Course Summary
The programme brings together UCD’s rigorous academic scholarship and the Gaiety School of Acting’s expertise in theatre practice and production to provide an inspiring and challenging environment.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
1. Academic/Professional Entry requirements: GPA 3.08, or Recognition of Prior Learning* as approved by the Graduate School Board of the UCD College of Arts and Humanities equivalent to final GPA 3.08 (as per UCD Academic Secretariat 6.3 (p.29) re. UCD M.A. Taught Awards: Honours Classification Table. *In exceptional circumstances applications may be considered in lieu of academic qualification as appropriate, where evidence of training, knowledge and substantial experience of the professional theatre industry is demonstrated. An offer will normally only be made after interview.
2. IELS, or equivalent, with an average score of 7:00 over all components and with a minimum of 6.5 in each band of the Academic Version.
3. Interview; Audition; CV/Portfolio; Writing sample (essay/critical review); Two References (one of which to be academic); Personal Statement
This course is open to students who have an undergraduate degree in Drama or Theatre Studies or in a cognate subject area, and/or, to students who have demonstrable evidence of substantial experience and/or practice and/or training in theatre.
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
Application Details
Online Application.
Who Should Apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
Z243 Theatre Practice Master of Arts Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Z244 Theatre Practice Master of Arts Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Fees
MA Theatre Practice (Z243) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 9100
nonEU fee per year - € 22600
MA Theatre Practice (Z244) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 4550
nonEU fee per year - € 11300
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
Students’ broad skills-set offers diverse career options: further study to PhD; teaching in drama and performance at second and third level institutions; for students aspiring to work in the theatre industry skills in theatre practice will enable access to posts in artistic, creative and/or executive management; dramaturgy; programming; production; and/or to develop individual career pathways.
Duration
Z244 2 years part-time
Delivery: On Campus