University of the Arts Helsinki CDPR Master's Thesis Guide: T-CD21301 25 ECTS, Double Degree, 0-5 Grading

Quick answer: what is the current CDPR thesis route at Uniarts Helsinki?

The Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR) programme is an international double-degree Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) programme. For students admitted through Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy is the home university. The current programme page says students begin at Uniarts, spend the second and third semesters at a partner university, return to Uniarts for the fourth semester, and submit the final thesis to both universities.

The current linked Uniarts home-university Study Guide object is 9532 / 116700_M_2021A. Its exact thesis course is T-CD21301 Thesis project, 25 ECTS, plus T-CD21302 Maturity test, 0 ECTS. T-CD21301 permits either an artistic work with a written component or a dissertation. However, there are two official-source mismatches that must be visible: the formal Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree is 120 ECTS, while the linked home Study Guide root reports 116 ECTS structure metadata; and the exact CDPR home thesis is 25 ECTS while the current 2026 academy-wide thesis guide generically says Theatre Academy master’s theses are 30 ECTS except named pedagogy and musical-theatre exceptions. This guide therefore uses the linked programme-specific T-CD21301 as the exact current CDPR home course while telling students to confirm the credit registration with CDPR planning staff because the official sources are not fully aligned.

1. CDPR is a double-degree programme

CDPR is built around comparative dramaturgy and performance research across a European partner network. A student admitted at Uniarts Helsinki has Uniarts as the home university and studies at a partner university during the middle part of the degree.

The programme page says the final thesis is submitted to both universities. This double-degree context explains why CDPR has route-specific rules that differ from ordinary Theatre Academy programmes.

2. The formal degree is Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama), 120 ECTS

Uniarts’ degree information gives the formal Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree a scope of 120 ECTS and a normative duration of two years. The current CDPR programme page likewise states a two-year double master’s degree.

Use 120 ECTS when describing the formal degree scope.

3. The linked home Study Guide root reports 116 ECTS

The linked home-university Study Guide object 9532 / 116700_M_2021A reports 116 ECTS structure metadata. That number does not match the formal 120 ECTS degree scope.

Do not silently redefine the degree as 116 ECTS. Treat this as a current official-source metadata discrepancy and use the formal degree page for the degree scope.

4. CDPR has separate home and partner Study Guide structures

The programme page links two Study Guide objects. Object 9532 / 116700_M_2021A is for Theatre Academy as the home university. Object 9531 / 116700_M_2021B is for Theatre Academy as a partner university.

They are not interchangeable. The thesis credits and supervision route depend on which institution is the student’s home university.

5. Uniarts-home students use T-CD21301, 25 ECTS

For students admitted through Uniarts Helsinki, the exact linked home route contains T-CD21300 Thesis Project, 25 ECTS, with T-CD21301 Thesis project, 25 ECTS and the separate zero-credit maturity requirement.

This is the programme-specific Study Guide evidence for the Uniarts-home thesis.

6. There is also a current academy-wide 30 ECTS statement

The Theatre Academy master-thesis guideline updated in August 2026 says master’s thesis projects are generally 30 ECTS, except Theatre Pedagogy and Dance Pedagogy at 25 ECTS and Musical Theatre at 20 ECTS. CDPR is not named in that exception sentence.

That statement conflicts with the current linked CDPR home course showing T-CD21301 as 25 ECTS.

7. Do not hide the 25-versus-30 ECTS conflict

The correct public explanation is not to pretend one source does not exist. The current programme page still links the Study Guide containing the 25 ECTS T-CD21301 route, while the newer academy-wide guide gives the generic 30 ECTS rule.

For planning this guide follows the exact programme-linked CDPR course code and credit, but students should confirm the credit registration with the CDPR planning officer before finalising the thesis plan.

8. The programme page says the thesis usually has artistic and written parts

For Uniarts-home students, the current programme page says the thesis usually consists of an artistic part and a written thesis. The artistic part can be an independent project or dramaturgy work in a collaborative Theatre Academy production.

The exact course description gives a little more flexibility than the programme-page summary.

9. T-CD21301 allows two thesis routes

The exact T-CD21301 course says the thesis can be either an artistic work with a written component or a dissertation.

