What is a Master of Performing Arts?
Master of Performing Arts is a postgraduate degree in any of the creative fields like Dance,Drama,Music and Cinema.The degree is mostly conferred in India after completion of a two year programme is MPA.
This program is mainly designed to research the impact of performing arts through history.This can be the dream course for the creative,artistic souls who love to perform and also want to have a complete knowledge of the skill.
Check: Full Form of Arts Courses
The eligibility criteria for MPA is 50% minimum aggregate in any Bachelor's courses from a recognized college or University.
Mostly the admission process for the colleges for MPA are Personal Interview and a Skill Assessment Test or CET is an entrance examination which is accepted nationally by the reputed universities.
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MPA focuses both in practical and theoretical knowledge distinctive to Drama,Music and Dance.Diverse roles are offered to these students are Theatre artist, Scriptwriter,Director, etc
The students who enrol for Masters in Performing Arts ,majority of them pursue PhD later on.Even if the student does not opt for higher studies they easily manage to earn an annual salary of INR 2 – INR 5 Lacs
Check: Top PhD Colleges in India
Master of Performing Arts Course Highlights
The following table consists of important course highlights of Master of Performing Arts –
Course Level | PG |
Full-Form | Master of Performing Arts |
Duration | Two years |
Examination type | Semester |
Eligibility | Valid score in CET/PET |
Admission Process | Minimum 50% in Graduation BPA/Diploma |
Course Fee | INR 2,500 – INR 60,000 |
Average Salary | INR 2 – INR 5 Lacs |
Employment Areas | International Film Organization,Art Institute,Museum,Cultural Organization,Film Industry,Government Organization,Centre of Eminence (National & International level) |
Job Profile | Actor ,Dancer,Musical Theatre Performer,Stage Manager, Director,Choreographer,Music Teacher ,Dance Teacher. |
Top Master of Performing Arts Colleges
The details of top colleges providing Master of Performing Arts in India are listed below –
Name of the College | Location | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees (INR) | Average Placement (INR) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | Aurangabad | Merit-Based | 1,227 | 5.43 LPA |
Pondicherry University | Pondicherry | Entrance-Based | 23,781 | 6LPA |
Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Entrance-Based | 50,000 | 5 LPA |
NIMS University | Jaipur | Entrance-Based | 30,000 | - |
CMJ University | Ribhoi | Entrance-Based | 1,45,000 | - |
What is the Admission Process of a Master of Performing Arts ?
The admission procedure for MPA in India can vary little according to rules and guidelines set by the institutes.A two year full time postgraduate programme.The candidates who are interested in the Masters program can apply to the respective colleges or Universities through online portal or offline mode (very few institutes like Pondicherry University have the option) with required information.
Most universities have the direct admission system while some of them have provision for entrance exams.
The merit basis admission on the marks of the graduation i.e. Bachelor in Performing Arts /Bachelor of Arts.
Entrance based admission are done through the following steps :
- In case of CUCET, candidates have to register and then wait for the notification of availability of online application which is mostly in the month of March.
- After filling up the application with the correct details where one month is given for completing and finally submitting the application.
- Uploading the required documents and paying the application fee is a crucial step otherwise the application will not be accepted.
- Candidates are allowed to apply to not more than 3 participating universities for the MPA programme.
- The Entrance exam gives the option to choose from many exam centres according to the convenience of the candidate.
- An address of Correspondence and details of the last qualifying exam have to be given after getting the application ID.
- Candidates need to sit for the exam on the given date as mentioned in the website and admit card .
- After the declaration of results universities will release their cut off .Only those candidates who have managed to clear the cut off will be called for taking admission in the given course.
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What is the Eligibility Criteria for Master of Performing Arts ?
The eligibility criteria for Master of Performing Arts is very basic though it can vary from universities to universities.The compulsory criteria is mentioned below
- A graduate with a Bachelor/Diploma degree from a recognized university
- Minimum 50% is required in graduation.
- In some cases 5 Years of practical experience in Theatre or a reputed dance institution.
What are the popular Entrance Examinations for Master of Performing Arts ?
Most Universities conduct direct admission on experience or Bachelor/Diploma degree marks, entrance examination is conducted only by few universities which is followed by merit screening.
Some of popular entrance examination for Master of Performing Arts are:
Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date |
---|---|---|
CUCET | March - April 2023 | 1st to June 10, 2023 |
TISS NET | December 14, 2022 – February 1, 2023 | February 25, 2023 |
DUET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
LPUNEST | 1st week of November 2022 – January 20, 2023 | 1st February to February 10, 2023 |
DSAT | December 18, 2022 – 4th week of July 2023 | 3rd week of August 2023 |
How to Prepare for the Master of Performing Arts Entrance Examination?
