Contemporary Performance, MA
Explore new performance media and develop your portfolio of practical work with our new Master’s in Contemporary Performance.
This MA Contemporary Performance degree focuses on emerging practices in the fields of performance, live art, interactive theatre, contemporary dance and game design, from the immersive to the digital and participatory. The course prepares graduates to work as independent artists, curators, producers, across artistic disciplines and cultural contexts.
Delivered in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed performance company ZU-UK, the course enables you to assemble a substantial body of practical work. You will develop learning tools for cross-disciplinary collaboration, organising, managing, promoting and documenting your practice to tour and exhibit at venues, festivals, galleries and specific sites as well as other cultural platforms.
The course is based on our Greenwich Campus, but you will use additional performance facilities, including GAS station in West Ham and the Bathway Theatre in Woolwich.
Department
Campus
Duration
- 1 years full-time
- 2 years part-time
Start month
September
Home/international fees
* 2023 starters pay the 2022/23 fees.
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
Welcome to our Master's in Contemporary Performance, which is taught in collaboration with award-winning ZU-UK. The teaching team includes both academics and practitioners with experience in contemporary performance, live art, theatre, interactive, digital and participatory art. Every member of the course leadership holds a teaching qualification and a significant research profile. Key industry experts are invited to work with students at every stage.
Come and meet us
Given the current situation with Covid-19, we are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
If you are
You should have an honours degree 2:2 or above or an equivalent qualification (both level and grade) from a recognised non-UK university in a relevant humanities or social sciences subject. Other areas and professional experience may also be considered.
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.
For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.
Alternatively, please contact us:
- By telephone: +44 (0)20 8331 8136.
- By email: international@gre.ac.uk.
Further information about entry
- As part of the application process, applicants will be required to submit a one-page proposal on their intended Performance Project along with their application.
- Applicants whose application and proposal is considered of interest will then be invited to interview in order to further assess their suitability for this course.
- We welcome applications from mature students.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use prior learning?
For entry: applicants with professional qualifications and/or four years of full-time work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
For exemption: If you hold qualifications or courses from another higher education institution, these may exempt you from courses of this degree.
How you will learn
Covid safe teaching and learning
We are looking forward to welcoming students to our campuses for 2022/23. In line with government guidance, we are committed to delivering as much of our teaching, learning and student activity as possible on campus for the 2022/23 academic year. Depending on the national situation, and government advice, the situation may change but we are confident we are ready to manage any changes quickly and safely. Find out more about how we are keeping our campuses safe.
Teaching
Develop your artistic practice through engagement with Research. Our modules support you in making new performance work, to reflect and evaluate your process. You will attend lectures, seminars and field trips, but the majority of them take form of practical workshops. Across semesters 1 and 2 you will take 2 modules concurrently. In the final term you will focus exclusively on your Practice Research module. As a full time student, you should be giving 2-3 days a week to independent learning.
Class sizes
Class sizes vary to suit the type of activity. Workshops will normally hold around 25 people, whereas lectures may be larger.
You will be put in to smaller groups for particular assessment tasks, projects and performances.
Where you will learn
Most of your lessons will be taught at the Bathway Theatre site in Woolwich.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate sufficient time for self study and group work. You will carry out practical and theoretical research, undertake set reading, and work in small groups towards assessments, performances, and presentation.
You can reserve studio space at Bathway for this and use the computers and other technical resources on site, plus the Stockwell Street library in Greenwich.
In addition, during the week you can also:
- Join student societies including the Society of Dramatic Arts (SODA) and Performing Arts
- Attend guest lectures from industry experts
- Take part in employability and enterprise workshops.
Overall workload
Drama requires both independent study and a large amount of group work. If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. Each 30-credit module should take 300 hours in total including staff contact time; 15 credits need 150 hours.
Learning to work independently and as part of a creative project team makes our graduates highly desirable employees, whether they pursue careers in theatre or in other fields.
Assessment
All modules include practical assessments, typically waited at 70% augmented by written or documentary assessments, typically weighted at 30%. In every module you will be given formative interim feedback through rehearsal observations, process showings and tutorial. Practical assessment usually take the form of small-scale public performances in theatre, studio, sited or digital contexts.
Feedback summary
We aim to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days.
Dates and timetables
The academic year runs from September to June.
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Full time
Part time
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
2022/23 fees
| Full-time (per year) | Part-time (per 30 credits) | |
|---|---|---|
| View fees |
Fees are assessed based on your country of domicile, with students domiciled in the EU charged international fees. If you are unsure, find out more about how your fee status is assessed.
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. We have dedicated accommodation for postgraduate students (Devonport House) available from just £160 per person per week, with bills included. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost. Students based at the Medway Campus can also reside in student halls in Chatham or rent privately in the local area.
There is a range of financial support available to support your studies. This includes postgraduate loans, international scholarships, and options for current students and alumni to continue studying at the university. EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.
We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Other costs
Resources: You will need comfortable clothing for practical modules (including steel toe capped boots for technical theatre students). You will also need to buy a limited number of texts for your studies. Many other texts and resources are available from our Stockwell Street Library.
Trips: Drama students typically attend 3-4 theatre trips per year (typically in/around London). We subsidise these so you only pay half the ticket cost.
Transport: You face any costs for travelling to/from our theatre facility in Woolwich, where several of our drama modules may be taught.
Careers and placements
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
Contemporary performance graduates will work as an independent artists, curators, producers, facilitators, directors, performers, dramaturges, designers, workshop leaders and may work in a wide variety of creative roles across the cultural and education sector. Graduates will also be equipped with research skills to pursue doctoral-level study.
Are internships available?
Credit-bearing work placements are unpaid. However, sandwich placements are normally paid full-time positions. The salary should reflect the going rate for an entry level role in the relevant industry.
Do you provide employability services?
On our course you will learn to work as an independent artist and producer developing, a wide range of skill sets, many of which transfer to workplaces in the cultural sector and beyond.
Our services are designed to help you achieve your potential and support your transition towards a rewarding graduate sector.
The Employability and Careers Services provides support when you are preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, it includes CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre. As a School of Humanities & Social Sciences student, you will be eligible for writing tutorials with our Royal Literary Fellows.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
The School provides pastoral support throughout your studies with us. Students have a personal tutor and access to training in study skills, dissertation preparation, methods and ethics and have access to advice on employability and careers. There are also a range of student services including Wellbeing.
Accommodation information
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate taught prospectus or check our related courses below.
Drama at the University of Greenwich
Drama at Greenwich offers innovative and practice-led courses. Students learn and work out of the Bathway Theatre, a specialist drama facility with six studios and a flexible theatre space, or at Bird College.
Visit our drama subject page.
Drama graduates
Charlotte, Ruban, Holly and Charlotte are graduates from one of Greenwich’s Drama courses and have gone to work in some interesting roles.
Mode of study
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Need more help?
020 8331 9000• Live chat• courseinfo@gre.ac.uk• More information