitude for the course of study, which allows the achievement of the study goals to be expected. The determination of the course-related aptitude is carried out twice a year in a two-level procedure. The next upload phase for level 1 is Dec 1st, 2024 until January 16th, 2025 (cut off deadline).

https://eignung.design.fh-dortmund.de/en(Opens in a new tab) 

Please apply at Fachhochschule Dortmund (see Application Portal). Additionally, a prerequisite for admission to the study is proof of artistic and creative aptitude for the course. The procedure for determining course-related aptitude is carried out at least once a year in a two-stage procedure for applicants who wish to take up a Master's degree program in Theater and Digitality in the Faculty of Design. Admission to the aptitude procedure requires a registration, and an application together with the required documents.

Here you will find current deadlines, information on the work to be submitted and the registration area for the aptitude assessment procedure.(Opens in a new tab) 

The Faculty of Design will inform applicants in writing of the committee's decision on the results of the procedure. The results are communicated as passed or failed. They must be accompanied by information on legal remedies.

With a pass result, applicants are awarded the course-related artistic and creative aptitude.

Admission center team
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