Overview

The Lighting Design program at Boston University seeks to:

Enhance artistic expression and communication skills through hands-on, mentored design experience within a wide range of production opportunities and classroom instruction.

Explore creative collaborations with directors, actors, technicians, and playwrights.

Develop a thorough understanding of professional working methods and standards.

Create new forms of theatrical expression for the next generation.

MFA Design students are being prepared for substantive careers as theatre artists. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, production design opportunities, and collaboration with professionals through our Professional Theatre Initiative. Students are mentored by working professional faculty and advisors.

Financial aid is available to some students in the form of scholarships, living stipends, or teaching assistantships. Admission is highly selective, with the School of Theatre admitting one to three students each year into each of the Scene Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Sound Design MFA programs.

In-depth classroom instruction in artistic, practical, and skills applications of design to the art of theatre.

Production opportunities to design in multiple venues and multiple genres.

Preparation and execution of a thesis that represents the culmination of three years of study.

Opportunity to work on productions with companies through our Professional Theatre Initiative (PTI).

Learning Outcomes

The Lighting Design program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, design, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and production assignments, Lighting Design students will:

Demonstrate a collaborative design approach that embraces best professional practices for lighting design in the performing arts.

Clearly articulate an understanding of the connection between historical periods within theatre, art, culture, and society.

Demonstrate the advanced ability to critically analyze a wide variety of texts, music, history, art, and design in order to communicate through light, visual, conceptual, and emotional responses to an audience in support of the actor, the director, and the design team.

Demonstrate the advanced skills necessary to be a working lighting designer, including, but not limited to, drafting, familiarity with lighting technology and lighting paperwork, and implementation of a lighting design from the conceptual phase to opening night.

Demonstrate through the successful completion of the thesis process a focused, creative, and skillful application of lighting design within the theatrical experience.

Successfully complete a website and portfolio that demonstrates proficiency in lighting design sufficient to obtain professional design positions in the performing arts.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Colloquium

Production

Master Class

Lighting Design Studio

Grad project
Design

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Boston, United States

Disciplines

Design Interior Design View 455 other Masters in Design in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

125

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Other requirements

General requirements

Non-refundable application fee of $95.

Transcripts

Three letters of recommendation

Resume/cv

All international students (non-US citizens) must submit a three-minute video.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

33382 USD / year

≈ 33382 USD / year
Out-of-State

33382 USD / year

≈ 33382 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

33382 USD / year

≈ 33382 USD / year

Living costs

Boston

United States

1560 - 3239 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

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Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Lighting Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Learning Outcomes

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Boston

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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