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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Music, Theatre and Performance Studies
Header image Music, Theatre and Performance Studies

Music, Theatre and Performance Studies

This Master's programme offers two specializations: one in Popular Music, Sound and Media Cultures and another in Theatre, Culture and Media studies. Each specialization encompasses both emergent and historically established practices in music and theatre and the performing arts.

For the music specialization see: Popular Music, Sound and Media Cultures

For the theatre and performing arts specialization see: Theatre, Culture and Media

Within both the music and theatre specialization, we highlight those phenomena which most impact the organization, experience, and creative potential of music and theatre makers and audiences in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. MA students examine the current constitution of music or theatre organizations, as well as the impact of broader processes such as globalization, digitalization, urbanization, festivalisation, and mobility upon expanding forms of creativity. Because humans continue to shape creative experience within cultural fields, these two specializations aim to uncover how music or theatre remain relevant for understanding broader relations between culture, society, and the arts.

We examine these and other processes in historical contexts and in our musical and theatrical present, where economic crisis in recording and performing industries has led to vast rearrangements of musical and theatrical labour and changing conceptions of the public sphere. Because this programme highlights the complexity of the contemporary popular music, art music, and theatre professional worlds, students enter arts professions with specialized knowledge and skills, which ensure that they are highly employable.


Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in Arts & Culture
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
60087
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen? Programme

Curriculum

This Master's programme offers two specializations: one in Popular Music, Sound and Media Cultures and another in Theatre, Culture and Media studies. Each specialization encompasses both emergent and historically established practices in music and theatre and the performing arts.

Music specialization: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/music-specialization/

Theatre specialization: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/theatre-and-performance-specialization/

These two specializations aim to uncover how music or theatre remain relevant for understanding broader relations between culture, society, and the arts. Our students examine artistic practices and expanding forms of creativity in response to global phenomena, such as environmental and economic crises, mediatization, urbanization, migration and mobility.

The study programme includes an internship in the music or theatre industry through our extended network of established Dutch and international arts and cultural institutions. Our students acquire specialized knowledge and skills, which ensure that they are highly employable in the professional arts and media sectors.

Programme options
Popular Music, Sound and Media cultures (specialization)
Theatre, Culture and Media (specialization)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 30 EC
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Arts, Culture and MediaUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
American StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

Communication and Information StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

English Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

European Languages and CulturesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

History (part-time)University of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

Media StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

Minorities & MultilingualismUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

Dutch Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

With a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance Studies track

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Arts, Culture and MediaAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

The Master's track Music, Theatre and Performance Studies is open to students with a BA in Arts, Culture and Media. University of Groningen students with a BA in:

  • American Studies
  • Communication & Information Sciences
  • Dutch Languages and Cultures
  • English Language and Culture
  • European Languages and Cultures
  • History
  • Media Studies
  • Minorities & Multilingualism

with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance track, are also admissible to this Master's track.

Students who have completed a different Bachelor's or Master's degree programme in a relevant field and students who have completed the pre-Master's degree programme that prepares for the track can also apply to the track.

The Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.

language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

After you complete your application, the Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.

The Admissions Board will then determine whether:

  • direct admission is possible
  • a student has to complete a pre-Master's programme first
  • a student cannot be admitted

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

The Master's track Music, Theatre and Performance Studies is open to students with a BA in Arts, Culture and Media. University of Groningen students with a BA in:

  • American Studies
  • Communication & Information Sciences
  • Dutch Languages and Cultures
  • English Language and Culture
  • European Languages and Cultures
  • History
  • Media Studies
  • Minorities & Multilingualism

with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) in Arts & Culture, Music, Theatre and Performance track, are also admissible to this Master's track.

Students who have completed a different Bachelor's or Master's degree programme in a relevant field and students who have completed the pre-Master's degree programme that prepares for the track can also apply to the track.

The Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.

language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

After you complete your application, the Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.

The Admissions Board will then determine whether:

  • direct admission is possible
  • a student has to complete a pre-Master's programme first
  • a student cannot be admitted

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

You can find more information on the specialization pages.

Job prospects

Research
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Master's Weekdiverse locatiesMore information

Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible.)
  • Kristin McGee (Coordinator of Music Studies)
    Email: k.a.mcgee rug.nl
  • Drs. Lucia van Heteren (Coordinator of Theatre Studies)
    Email: l.d.m.e.van.heteren rug.nl
  • Admission Office (Contact form)

NL Scholarships

The University of Groningen offers NL Scholarships to international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their master’s in the Netherlands. Read more on the NL Scholarships and on how to apply.
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Study associations

IK

IK is the study association of Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen. IK organizes various study-related activities and aims to create an atmosphere in which students can study successfully. Activities organized by IK include an introduction camp, a careers week and a trip abroad.
https://studyassociationik.com/
Read more
Student profile

This master's track suits students who have studied one of the arts disciplines (dance, music, theater, film, literature, performance art) or arts-related perspectives (media studies, cultural studies, art history, arts sociology, arts philosophy) in their Bachelor programme.

Study support

If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. They know the ins and outs of the programme and can assist with your academic planning. Study advisors are impartial and everything discussed with them is treated confidentially. They can also help connect you with the necessary persons or departments to resolve your problems.