MA Collaborative Performance advocates an innovative and experimental approach to performance as a collective endeavour.

Together you form an ensemble: The Company. As a member of The Company you contribute your existing knowledge, experience and skills, and commit to collaborate with your co-members to create new and challenging performance methodologies. You may come from a fine art, design, theatre, film or moving image, music, fashion, events, creative administration or cultural industry background. You may be inspired by he work of Propeller, Theatre de Complicite, Krekator, Rimini Protokoll, Compagnie MPTA, Pina Bausch, Societas Raffaello Sanzio, Dreamthinkspeak, Ulla Von Brandeburg, Lars Von Trier, Nathaniel Mellors, Bite, The Wooster Group and LIFT. You will be encouraged to interpret what might constitute collaborative performance events as widely and creatively as possible, enabling proposals to emerge from and be determined by the individual skills and the collective thinking of ‘the company’.

The ethos of the Course is to develop collaborative practice that is inclusive, discursive and diverse, and you are also encouraged to explore new territory and less familiar disciplines and to collaborate with other MA students on related courses across the University and beyond.

As a course member you will collectively negotiate relationships with a wide range of tutors and students to access facilities and specialist staff and events that otherwise would not be available in pursuit of learning: this process of negotiation, initiation and management is itself part of that learning.

MA Collaborative Performance is supported by a group of high-profile professional practitioners from various aspects of performance, who give their time and expertise as a demonstration of their commitment to collaborative working. Part of this commitment is to make periodic visits to the course, to work with The Company in support of the curriculum and performance events.

Much of the direction of your studies will be negotiated and agreed by you as The Company, and whilst initially the course team ask you to respond to specific briefs and agendas, these gradually recede as The Company begins to forge its own agendas and create its own final performances.  You conceive, devise, plan and manage Performance events, developing business plans, marketing strategies, negotiating for budgets and resources.

MA Collaborative Performance lasts 45 weeks, arranged across one academic year – 3 terms of 10 weeks – plus an additional 15 weeks.

MA Collaborative Performance is credit rated at 180 credits. It comprises two Units: Unit 1, (60 credits), for the first 15 weeks of the course followed by Unit 2 (120 credits) that runs for 30 weeks, with public performances or events taking place towards the end of this Unit.

Both units must be passed in order to achieve the MA, but the classification of the award of MA derives from the mark for Unit 2 only.

We expect you to commit an average of 40 hours per week. This comprises 20 hours of taught and supervised sessions and 20 hours self directed study including rehearsal, mounting the performance and post production activities (hours will vary according to the performance project undertaken).

The unique learning experience on MA Collaborative Performance of initiating and producing realised work in a collaborative endeavour provides you with a portfolio of transferable skills and the nature of the collaborative Company means working relationships and networks are created for the future.

Theatre companies, artist collectives, dance and performance and many other groups benefit from collaborating internally to produce work and externally in order to maximize the resources and knowledge. For students wishing to pursue a career in research, the course also provides a place for continued academic development toward PhD study.

For details of the wide range of careers support provided for students, please visit our Careers Support page.

Minimum entry requirements

MA Collaborative Performance applicants must have an Honours Degree, and normally at least one year of professional experience or evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree or 3 years relevant professional experience

English language requirement

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you send us an English language test score together with your application to prove your level of proficiency. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please clearly indicate this on your application form. When you have received your test score, please send it to us immediately. The standard English language requirement for entry is IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in any one paper, or equivalent. For further information visit the English Language Requirements page.
 
Applicants who will need a Tier 4 General Student Visa should check the Visa and Immigration page which provides important information about UK Border Agency (UKBA) requirements. 

What we look for

Applications are welcomed from candidates from all cultures, life experiences and educational backgrounds.

We look for unique, ambitious, creative, open-minded, motivated graduates from diverse academic and industry backgrounds who thrive within collective endeavour and who want to explore what it means to work with others to create Collaborative Performance.

We seek candidates who have a desire to increase their understanding of their own creative process within collaboration, and to explore how furthering knowledge in this field can be used in the future.

You will have good presentation, visualisation and communication skills and will demonstrate your ability to analyse, reflect, propose and affect change.

You will be able to work as part of a team and as an individual, to nurture working relationships and encourage the work of others and of the Collective.

