Design for the performing arts, bachelor and master

With us, you will become a professional in spatial design and scenography with extensive expertise to work in the field of performing arts.

Actor sitting in a chair at a performance stage setting, large colourful balloons above their head.

Why study here?

At Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy, scenography is seen as a versatile area of art and design that is linked to contemporary performance. Your scenography studies will be interwoven with performance activities. The community of people from different fields of education offers you an excellent growth environment that supports artistic development and teamwork skills.

Content and objective of the programme

We provide you with the competence to work as a scenographer in theatre, dance and other performance productions. You will learn to apply your skills in this diverse and developing field of art. The studies prepare you for future work as a designer in theatre and art institutions, and in various process-based, cross-disciplinary artistic and applied projects. You will also have the skills to work in the area of extended scenography, such as museum and exhibition design, events, games and installation art.

In performing arts, the scenographer is responsible for the visual and functional solutions of the performance space. Scenographers base their designs on both their own artistic vision and the joint experiments, solutions and objectives of the artistic working group. In addition, scenographers cooperate with the various professionals responsible for each production.

The goal of these diverse artistic, technical and academic studies is to provide high-quality artistic skills, including good knowledge of material and digital design tools, the ability to work as part of a team and to think independently and critically. In addition, we will familiarise you with the traditions and current practices of performing arts and scenography. You will also gain an understanding of the possibilities of artistic research.

We emphasise artistic cooperation with other degree programmes in the fields of theatre and dance, especially lighting and sound design. 

Teachers

Our teachers are experienced experts in their own field. In addition to our permanent teachers, other top professionals regularly visit the degree programme.

Doctoral studies

After graduating, you will have the opportunity to apply for doctoral studies and to complete, for example, a doctoral degree in art, specialising in either artistic, scientific or applied doctoral studies. 

At Uniarts Helsinki, doctoral education in the field of scenography is provided by the Performing Arts Research Centre Tutke.

Admissions guide

Target degree and length of study

Master of Arts (Art and Design)
5 years

Application period

Next possible time to apply is in January 2024. Studies begin in August 2024.

Application languages

Finnish, Swedish Read more about the language skill requirements

Tuition fee

Annual tuition fee €5,000 for students studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Read more about tuition fees.

Supervising teacher

  • Liisa Ikonen

    Professor, Degree programme in designing for the performing arts, Theatre Academy
    +358504667251
    liisa.ikonen@uniarts.fi

Unit

Theatre Academy

Ask about applying

teak.admissions@uniarts.fi