Preparation for the entrance in due time following the updates and notification on the college websites in order to clear the cut off of the institutions of Master of Performing Arts in India.Given below are some of the tips to keep ahead of the race
- The entrance exams are conducted in Offline mode with 100 multiple choice questions divided into Part A and Part B .The mode may vary due to the pandemic . Entrance exams can be in CBT mode from now on.
- Part A includes 25 MCQs and Part B with 75 MCQs.Candidate can cucetexam.in register just after the notification on the official download their admit card which arrives a few days before exam which generally takes place in the month of May.
- PET ,CET or private entrance examination has a similar pattern –
- General knowledge
- English Comprehension
- Aptitude
- History of Performing Arts.
- The second phase after qualifying the entrance ,which is solely done on the merit basis ,is the personal interview conducted by the respective universities.
- The candidates need to carefully study the exam pattern and the syllabus.
- Clearing up basic concepts of Performing Arts will be beneficial even for the Interview Round.
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How to Get Admission in a Good Master of Performing Arts College?
In order to secure a place and get admission to study in the best colleges of Master of Performing Arts, follow the points given below:
- Do a research of the top colleges and the curriculum of MPA.
- The syllabus,faculty,career options should be the guiding step to filter out colleges according to the candidate’s ease of access.
- Constant checking of the updates and notifications is important.
- Having a talk with the Seniors about the prospect can help in choosing the best college .
- Preparing for the entrance as per the syllabus given.
- Practice,brushing up on knowledge and then clearing the cut off will only fetch the candidate their ideal institute.
What is Master of Performing Arts All About?
Master of Performing Arts as the name of the degree suggests aim on making the student a professional performer.It is one of the most popular courses for the creative candidate.The programme is of two years duration.
- Blending art of both the world, this course is uniquely curated to gather information of old world art and the modern world across the ocean.
- Students learn the art of the interaction and implication in real life.After the two year duration students will be ready to cater to different roles are Theatre artist,Musical artist,Researcher,Academician.
- Currently the institutions which offer the Masters abroad in Performing Arts are in the following programmes such as Production and Artistic Research, Music Studies, Music Theatre, Culture Studies.
Why Study Master of Performing Arts ?
Performing Arts provides a platform to build the confidence on stage by developing the skill through academics.It is a must course for students already having Diploma or an experience of over five years in learning and being on stage
- It is a practical work based subject so it needs the improvement in their performance during the course by analysing the subject.
- Immediate first hand application is the highlight of this course.Students get to learn and perform that is how the curriculum is set up.
- Most MPA degrees flow around several disciplines before choosing the specialisation.
- The continuous adaptive learning by expanding the skill set in response to the new developments and changing environment.
- In this 2 year programme the students are prepared to be job ready with the immediate completion of the course.
- Students can pursue research at Centres of Eminence at National and International Level.
- Postgraduates are offered jobs in the Entertainment Industry for the role of actors,choreographers.
- The average annual salary of these professionals can be from 2.5 to 6 LPA.
Master of Performing Arts Vs Master of Arts
The table shows the difference between the two of the common degrees that are Masters Program for Arts are Master of Performing arts and Master of Arts on the basis of few parameters.
