Overview

The MFA Directing program at Northwestern University pursues this goal by guiding each director to discover, develop and apply their individual artistic voice with vision and integrity. We accept three highly motivated individuals each year – artists with a passionate drive to work in the theater at the highest level of creativity and accomplishment. We give strongest consideration to those who have been directing work, running theater companies, and contributing to the emerging landscape of contemporary theater.

These directors seek out a graduate program because they are ready to slow down and engage in a deep examination of what they want to say, how they want to say it, and why they want to say it in the theater. We provide a place for this crucial introspection, supported by rigorous scholarship, a fully-funded assistantship, and intensive mentoring. We prioritize each artist’s role and opportunity in a professional community.

We train directors to:

Understand and define the work they want to make
Develop their collaborations with other artists
Explore their practice in a rigorously informed historical and critical context
Articulate what they believe theatre should do in the world
Build relationships with audiences and communities

Directors accepted into the program will work side by side with a gifted cohort of MFA designers and our award-winning faculty. The course of study includes a rich and unique curriculum that puts the focus on a director’s personal vision, depth of craft, leadership, creativity and collaborative voice, and how these skills are employed in relationship to the community context in which they will work.

Directors are exposed to an expansive range of artists, scholars, and critical perspectives, while being supported in close tutorial relationships with a core faculty. While collaborating with actors and designers in classroom and production activities, they also learn advanced directing theory and practice from working directors at such prestigious national theatres as Steppenwolf, The Goodman Theater and Lookingglass, among many others. As well as having opportunities to develop and lead projects on campus, students may pursue varied production opportunities such as professional internships in the multifaceted and thriving Chicago theater community.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Text Analysis

Director/Designer Collaboration

History of Directing

Dramaturgy

Theatre History

Rehearsal Techniques
Artistic Process Innovation

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

65 alternative credits

units

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Evanston, United States

Disciplines

Film Studies Drama View 217 other Masters in Film Studies 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

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Other requirements

General requirements

A one-page statement of purpose, explaining your current goals, career plans, and reasons for selecting theatre as a major field of graduate study.
Documentation of theatre work, i.e., reviews, portfolio designs, promotional materials, directing statements, or production photos.
Official TOEFL scores for international applicants whose native language is not English.
An official transcript (bearing registrar's signature and/or the institution's seal) from each post-secondary institution attended, documenting all courses taken (within or outside a degree program), grades received, and degrees earned.

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

45946 USD / year

≈ 45946 USD / year
Out-of-State

45946 USD / year

≈ 45946 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

45946 USD / year

≈ 45946 USD / year

Additional Details

per quarter

Living costs

Evanston

United States

1100 - 1500 USD / month

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

Financing

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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.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Directing.

Available Scholarships

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

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About

Overview

Overview

We train directors to:

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

Additional Details

Living costs

Evanston

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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