Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki Student Admissions 2015 MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN CHOREOGRAPHY Two-Year Programme, 120 Credits The Master s Degree Programme in Choreography is comprised of two years of full-time studies. The programme develops the student s independency as an artist, as well as his/her critical awareness and understanding of the practices and strategies in contemporary choreography and of the interactional relationship between art and society. The basis for the studies is historically conscious, yet critical, open, and research-based take on choreography. The programme offers the student a versatile learning environment, which supports artistic development, dialogism and cooperation, integrating practice and theory in studies and artistic processes. The studies consist of thematic learning processes of choreography and contemporary performance, artistic projects, contextual studies, freely selected studies and an MA thesis. The programme emphasises a contemporary artist s creative and research based relations to culture, as well as exploring the dynamics of an artist s individual and collective, professional and communal roles. The programme is, in many ways, committed to cooperation with the University of the Arts other degree programmes. The Academy s performance facilities offer the students exceptionally good opportunities to artistic activities. International nature of contemporary choreographer s work is significantly noted in the programme and it is active and initiative with international partnerships and study co-operations. The Master s Degree Programme in Choreography advances the students preparedness to doctoral studies and it is in cooperation with the Theatre Academy s Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke). The Master s Degree Programme in Choreography is also an essential agent of the Theatre Academy s international publication series Kinesis, which contains research publications on dance. In addition to the programme s artistic director (Professor), the teaching staff comprises of visiting teachers and professors of the field, lecturers, artists, and experts. The programme s language of teaching and degrees is Finnish. The Master s Degree Programme in Choreography also accepts international applicants with sufficient proficiency in the English language. Should such applicants be admitted, English will be used in addition to Finnish as the teaching language for the entire class. The programme s degree requirements are currently being renewed and the new requirements will come into effect during the spring 2015. Both the old degree requirements and a plan of the new requirements are available on the programme s websites http://www.teak.fi/dance 1
General Selection Criteria An applicant is eligible for the two-year Master s Degree Programme in Choreography if he or she has: a first-cycle university degree in dance or another applicable field an applicable degree in a university of applied sciences a corresponding BA (Bachelor of Arts)-level foreign degree, which in the country in question confers eligibility for corresponding higher education studies or sufficient knowledge and competence based on studies, artistic activity and work experience, acknowledged by the Theatre Academy. If the student is selected under the last-mentioned criteria (sufficient knowledge and capacity based on studies, artistic activities, and work experience, as established by the Academy), he or she must have: a minimum of 60 credits in higher education studies, the eligibility of which will be considered individually. These studies may include higher education studies in the applicant s own field of art, or studies that support this field of art. In case all these studies are not higher education studies in the applicant s own field of art, the applicant should have strong experience in his or her artistic activity in his or her own field of art. Professional courses are not included in the 60 credits. These studies must be completed by the end of the application period. For example, it is possible to take studies in the Theatre Academy Open University, which can be accredited to the student when establishing his or her eligibility; artistic activities, requiring full-time activity in an occupation in his or her field of art; work experience in a field of art. The sufficiency of artistic activities and work experience will be assessed based on the applicant's application and certificates. A decision on the applicant's eligibility will be made before sending out invitations to the entrance examination. Applicants found ineligible will be informed of that decision. Applicants found eligible will be informed of that decision via email by week 9. NB. Only those who, based on their advanced assignments, proceed to the next stage of the application process will be invited to the entrance examination. The selection to the Master s degree programme is conditional for those applicants who have not completed a Bachelor s degree or another applicable first-cycle university degree at the time of the selection process. These applicants must deliver a certificate of completed Bachelor s studies or other applicable first-cycle university degree to Admissions Services by 15 July 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time; otherwise, their conditional admission will be cancelled. The conditional decision does not concern applicants who are selected based on their studies, artistic activity, and work experience. Supplementary studies to achieve the necessary level of competence may be required of a student who has been admitted to the Academy. The maximum amount of supplementary studies is 30 credits. Admitted students will be informed of any supplementary studies required of them in the letter of acceptance and the announcement of admissions results. Language Skills The Master s Degree Programme in Choreography admits students who study in either Finnish or English. If a programme admits new students to study in English, some of the teaching will be offered in English to the entire class. Applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in English by 2