Parameters | Master of Performing Arts | Master of Arts |
---|---|---|
Overview | MPA is also a 2 year long programme with specialisation offered such as Dance,Drama,Theatrics | M.A is a 2 year program with all the subjects that is offered in humanities stream.There are plenty of options to choose from such as History,Sociology |
Eligibility | Student with BPA/BA/Diploma with 50% criteria | Any student who has completed Bachelor of Arts with a minimum 50% |
Admission procedure | Entrance/Merit | Entrance/Merit |
Course Fee | INR 2,500 to 60,000 | INR 6000 to 40000 |
Job Profile | Theatre artist,Actor,Director, Choreographer,Musical Artist | Teacher,Administrative Officer,Journalist,Social worker,Researcher,Counsellor. |
Average Annual salary | INR 2 – INR 5 Lacs | INR 2 – INR 4 Lakhs |
Source: Official websites and Payscale
Top Masters in Performing Arts Colleges
The details of top Masters in Performing Arts colleges are listed below with the geographical location,fees ,and annual expected salary mentioned as follows
Name of the College | Location | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
---|---|---|---|
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | Aurangabad | Merit-Based | 1,227 |
Pondicherry University | Pondicherry | Entrance-Based | 23,781 |
Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Entrance-Based | 50,000 |
NIMS University | Jaipur | Entrance-Based | 30,000 |
CMJ University | Ribhoi | Entrance-Based | 1,45,000 |
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University (RMLAU) | Faizabad | Entrance-Based | 23,450 |
All Indian Society for Electronics and Computer Technology | Hazaribagh | Entrance-Based | 16,000 |
Shri Krishna University(SKU) | Chhatarpur | Entrance-Based | 36,000 |
Swami Vivekanand University | Sagar | Entrance-Based | 19,500 |
Goa University | Goa | Entrance-Based | 26,790 |
Master of Performing Art: College Comparison
Comparison between the top three institutes for Masters in Performing Arts on the basis of few parameters are given
Parameters | Pondicherry University | Chandigarh University | NIMS University |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | The Department of Performing Arts came into existence in 1989 offering MPA, MPhil,PhD in Drama and Theatre Arts. | Chandigarh University (CU) is a Private University accredited with A+ Grade by NAAC. The university has a total student strength of 13,221 with more than 5,500 female students across all departments. There are 16 departments in total offering many specializations in undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. courses | This university is established as per UGC ACT ,1956 with AICTE approval.It is a 2 year course that focuses training of Dance Practitioners with intensive research sessions. |
Location | Puducherry | Chandigarh | Jaipur |
Eligibility | BPA/BA/Diploma with 55% . | Minimum 55% in Bachelor's degree. | Graduate in any degree from a recognized university under UGC or a minimum of 5 years of learning experience from a Guru. |
Admission process | Common Entrance Test | Personal Interview and Skill Assessment Test | Entrance exam followed by personal interview |
Average Fee | INR 23,781 | INR 50,000 | INR 30,000 |
Average Salary | INR 6 LPA | NR 5 LPA | - |
Top Recruiting Companies | GE Healthcare, Bank of America, Cognizant, Honeywell | IBM,Accenture, HCL,HP | Deloitte, Endurance,Next Novity,Aptinova |
Source: Official websites
Master of Performing Arts Syllabus
Master of performing arts is a vast stream with various region of specialization.The table below includes all the semester wise Master of Performing Arts syllabus
SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
---|---|
Fundamentals of Theatre and Drama | History of Classical Indian drama |
Fundamentals of Acting | History and Development of Classical,Neo Classical and Elizabethan Theatre |
Fundamentals of Theatre Design | Technical theatre |
History and Development of Modern Indian Drama | Acting Theory & Practical |
History and Development of Modern Western drama | Play Production(Contemporary & Western) |
Dance History | Art history and Choreography |
Traditional folk dance and Theatre of India | Traditional Theatre of India and Western Ballet |
History and Development of World Dance | Critical Study of Practical & Theoretical aspects of Dance |
SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
Folk and Traditional Theatre | Aesthetics :Indian and Western |
Fundamentals of Direction | Advance Script Writing |
Stage and Event Management | Theatre Research |
Children Theatre | Design Tech. (Makeup & Costume ) |
Design Technology (Scenic Design ) | TV and Film Production |
Analytical study of Ragas | Analytical study of Talas |
Acting for camera | Theatrical Martial Arts |
Voice & Speech | Specialization : Direction,Acting, Design . |
Compositional forms of Indian Vocal Music | Critical Study of the component of Ragas and Talas |
Improvisation ,Mime and Choreography | Play Production (Major ) |
Stage Performance | Music and Management |
Ethnomusicology | Raga Classification System |
Comparative Aesthetics | Folk music |
Masters of Performing Arts Books
These are some of the essential books to follow Masters of Performing Arts
Books | Author |
---|---|
Understanding Dance | Graham Mcfee |
Theatre,Theory,Theatre | Daniel C. Gerould |
Universal Dance & Drama | P. Medini Hombal |
A Confluence of Indian Drama N Text | Utpal K. Banerjee |
The Classical Music of North India | Ali Akbar Khan |
A Southern Music – The Carnatic Story | T.M Krishna |
Indian Folk & Tribal Paintings | Charu Smita Gupta |
What After Masters of Performing Arts?
This particular course does not provide jobs in the top recruiting companies as the subject is completely different but definitely one can manage to get a job in an Art Institute.
- The course is suitable for those who want to work in Theatre,Criticism ,Government Institution,International Film Organization.
- The students may join Institutes as a faculty or a researcher or they may choose to work independently.
