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Artistic Aptitude Test MA "Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft"

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The Online registration for the artistic aptitude test for the Master "Applied Theater Studies" (MA ATW) 2025 is open now. Please click here.

 

The deadlines for the application procedure can be found here.

 

The artistic aptitude test for MA ATW will take place according to the following process:

 

Admittance Regulations
A meaningful theatre course which includes practical work is only possible when the number of students is manageable. Moreover, such a course, as well as the professions for which it prepares the students, demands special capabilities. Therefore, the Institute of Applied Theatre Studies has a special admittance process.

 

Study Requirements

The following formal requirements must be met for admission to the Master's program "Applied Theatre Studies":

 

  •  BA Applied Theatre Studies at JLU Giessen (minimum grade: good or better) and participation in the admission test or:
  •  BA (or equivalent degree) in a theater-related field of study and admission test (artistic portfolio, BA thesis or equivalent academic paper, oral admission test).

Previous studies must have dealt with theater, media and/or performative arts in practice and/or theory.

 

For MA ATW, you must be able to speak German. Also, English language proficiency is required. Further information on language requirements can be found here: 

English proficiency as evidenced by:

  • School certificates: Abitur certificate (A Level) or “Realschule” (middle school) certificate 10th grade, or
  • Examination of language skills by the Institute for English Studies (level B1), or
  • Proof of graduation from an English-language bachelor's degree program.
  • if the proof cannot yet be provided at the time of enrollment, then "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL): where the test result is

     *in the paper version must be at least 550 out of 677 points, 

     *in the PC version at least 213 out of 300 points,

     *in the Internet version, the test score must be at least 79 out of 120 points, 

or

  •  "International English Language Testing System" (IELTS): minimum overall score "6" (the test version "academic" is required),

or

  •  Evidence certified according to the Common European Framework of Reference: At least level C1

In the case where special artistic talent is identified in the course of the application process, the the proof of foreign language proficiency can be provided in exceptional cases through an individual examination by the examination board.

 

Determination of artistic aptitude
It is the aim of our entrance examination to choose students whose ability is individually considered regarding this course of study.

Studying Applied Theatre Science successfully requires artistic ability. The required aesthetic judgment and artistic aptitude are determined within the framework of an artistic aptitude test, therefore interested students must first apply for the aptitude test at the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies. Only after passing the artistic aptitude test, it is possible to apply for a place at the university via the application portal within the enrollment deadlines (usually by July 15th). Please inform yourself individually at the beginning of June about the enrollment deadlines for the semester in question, as these may differ from the above-mentioned deadline (e.g. due to the pandemic, etc.).

The process of the artistic aptitude test focuses on skills like artistic creativity, motivation, sensibility as well as capability to present genuine artistic ideas, self-reflexion, sophisticated observation and abstract thinking.

The artistic aptitude test for the Master course is divided into two stages: First applicants must submit a portfolio. If the portfolio is awarded a positive mark by the examination commission, an oral examination follows. For all stages, it is important that the representation of the person, his/her own imagination, own work, inclinations and interests as well as attained capabilities (such as music lessons, theatre workshops, writing etc.) are in the foreground. The examination commission is interested in the most individual examination possible. Upon online-registration at our website you will receive a confirmation email containing a specific code number. With this code you will be able to log in on the website and obtain access to the anonymous results to each step of the application process.

 

 

1st stage: PORTFOLIO


The portfolio should contain: 

1. a curriculum vitae in tabular form.

2. explanation of the reasons for applying: For this, please answer the following questions in writing (each answer should be a maximum of 500 words):

a.What motivates you to study the Master ATW? 

b. How do you think research, scholarship, and artistic practice relate to each other with regard to the MA ATW?

c. In what collective contexts have you worked/are you working and what are your experiences there?

3. a portfolio containing two to three self-made artistic works, on topics you have set yourself (e.g., drafts or documentation of scenic works, performances, audio works, video film, spatial, sound or video installations, your own texts, director's synopsis, stage design model, or similar). 

If you submit videos or audios, upload them to YouTube or Vimeo or SoundCloud and do not forget to include the respective link with access data in your application folder. Additionally, please send an e-mail to , with a combined list of all the links referring to the works included in your portfolio.
Note: In case we have only little time to review the portfolios due to high application volume, please indicate passages in case of extensive works (e.g. texts, video/audio files) that are particularly exemplary or important for you and the work (page number, indication of minutes, etc.)!

4. scientific thesis / BA thesis or other, scientifically developed text as equivalent

5. possibly one or two short critiques of performances of the performing arts. 

6. a statement to the following effect: “I hereby declare that I have carried out the  work presented in this portfolio myself.”

7. if applicable, a reasoned recommendation, e.g., the opinion of a teacher.

 

The portfolio must include a declaration with the following wording: “I hereby declare that I have carried out the work presented in this portfolio myself”.

 

The above mentioned application documents must be submitted by Febuary 28, 2025 (date of postmark or the day your e-mail was received). These should be sent digitally (PDF) or by post to the following address:



Institut für Angewandte Theaterwissenschaft
Gutenbergstr. 6
D - 35390 Gießen

It is necessary to fill in the registration-document (see link at the top). The results from the portfolio selection will be online by the end of March 2025. If you receive a positive result, you are invited to the next step of the application process.
Please also always submit your documents in a digital version (pdf) to the following email address:  Please document artistic formats that are not digitally available by photo or in another suitable form. 

 

Not later than one week after the online registration, each applicant will receive a confirmation letter from us by e-mail with an individual ID number for the further procedure. At the latest one week after the digital submission of the portfolio, the applicant will receive a confirmation mail and also a confirmation mail about the receipt of the analog part of the portfolio, if applicable, by the end of March. The results of the portfolio evaluation will be announced by the end of April.

2nd stage: ORAL EXAM

 

The second part of the artistic aptitude test consists of an oral examination of approx. 30 minutes duration, which serves the purpose of obtaining additional information about the applicant's aptitude from a practical and technical point of view (further details are regulated by the Special Regulations).

The oral exams will be held in the week from the 5th of May 2025. 

For those who have already passed the admission tests (max. two years ago) and have postponed the beginning of their studies, they are also requested to register if they want to start studying in 2025. To do so they also have to fill out the registration sheet and mark in the last segment 'already applied' 'already accepted in XXXX' with adding the acceptance date. Please send in your registration via mail until the portfolio deadlines. 


The artistic aptitude test can only be repeated once. The artistic aptitude test must be repeated in its entirety if the applicant has not started the degree course within and up to three years of passing it.

 

3rd stage: Application at uni-assist – only for international students or students who have obtained their qualification outside of Germany!

If you have obtained your qualification outside of Germany, you have to formally apply at uni-assist, a service provider to all German universities. They evaluate diplomas obtained outside of Germany and compare them to the German system. For international students, it is not possible to enrol at Justus-Liebig-University without going through the admission process of uni-assist! This is also applicable if you are a German citizen but have finished school in another country.

After receiving your final acceptance to the program you applied for, you are able to sign in at uni-assist until the 15th July of every year: https://www.uni-assist.de/en. This is a formal step and has to be completed in order to start your studies. 

You will receive further information regarding these topics with the final affirmation letter and also on the website of the international office of JLU. 

 

A subject consulting service is possible at all times by telephone consultation.

For those who have already passed the artistic aptitude test (max. two years ago) and have postponed the beginning of their studies, please let the university know by post by the entry deadline for the portfolio. To do so, please fill in the registration document and enter “already accepted” in the last segment under “already applied” and the registration date.