Theater and Digitality

For thousands of years, theater stages have been the home of stories about humans (and other creatures) and their worlds. Theater and the performing arts can permeate the present, the past, and the future alike; they can build bridges across time, zoom out, or focus on close-ups—on hopes and dreams, highlighting both wonders and abysses, and looking beneath the surface of societies.

Theater, as an ever-contemporary art form, has always kept a curious and, at the same time, critical eye on the innovations of new technologies—wondering whether these innovations might be worth incorporating onto its stages. Very often, the answer was “yes” (just think of electricity and cameras).

Theater has always been created by storytellers with diverse areas of expertise. The Master’s program “Theater and Digitality” is therefore aimed at students with either an artistic or technical background (or both)—students who are interested in exploring theatrical narratives in the context of technology.

The Master’s program “Theater and Digitality” is an interdisciplinary, three-semester, English-language program at the Faculty of Design at Fachhochschule Dortmund—University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The next intake will begin in the spring semester of 2026. Graduates will be awarded the Master of Arts degree.

The program is offered in collaboration with FH Dortmund’s Faculty of Design, the world-renowned Academy for Theater and Digitality(Opens in a new tab) , and FH Dortmund’s Faculty of Computer Science.

Creativity, interdisciplinary expertise, and critical thinking: The “Theater and Digitality” Master’s program focuses on research and development in the field of digitally and technologically supported theater and performative art. With a curriculum that bridges technology, storytelling, dramaturgy, and performance, the program aims to equip students with a broad range of theoretical, practical, and application-oriented skills—as well as professional qualifications—at the intersection of digital technologies and narratives on analog, virtual, and hybrid stages (including topics such as human-machine interfaces and the use of machine learning).

The Academy for Theatre and Digitality (ATD), founded in 2019 as the sixth division of Theater Dortmund, is a cooperation partner in the Master Theater and Digitality (MA THEAD) program and provides a key learning location for the study. The ATD is firmly established as a protagonist in national and international networks for digital narration and performance, and works at the intersection of arts and culture, sciences and technology - as a place for artistic-technological research and digital innovation in the performing arts.

The ATD contributes its expertise, its many years of experience in artistic-technological research, and its numerous contacts, networks, technology, and support to the cooperation. Significant parts of the (purely English-language) teaching and practical applications take place in the ATD building (located in the heart of Dortmund's new digital quarter in the Dortmund harbor on Speicherstraße), where the so called Lab3 has been made available to the MA THEAD. MA THEAD students are also regularly invited to participate in extracurricular events at ATD.
For the curricular courses, the Fachhochschule Dortmund - University of Applied Sciences and Arts is responsible, just as for quality assurance of the degree program.

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.

What makes the Fachhochschule Dortmund special? What should you know about the city and the region? How is Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts organized in terms of internationality and what advice and support do we offer you? Find out more about the Fachhochschule Dortmund.

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 aptitude is required for admission to this master’s program. During the assessment process, applicants must demonstrate that they possess the artistic and creative aptitude necessary for the program, which indicates that they are likely to achieve the program’s learning objectives. The assessment of program-related aptitude is conducted twice a year through a two-stage process. The next submission period for Stage 1 runs from now until November 30, 2026 (deadline).

However, please note that you will still need to apply for an official spot in the program (see the“Bewerbungsportal / Application Portal”(Opens in a new tab) link) by January 15, 2026. If the next page appears in German, please click the “EN” button to switch it to English.

Further information about the aptitude test: 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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