Following table highlights the top Masters of Performing Arts jobs, along with the description and the average salary.
Job Role | Job Description | Average Annual Fee (INR) |
---|---|---|
Actor | Acts in film,serials,commercials mainly works in front of camera | 10 Lakhs to 1 Cr |
Music Teacher | Teaches the ragas and talas of music,vocal skills, implantation of the techniques. | 1.5 Lakhs to 4Lakhs |
Theatre Artist | Works in a live stage environment,with live audiences ,basically performing in open theatre or plays. | 2Lakhs to 4 Lakhs |
Stage Manager | Responsible for the production and management of the stage | 3.5 to 4 Lakhs |
Dramatherapist | Use drama or theatrical process in order in to achieve therapeutic goals | 5 to 6.5 Lakhs |
Director | Responsible for creating a motion picture be it film,play,commercial,serials. | 6.5 to 10Lakhs |
Choreographer | Expresses the emotions through dance | 5 to 4Lakhs |
Source: Payscale
What is the Future Scope of Masters of Performing Arts?
From being an Entrepreneur to Dramatherapist to Composer ,there are a bundle of exciting roles .Beginning of the career can be challenging for some but gradually they get fame and praise after doing field work for a few years.
- Strong Ethics ,Communication Skill and the Art of management can be the reason why people are getting inclined in this field unlike.This degree works as a growing step for PhD and M.Phil candidates.
- The employment sector is also growing right from Government Institution or Criticism to the Film Industry.The areas where the academic knowledge can be utilized are Arts administrator, Film Director, Broadcast administrator, Special effects technician, Sound and Light technician, Theatre Stage Manager.
- Self Employment is also on the rise for many artists who open their own studio or conduct workshops with a particular form which they are interested in to explore.
- The experience can be gathered by involving in the creative process of filmmaking ,stage performance,music composition as much as possible.Sometime unpaid ,charitable ,self funding work can help the candidate to grow as a performing artist by sharing and discussing ideas with co-worker .
This being a challenging field ,candidates are required to work on their presentation skill,analyzing,detailing ability .
If a masters graduate is ready to explore their skill with an open mind and experiment with new ideas there will always be many avenues open for them.
The pay package and the placement opportunity has increased. Now a performing artist easily earns upto 5 Lakhs considering the competition in the creative field and the pay gap issue.More than 75% are employed and 10% opting for higher studies as per the current trend.
Especially for the students who want to go for higher studies or PhD ,abroad can get a fully funded research programme .It can vary from four to five year depending upon the area of research.
Read More: PhD Courses
Masters of Performing Arts: FAQs
Ques.:What is the fee structure in public and private colleges for Masters in Performing Arts ?
Ans. The fee in Public College can be between 3000 INR to 1 Lakh while in Private Colleges the fee may vary from 20000 INR to 1.7 Lac approximately.
Ques. What is the average annual salary of Performing Artist ?
Ans.The salary can be from 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 Lakhs according to the project or assignment provided.
Ques: Is MPA a worthy course to take up ?
Ans.If the candidate is eager to gather knowledge to polish their choice of skill and specialise in it one must opt for MPA.
Ques:What is the duration of the course ?
Ans. It is a four semester ,two years duration course.
Ques.What makes a Master of Performing arts a desired course ?
Ans.IIt imparts deep knowledge related to Dance,Drama ,Music and the jobs offered in these fields are creatively satisfying.
Ques.Name some entrance examinations which are accepted by reputed institutes.
Ans.BHU PET,CUCET are the entrance examinations which are accepted nationally for a Master of Performing Arts degree.
Ques.What is the most sought after job profile of MPA graduates abroad ?
Ans. Drama Therapist and Artrepreneur are some of the jobs that are popular abroad.
Ques.What is the Career Option for MPA graduates who are more inclined towards academics ?
Ans.Master of Performing Arts graduates can pursue PhD and then join any institution as an Academician.
Ques.What are the desirable qualities of an MPA graduate ?
Ans. Visualisation,Communication and Expression with strong background research are the desirable qualities .
Ques.What is the Master of Performing Arts syllabus?
Ans. Fundamentals of Acting,Drama,Theatre Research,Production Management ,Origin of Eastern and Western Dance Forms,Analysis of Ragas are some of the subjects taught over a period of two years.
Ques.Is there any option for earning the candidate who does not want to join anywhere after the course ?
Ans. Self employment is spiking in this field with people opening studios and companies where they teach ,mentor,guide students who are eager to pursue their career in Performing Arts.
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