Do not tell every CDPR student that an artistic component is mandatory. The dissertation route is explicitly available in the current course description.

10. The artistic route can take different forms

The artistic work can be a live performance of the student’s own or participation in an artistically and dramaturgically demanding whole at the Theatre Academy or elsewhere.

The learning outcomes require an artistically well-composed whole and the ability to sustain long-term focused work.

11. The artistic route demonstrates capacity as artist and researcher

The exact course expects the artistic project to provide understanding of the student’s capacity as both artist and researcher. This is consistent with CDPR’s research-oriented identity.

A strong artistic thesis therefore needs a clear relationship between artistic decisions, dramaturgical thinking, research questions and reflective writing.

12. The written component is a research outcome

For the artistic-plus-written route, the written thesis must show profound understanding of comparative dramaturgy and performance research and knowledge of both artistic and research practices.

It should not be reduced to production documentation. The course expects analytical and research-oriented work.

13. Dramaturgical means and methods matter

The exact learning outcomes say students should apply dramaturgical means and methods when exploring their chosen topic.

That can make the paper structurally different from a generic social-science dissertation. The method should grow out of the artistic and dramaturgical question rather than being imported mechanically.

14. Move between artistic practice and research analytically

The written route expects students to move analytically and self-reflectively between artistic practice and research and to connect the work to relevant conceptual and theoretical contexts.

Reflection should therefore be evidence-based and critical, not just a chronological diary of the project.

15. The dissertation route is fully research-oriented

A dissertation must define aims clearly, delimit the topic, form an ordered written whole and demonstrate knowledge and application of relevant research methods, traditions and literature.

It also requires critical use of theory, analysis and well-founded conclusions.

16. T-OMA20105 Thesis project seminar is 2 ECTS

The Uniarts-home structure includes T-OMA20105 Thesis project seminar, 2 ECTS. The seminar helps students articulate, structure and deepen their interests and identify research questions arising from thinking and practice.

It also places those questions in relation to the wider art field, peers and theory.

17. Use the seminar to understand the review process

The thesis seminar explicitly introduces the requirements, aims and review process for the master’s thesis project and deepens understanding of artistic research.

Use it to test not only the topic but also the route: artistic-plus-written versus dissertation.

18. T-XM20216 Research competence is 2 ECTS

The home structure also includes T-XM20216 Research competence, 2 ECTS. It covers artistic research, research questions and arguments, theories, methods and relevant research literature.

This course provides a general methods foundation, but it does not impose one compulsory empirical design on CDPR theses.

19. Begin from the preliminary research plan

The current programme page says students enter CDPR with an existing performance practice and a preliminary master’s research plan. The plan is revised and expanded during studies.

That makes early research planning part of the programme, not an activity postponed until the final semester.

20. The formal thesis project plan is still required

Current Theatre Academy guidance requires a thesis project plan before or early in the thesis process and before carrying out an artistic component.

The plan should address topic, objectives, research questions, structure, supervisors, examiners and publicity.

21. The thesis plan has a two-year validity under current academy guidance

The general Theatre Academy guideline says an approved thesis project plan is valid for two years. If the thesis has not been approved within that period, a new plan must be prepared for approval.

This is separate from the two-year normative duration of the degree.

22. Supervision hours are not a fixed universal number

Current Theatre Academy guidance says students receive one or two supervisors and that the degree programme tells the student and supervisor how many supervision hours are available.

Do not import a fixed hour entitlement from another programme.

23. The supervisor pre-examines the work

The current academy guide says the supervisor pre-examines the thesis and gives permission for final examination. Students should allow at least one week for this pre-examination.

Once the work is sent into the final examination route, it should be treated as locked under the current process.

24. The ordinary Theatre Academy route uses two examiners

Current academy guidance says thesis projects are assessed by two examiners, usually one external to Theatre Academy and one member of Theatre Academy academic staff, subject to conflict-of-interest rules.

For CDPR partner-home students, an exact double-degree examiner rule is stated separately and should take priority for that route.

25. Partner-home students use T-CD21401, not T-CD21301

If Theatre Academy is the partner university rather than the student’s home institution, the linked Study Guide uses T-CD21401 Thesis project, with a scope of 20 to 30 ECTS.