submitting relevant certificates at the application stage if they wish to pursue all of their studies in English. (Further information can be found in the Admissions Guide, under Language skills and the language of study.) Demonstration of proficiency in English English proficiency can be demonstrated by the application deadline through the following international language tests or studies: Applicable language tests TOEFL (IBT = Internet-Based Test): a total score of at least 92 TOEFL (PBT = Paper-Based Test): a total score of at least 580 IELTS (International English Language Testing System, Academic Training): a total score of at least 6.5 CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English) or CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): grades A, B and C TOEFL and IELTS test results are valid for two years. (The electronic ID of the University of the Arts Helsinki is 0217.) Demonstration of proficiency in English through school education or a degree Completion of school education or a first-cycle (Bachelor s) or second-cycle (Master s) degree in English in an EU/EFTA country, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand is considered an appropriate demonstration of an applicant s proficiency in English. If the applicant expects to complete the above school education or degree after the application deadline, he or she must submit a certificate of studies completed thus far indicating the language of study to the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services by the application deadline. The education or degree must be completed by 30 July 2015. Completion of a first-cycle (Bachelor s) degree at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences (Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004 or Government Decree on University of Applied Sciences Degrees 352/2003) that includes foreignlanguage studies in English is also considered an appropriate demonstration of the applicant s proficiency in English. Certificates or information submitted via the Internet on the applicant s language proficiency must arrive at the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services by 13 February 2015 at 4:15 pm local Helsinki time. Applicants should submit interim results of language tests by email to Admissions Services to ensure that the results arrive by the deadline; receipt of the official results by post from the test organisation may take weeks. Student Selections The student selections are organised at the Theatre Academy s premises in Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki. The selection process happens in many phases, and eliminations are made between phases. Eliminations can also be made during phases. Additional assignments requiring preparation may also be given during the selection process. 3
The assignments are given in Finnish, or possibly in English, depending on the applicants. The written parts of the examination may be answered in Finnish, Swedish, or English. Selection Phases I II The application period is 7 January 27 January 2015. Phase I The application form, advance assignments and appendices are to be submitted by 27 Jan 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time. A decision on the applicant's eligibility will be made before sending out invitations to the entrance examination. Applicants found ineligible will be informed of that decision via email by week 9. Invitations to phase II will be sent by email during week 17 at the latest. If you have not been contacted by the Theatre Academy two weeks before the entrance exams, please contact teak.hakijapalvelut@uniarts.fi. Phase II 20 May 23 May 2015 (24 May is in reserve and may be used if required) Results 5 June 2015 Applicants cannot change the entrance examination times assigned to them. Assessment Criteria In advance assignments and the entrance examination, attention will be focused on the applicant s: Knowledge and artistic abilities in the field of dance Ability to comprehend different possibilities of choreography and their original and creative adaptation Capacity for reflective and analytical thought Openness and maturity Interaction and communication Motivation, commitment and ability to assume responsibility Suitability for the field of art and for higher education studies Advance Assignment and Appendices/ Phase I Phase I consists of a written advance assignment, which will not be specified or explained. The advance assignments may be completed in Finnish, Swedish or English. Assignments 1 3 are to be submitted with the application to the Theatre Academy by 27 January 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time. Assignment 1: Discuss and briefly explain your relationship with contemporary dance and choreography: o What are you artistically interested in, how would you describe your choreographical starting points and choreographical research questions which you would like to work with in your MA studies? Maximum length: 2 pages (A4) Assignment 2: Describe and analyse the choreographic approach of a contemporary choreographer (or collective) of interest to you. Use one or more of his or her work as an example. 4
