Live art and performance studies (LAPS), master

Why choose us?

Live Art and Performance Studies (LAPS) is a two-year master’s programme in English that combines critical thinking with experimentation in artistic work and artistic research. We empower you to develop and activate new knowledge of performance and its theory. As a student of our programme you will be committed to studying full-time.

About the programme

The aim of the programme is to collectively investigate what performance does, how it does and the effects performance may have in society. Our programme provides practical and theoretical tools for artists who wish to explore, develop and distribute their practice and knowledge in society.

We combine critical thinking with practice-led research and seek to find synergies between research and practice. Our lecturers, mentors, visiting artists and theorists provide diverse approaches to the field. Their specialisations include, for example, the following: visual culture, gender studies, performance philosophy, performative research, embodiment, community-based practice, anthropology, mediated performance, performative writing, or the political theory of performance and activism. These approaches provide the practical and theoretical tools you need to work in the field of performance studies and artistic research.

We welcome artists from diverse cultural, social, economic, and educational backgrounds who wish to investigate and grow emergent narratives in the arts and foster an ethos of shared inquiry into the nature of contemporary performance. You may already have a foundation in live art or performance art, but are now interested in performance studies and want to develop your research skills alongside your artistic practice. Alternatively, you may have already carried out research in another field in the humanities, but want to focus more on, e.g., embodied practices or performative research. We encourage professionals from a wide range of fields to apply, including people from the non-academic or activist backgrounds.

New curriculum to be launched

Our curriculum is currently being updated. Teaching according to the new curriculum will start in autumn 2024. Please keep this in mind when browsing the current curriculum.

Teachers

Our lecturers are experienced professionals in their field. In addition to our permanent staff, you will be taught by visiting lecturers, mentors and artists who are specialised in various fields of arts and humanities.

Applying

Admission to the programme is organised every other year. 

The Uniarts Helsinki is one of the most sought-after places to study in Finland. Browse the applicant statistics from previous years.

Doctoral studies

A master’s degree allows you to pursue a doctoral degree in the Arts in, e.g., Theatre and Drama. Doctoral studies at Uniarts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy are provided by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).

Find out more

Read the When performance blog with texts from students and staff of the programme. On the programme’s website, you can read more about the various projects and research done in the programme and by its students.