That range must not be copied onto Uniarts-home students.

26. The partner-home university controls thesis scope and requirements

T-CD21401 states that the thesis is supervised by and completed at the student’s home university. The home university defines the scope, requirements and objectives.

Theatre Academy appoints a co-supervisor, and both the home university and Theatre Academy appoint an examiner.

27. Partner-home final approval involves Theatre Academy Teaching Council

The exact partner-route course says the final work is approved by the Theatre Academy’s Teaching Council.

This is another reason the partner route must be described separately rather than collapsed into the Uniarts-home 25 ECTS course.

28. Current academy guidance gives 30-60 pages for a written or reflective component

The current Theatre Academy master-thesis guide says a written or reflective component should generally be 30 to 60 pages, depending on the nature of the work, excluding contents, sources and appendices.

This is academy-level guidance, not a page number stated in T-CD21301 itself.

29. A standalone thesis/dissertation is about 60 pages under general guidance

The same academy guide says an independently authored thesis without artistic work is about 60 pages, excluding appendices.

Treat this as general Theatre Academy guidance and confirm CDPR-specific expectations in the seminar and thesis plan.

30. Use the Uniarts thesis template and PDF/A workflow

Current Theatre Academy guidance instructs students to use the Uniarts thesis template and save the final work in PDF/A format.

The abstract, structure and accessibility should be built into the document before final export.

31. Referencing style is not one universal CDPR rule

Uniarts currently recommends APA7 or Chicago Author-Date, while telling students to ask their degree programme which style it prefers.

Do not claim that CDPR has one exclusive citation style unless the programme provides a more specific current instruction.

32. Turnitin is part of the originality workflow

Current Uniarts guidance uses Turnitin for originality checking of written theses. The final assessed version should be consistent with the version used through the examination and repository workflow.

Similarity results require academic interpretation rather than treating a percentage as an automatic verdict.

33. Final submission uses Moodle and Taju under current Theatre Academy guidance

After supervisor permission and originality checking, the current Theatre Academy workflow directs final submission through Moodle and also requires the same written version to be saved in Taju.

Students should recheck annual submission dates rather than relying on an old calendar.

34. Taju requires the same assessed version

The library guidance requires the Taju deposit to match the version submitted for assessment. It also requires an accessible PDF/A.

Do not make untracked revisions between examination and repository copies.

35. The thesis is a public document

Approved theses are public documents. Secret or classified information must not be included in the final thesis.

Restricted Taju access limits online availability but does not convert the thesis into a confidential document.

36. Artistic documentation can also raise publicity and copyright issues

Current Theatre Academy guidance says recording or documentation of artistic components may also be stored and public when feasible, subject to the nature of the work and copyright.

Plan performer permissions, third-party material and recording rights before the final production.

37. T-CD21302 maturity test is 0 ECTS and Pass-Fail

The exact CDPR maturity course is T-CD21302, 0 ECTS, evaluated Pass-Fail.

Its course description says the maturity examination is a summary of the written section of the thesis project.

38. Current Theatre Academy guidance treats the maturity test as the abstract

The 2026 Theatre Academy guideline describes the master’s maturity test as the thesis abstract, a summary of the thesis project.

This aligns broadly with the exact CDPR summary wording.

39. Maturity language is more nuanced than the older course wording

The older T-CD21301 wording refers to demonstrating good command of English. Current academy guidance distinguishes students according to the language of school education and whether Finnish or Swedish proficiency was already demonstrated in an earlier Finnish bachelor’s degree.

Use the current language rules for the present public explanation.

40. AI applications are not permitted in the maturity test

Current Uniarts ethical guidance states that AI applications are not permitted in the maturity test.

For thesis writing or editing, follow the current university rules on permitted AI use and disclosure.

41. CDPR thesis grading is 0-5

CDPR is an important exception to the ordinary Theatre Academy grading pattern. The current Theatre Academy thesis guide explicitly says international double-degree thesis projects are graded 0-5 and provides CDPR-specific criteria.

Do not use Pass / Pass with Distinction / Fail as the CDPR thesis grade scale.