Use texts and other materials about the choreographer or his or her work as sources for your assignment. In order to complete the assignment properly, you have to use source references. Maximum length: 2 pages (A4) Assignment 3: Prepare a portfolio presenting your own artistic work (may include text, video and/or image). The portfolio or its website address must be submitted with the application. NB In order to complete the assignment properly, please mark clearly your role in each work (dancer, choreographer etc.). Appendices to be submitted with the advance assignment: A printout or copy of the online application form A portrait photo (same size as passport photo, stapled to the right upper corner of the application form) A CV A certified copy of a Finnish or international first-cycle (BA) degree diploma A diploma supplement (if used at the international institution of higher education in question) A report on the scope of international studies in ECTS credits and their grading on a fivepoint scale (if a diploma supplement is unavailable) An official transcript of those studies which the applicant wishes to be considered in the application process; the transcript must be an original or a certified copy (e.g., a transcript of the studies leading to the completed degree) A certificate of proficiency in English if the applicant plans to complete the Master s degree programme entirely in English (for further information, see Language skills and the language of study) Copies of other applicable certificates: knowledge and competence acquired through studies, artistic activity and work experience If the previous degree was completed at a Finnish institution of higher education, the applicant must submit to the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services copies of the educational certificates certified by the awarding institution or two impartial parties. Impartial persons must be at least 15 years of age and unrelated to the applicant; former or current spouses, fiancées, adoptive parents, or adopted children are ineligible. If the previous degree was completed at an international institution of higher education, the applicant must submit to the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services copies of the educational certificates certified by the awarding institution or a notary public. The Theatre Academy s Admissions Services cannot make copies of original diplomas or certificates or of the application form, nor can it certify such documents. These appendices are to be in Finnish, Swedish or English. If they are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, the applicant is to have them translated by an authorised translator. Phase II assignment For the first day of the entrance examination, the applicant is to prepare his or her own choreography with the duration of approx. 10 minutes. The choreography may be for him-/herself or for no more than two dancers. The applicant shall pay any costs incurred from the assignment. 5
Applying The application period is 7 January 27 January 2015. 1. Complete the application form Please complete the electronic application form at www.studyinfo.fi by 27 January 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time, or request a paper form from the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services. The electronic application form is available only during the application period 7 27 January 2015. Any applications in paper form must be delivered to the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services by 27 January 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time. Paper forms received after the deadline cannot be processed. Please note that you should print or copy the application form, and attach it with your advance assignments. Theatre Academy Admissions Services tel. +358 40 661 4662 e-mail: teak.hakijapalvelut@uniarts.fi The Theatre Academy s Admissions Services answers applicants questions on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. 2. Send advance assignments and appendices Please submit the advance assignments, appendices and a print or copy of the online application to the Theatre Academy s Admissions Services by 27 January 2015 at 3:00 pm local Helsinki time. Advance assignments and appendices as well as printouts or copies of the online application can also be delivered directly to the Theatre Academy s information desk (Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki) Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:15 pm. NB. Applications delivered to the Theatre Academy s information desk on the last date of the application period (i.e., 27 January 2015) must arrive by 3:00 pm local Helsinki time. Electronically (email, fax) submitted advance assignments or appendices will not be considered. Please mark your personal information on the advance assignments, as well as the degree programme that you are applying for. Assignments can be sent or personally delivered to the following address: Theatre Academy Admissions Services/Choreography P.O. Box 29 FI-00097 UNIARTS (Visiting address: Haapaniemenkatu 6, Helsinki) Applications (application form, advance assignments, appendices) are posted at the sender s risk. Applicants are advised to post the application form, advance assignments and appendices in good time before the closing of the application period, as the Theatre Academy and the National Board of Education cannot accept responsibility for errors made by the postal services causing the 6
application form or advance assignments to arrive after the closing of the application period. Late application forms and advance assignments cannot be processed, nor can applications submitted without the advance assignments. The Theatre Academy will not refund the application fee for applications sent with insufficient postage. Applicants must not staple application documents or their appendices together or use paper clips, but simply arrange the papers in the order of the assignments. Application documents or appendices will not be returned to the applicant. If the application appendices are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, the applicant must have them translated by an authorised translator. The entrance examinations of various Master s and other programmes will partly coincide. If applicants apply to several programmes or studies and the entrance examinations coincide, they must decide which entrance examination they plan to take. On request, applicants must prove their identity at the entrance examinations. 7