Degree Programme in Performing Arts

Specific admission requirements

Advance assignments and entrance examinations that test the applicants’ aptitude for the respective areas of study.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning

According to the Degree Regulations of Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences students may apply for identification and accreditation of prior learning as part of their compulsory or optional studies, provided they have prior learning corresponding to the curriculum before the course in question begins.

Qualification requirements and regulations

See the Degree Regulations of the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences >>

Profile of the programme

Drama Instructor
Drama instructors work in theatre productions as well as in various crossover projects. They employ drama-based methods in their work and strive to make arts an active part of society. During their studies, students engage in local community art projects that promote social inclusion. Drama techniques play a central role in participatory urban planning, social work, art education, prevention of social exclusion, audience education and intercultural collaboration.

Live Performance Engineer (B.A.)
Over the past years, the work environments and job roles in live performance engineering have been changing fast and more changes can be expected in the next few years. The industry needs specialists who are capable of working in a wide range of capacities. Besides mastering traditional theatre engineering, they must be quick to learn new technologies and capable of meeting the challenges presented by new forms of performing arts. The increasingly technical work environments require safety competence.
A prerequisite for the high quality and development of the growing cultural industry is that we educate a sufficient number of highly skilled live performance engineers with strong leadership skills.

Key learning outcomes

Drama Instructor
Students gain insights into how art can be in the service of community. They learn to make art together with an audience and to tailor performances for particular target groups in order to address particular issues. After graduation, drama instructors master various applied drama methods (e.g. playback theatre, forum theatre and drama workshops). Students can choose if they want to focus on directing processes or performances. Graduates are familiar with the history of performing arts and they have basic skills in production management and live performance engineering.

Drama instructors work with a wide variety of target groups in the capacity of a leader, facilitator, instructor or artist. They can use their expertise to serve others. For example, they are able to design and facilitate client-led interactive services for various target groups and to devise tools for organizational development.

Live Performance Engineer (B.A.)
A multi-skilled live performance engineer designs and delivers technical live performance services in the theatre as well as in the other fields of performing arts.
The degree provides students with high technical expertise in lighting, sound, audiovisual and stage engineering systems, technical applications and safety. The core competencies also include knowledge of the theatre and the structures of live performance productions, an ability to work in a variety of artistic teams, supervisory skills and interpersonal competence.

Occupational profiles of graduates with examples

Drama Instructor
Drama instructors are versatile professionals, who specialize in applied theatre methods, group leading and working in interdisciplinary collaboration projects. Drama instructors may find employment, for example, in cultural organizations, professional and amateur theatre companies, communities and associations, projects, the public sector (e.g. in museums, nurseries, schools or social and youth services), corporate research and development units, organizations that provide training in creative expression, or they can work as entrepreneurs.

Live Performance Engineer (B.A.)
Live performance engineers work in a wide range of capacities within the professional performing arts industry. They are employed by theatre and opera houses, theatre companies, cultural and community centres, live performance and event production agencies, concert and festival organizations and international live performance productions.

Access to further studies

Graduates are eligible to apply for admission in a Master’s degree programme at a university.

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

According to the Degree Regulations of Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences course assessment criteria are specified in the course implementation plan. The teacher in charge of the course will be responsible for the assessment. At the beginning of the course students must be informed on the assessment principles which must be based on the course objectives. Assessment takes primarily place for each course and applies to the students who have registered and been accepted on the course. If necessary, different components of a course may be assessed individually. If the course consists of several components, the teacher may point this out in the assessment principles contained in the implementation plan.

The assessment scale is as follows: excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), very satisfactory (2), satisfactory (1), fail (0) and pass (P). Any deviations of this scale will be decided by the President.

Graduation requirements

The student has completed all the studies included in the degree curriculum within a time period defined by the Metropolia Degree Regulations.

Mode of study

The degree is offered as a full-time on-campus study programme as well as a combination of on-campus and off-campus study.

Programme director

Päivi Ketonen
Tel: +358 97424 5000
P.O.Box 4040, 00079 Metropolia
Visiting Address: Hämeentie 161, 00560 Helsinki
paivi.ketonen[at]metropolia.fi

Level of qualification

Bachelor's Degree (First Cycle)