42. The CDPR grade labels are explicit

The current CDPR assessment criteria use 0 = Fail, 1 = Sufficient, 2 = Satisfactory, 3 = Good, 4 = Very good, 5 = Excellent.

The criteria cover learning and professionalism, overall coherence, artistic work where applicable, and the written thesis or dissertation.

43. Assessment values coherence and justified choices

Across the CDPR scale, the current criteria increasingly reward a coherent whole, clear justification of choices, analytical competence, critical thinking and self-evaluation.

When drafting, make your artistic and research decisions visible and explain why they are appropriate to the project.

44. Human-participant methods create data-protection duties

If the project uses interviews, surveys, observation, images, video or other identifiable living-person material, you are likely processing personal data.

Plan purpose, controller, legal basis, participant information, storage, access and data lifecycle before collection begins.

45. Pseudonymisation is not the same as anonymity

Uniarts guidance notes that pseudonymised material remains personal data if re-identification is possible. Performance communities can be small, making indirect identification easy.

Collect only the personal data genuinely needed for the thesis question.

46. Formal ethical review is not automatic for a master’s project

Uniarts asks supervisors to design bachelor’s and master’s projects so formal ethical review is normally not required. Certain research settings can still trigger review considerations.

An ethical-review statement is not the same as a research permit, and a project concerning Uniarts staff or students may require a separate permit.

47. Allow time for examination and graduation

Current Theatre Academy guidance asks students to submit in time for examiners to have at least four weeks for assessment. Graduation schedules and submission dates are published by academic cycle.

Do not freeze one year’s dates into a long-lived plan.

48. Practical workflow for a Uniarts-home CDPR student

Start with the preliminary research plan and use the research competence course and thesis seminar to refine the question and choose between the artistic-plus-written route and dissertation route. Prepare the formal thesis plan with supervisors, examiners and publicity considerations. If there is an artistic component, approve the plan before carrying out the artistic work. Build documentation, literature and methods around the approved question. Follow current supervision and pre-examination steps, complete Turnitin, submit the final examination version through the current Moodle route, complete the T-CD21302 maturity abstract under the correct language rule, save the same written version to Taju as accessible PDF/A, and allow enough time for the CDPR 0-5 examination and graduation process.

49. What to verify immediately before registration and submission

Because the official sources currently disagree on 25 versus 30 ECTS for the Uniarts-home thesis, verify the thesis credit with CDPR planning staff before registration. Also confirm the current thesis-plan form, supervisor hours, examiner appointments, submission date, Moodle area, maturity-language requirement and graduation calendar.

The durable parts of this guide are the programme-specific route and source conflicts, not a promise that annual operational details never change.

50. Keep the double-degree audience explicit in every administrative decision

CDPR has two official Uniarts Study Guide structures because a student may encounter Theatre Academy as the home university or as a partner university. Before following a thesis-credit, supervisor or examiner instruction, identify which route you are actually on. A Uniarts-home student should not copy the partner-home 20-30 ECTS rule, while a student whose home institution is another CDPR partner should not assume that the Uniarts-home T-CD21301 25 ECTS course controls the thesis scope. Record the home university clearly in your thesis plan and keep both institutions’ administrative requirements visible when the final work must be submitted to two universities.

51. Treat the current source conflicts as a reason to confirm, not to improvise

The 120-versus-116/117 ECTS metadata mismatch and the 25-versus-30 ECTS thesis mismatch are not reasons to invent a blended number. They are reasons to preserve source provenance and ask the CDPR planning officer for the current registration interpretation. Keep a copy of the current Study Guide entry, note the course code on the thesis plan, and confirm which credit value will be registered for your cohort. If the curriculum is updated, use the new official decision rather than carrying an older number forward simply because it appeared in a previous guide.

Sources used for this guide

This guide was verified on 12 September 2026 against the current Uniarts Helsinki CDPR programme page, both linked CDPR Study Guide structures, exact home and partner thesis courses, CDPR seminar and research-competence courses, the current Theatre Academy master-thesis and maturity guidance, supplementary rules, personal-data and research-ethics guidance, graduation instructions, Taju guidance and Uniarts degree information.