Student selection criteria

Selection will be on the basis of the following criteria:

• The compatibility of your personal and professional aspirations with the aims of the MA course
• Your ability to contribute to collaborative performance and to realise the objectives of the course
• Your understanding of practice based research or professional projects at Masters level
• Your existing skills and abilities

Interview

Applicants may be selected for interview / audition following submission of the application form, a statement of practice and Portfolio of work.  The interview is used to evaluate the extent to which a candidate demonstrates:

• An intelligent and mature approach to their practice
• Appropriate communication and interpersonal skills and a preparedness to participate collaboratively in debate and practice
• The capacity for independent research;
• Appropriate analytic, evaluative and critical abilities;
• An awareness of the cultural and social context within which they practice

Application advice

Selection for interview or audition will be through submission of examples of your work and a supporting statement which should demonstrate your practical and conceptual skills as well as your working processes. We call this body of work your portfolio; though it is usually a term used within the art world we use it to describe the selected portable materials that identify your practice and experience.  Non returnable portfolios  are restricted to A3 size and should include photocopies or digital prints of your work. Do NOT include original work. We also accept digital formats on CD, DVD or USB memory stick. The content of your portfolio will depend on your field of expertise and might include:

• Examples of work, which could include time-based work: cross platform CD Roms or DVDs of performance
• Developmental research material
• Samples of written work
• A detailed professional CV with project descriptions
• Documentation of your working process

All applications must include a statement of practice that describes why you want to come on the course and what you hope to achieve. Your statement should give us information about yourself and what are you doing at the moment educationally, professionally, personally. Why do you want to study MA Collaborative Performance? Do you have any relevant experience? Why do you think you're a suitable candidate for acceptance?

Selection and portfolio review teams normally consist of two people. For overseas applicants, a decision regarding the offer of a place on the course will be made on the basis of a portfolio review, undertaken by the MA Collaborative Performance selection team.

All applicants will be required to provide referees, who will in turn be asked to complete a referee questionnaire

Home/EU and International applicants

Download your MA Collaborative Performance application form

• MA Collaborative Performance application form - international [Word, 0.5mb]
• MA Collaborative Performance reference form - international [Word, 0.3mb]
• MA Collaborative Performance application form - home/EU [Word, 0.5mb]
• MA Collaborative Performance reference form - home/EU [Word, 0.3mb]  

Each form contains detailed information about the application process

Your application must include:

• A completed application form
• A statement explaining what role the course would play in your personal and professional development and where you aim to locate yourself within the cultural and commercial industries
• Copies of your latest examination results where applicable
• Two references at least one should be an academic or professional reference
• Portfolio of your work

Please ensure you send all these items at the same time - we need all the information to consider your application. We recommend you send your application by recorded mail. Due to the large number of applications we get, we're unable to send confirmation that your application has been received. Although we treat all work with the greatest care and respect, we cannot accept any responsibility for loss of or damage to any of the work you submit.

Further information for Home / EU applicants

Our website includes all the information you need to successfully apply. However, if you still have unanswered questions about the admissions process, please contact us by completing the Course enquiry form.

Further information for International applicants

Further information for International applicants

Our website includes all the information you need to successfully apply. However, if you still have unanswered questions about the admissions process, complete the Course enquiry form. 

The University has a dedicated team to help prepare you for your studies. For help on visa requirements, housing, tuition fees and language requirements visit the University's International section.

The Language Centre offers international students high quality language training from qualified and experienced teachers. The Pre-sessional Academic English Programme is available to all international (non-EU) students who have been offered a place on a full time course at the University of the Arts. For further information visit the Language Centre section.

We also offer a number of short courses that enable students to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course. For further information visit our Short Course section.

Home/EU applicants please send your completed application to: Student Administration, MA Collaborative Performance, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA

International applicants please send your completed application to: International Office, MA Collaborative Performance, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA

When to apply

Applications can be submitted throughout the academic year.

Deferred entry

Entry can only be deferred in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us before submitting your application if you're considering applying for deferred entry.

What happens next?

We read and consider all application forms and personal references. Please note we give particular attention to your study statement and references.

Subject to your meeting the entry requirements and consideration of your application form, preliminary selection is based on your study statement, documentation of work and supporting information. You may then be invited to attend an interview or audition depending on the focus of your practice. You'll be asked to bring a portfolio of your latest work. For candidates applying for external funding, interviews will be scheduled prior to funding body deadlines.

Applicants have the right to ask for feedback if their application is unsuccessful. Requests must be made in writing to the Student Administrator, and we will respond within 20 working days. 

Can't attend the interview?

If you're a home/EU or international applicant unable to attend for interview, the MA Collaborative Performance Course Leader would hope to discuss your application by telephone.

In the case of applicants unable to attend for interview and unable to discuss their application by telephone, a decision regarding the offer of a place on the course will be made on the basis of a review of the application materials. We keep notes about decisions made following the initial application review and the interview process.

Selection is by two members of staff (normally the Course Leader and one other), and offers of places are made on the basis of our selection criteria. Applicants are informed of the decision via either the Student Administration or the International Office.

Open days

Open days are a great opportunity to meet staff and students and to find out at first hand about courses, teaching and student life. Visit the open day section for dates to book your session. Bookings can only be made online, not by phone or email.