Online Master of performing arts is a 2-year course at the post-graduation level which is meant for specializing in the field of arts. Arts here consists of a no. of areas like dance, drama, theater, music, cinema etc.

This course is a perfect fit for those who wish to pursue their career in the field of performing arts. This course gives you a thorough knowledge of the subject which is not just theoretical but also practical and helps students to excel in the field of dance, drama or music. By doing this course, one gets aware of the origin of their area of study and learns how to perform it practically. Hence, this course is specially designed for all the creative souls who like to perform and present themselves to the public.
In order to enroll in this course, one needs to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognized university. The criteria of admission involves personal interview round and a skill assessment test.
After successful completion of this course, students are recruited as script writers, directors, producers etc.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
| Course name | Master of performing arts |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Type of examination | Semester |
| Eligibility criteria | CET/PET score |
| Admission process | 50% aggregate marks in BPA or diploma course or graduation from any field |
| Fee | INR 2,500- INR 60,000 |
| Job profile offered | Music teacher, dance teacher, Dancer, actor, performer, stage manager, musician etc. |
| Avg. Salary | 2-5 LPA |
| Areas of employment | Film industry, International film organization, cultural performances, stage shows, theater etc. |
Best performing Arts Colleges
| College name | Location | Admission Criteria | Avg. Fees (annual) | Avg. Package |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | Aurangabad | Merit based | 1,227 INR | 5.43 LPA |
| Pondicherry University | Pondicherry | Entrance based | 23,781 INR | 6 LPA |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Entrance based | 50,000 | 5 LPA |
| NIMS University | Jaipur | Entrance based | 30,000 | – |
| CMJ university | Ribhoi | Entrance based | 1,45,000 | – |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University | Faizabad | Entrance based | 23,450 | – |
| All Indian Society for electronics and Computer technology | Hazaribagh | Entrance based | 16,000 | – |
| Swami Vivekananda university | Sagar | Entrance based | 19,500 | – |
| Goa University | Goa | Entrance based | 26,790 | – |
Admission process for Master of Performing Arts
The admission procedure for Master of Performing arts May differ from institute to institute in accordance to the guidelines set by them. Students can apply both through online or offline mode into this 2-year postgraduate program. One should consider referring to the official university website to get the exact information regarding the application process. Some universities directly take in students on the basis of merit whereas some conduct entrance exam for the same. For merit based admission, candidates must have finished their graduation in the field of BPA/BA with minimum required percentage.
Steps for entrance based admission
- If occurring for CUCET, candidates first have to register themselves and then, when the notification is received regarding the application form, have to fill it with exact details.
- Uploading of documents and clearance of admission fee are important steps for the application to get accepted.
- Students can apply only for 3 universities at a time for Online MPA entrance exam.
- Students can choose the exam center according to their convenience and sit for the exam on the given date.
- The universities will then release cut off lists containing the names of selected candidates. Those who are selected are eligible to take admission in that particular university.
Eligibility criteria for Online MPA
The eligibility criteria for this 2-year postgraduate program is that students must be graduates in the field of BPA or BA with at least 50% aggregate marks in their subject. However, this Criteria may differ from institute to institute according to the rules and regulations of the university.
Popular entrance exams for Online MPA
Though maximum of the universities take in students on the basis of merit, however some of them conduct entrance exams for the same. Some most popular entrance exams for Online MPA are:-
- BHU PET- This is a 120 minute entrance exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University. It consists of multiple choice questions. Medium of answering can be both Hindi and English. Admission is done on the basis of marks obtained in the exam and also personal interview
- CUCET:- Conducted by Rajasthan Central University, this is a national level exam for the admission in this course.
| Exam | Mode | Period for application | Exam date |
| CUCET | Offline | March | September |
| BHU PET | Offline | January | August |
How to prepare for the entrance exam?
- In order to pull this off, one needs to be aware of the exam pattern. The question paper consists of 100 MCQ’s which are divided in part A and part B. Part A has 25 questions whereas part B has 75 questions.
- The exam pattern remains the same be it BHU PET, CUCET or any other private university exam. The question paper consists of the following sections.
- General knowledge
- English proficiency
- Aptitude
- History of Performing arts
- After scoring minimum required marks, cut off lists are released. The selected candidates are called for a personal interview round. One gets admission only after clearing the interview. The best way to prepare for this interview is through study of the history of performing arts and genuine interest in the field.
- Clearing basic concepts of the course will help candidates in both the rounds.
How to get a seat in the top Online MPA College?
- Conduct a proper research on the top universities, career, average salary offered, faculty etc.
- Study according to the syllabus prescribed by the university.
- Regularly check the website of the desired college to know all the updates.
- Discuss with the seniors about the prospect.
- Stay positive and brush up all the concepts to secure the seat in the top College.
Why study this course?
This course aims at making its students the best performers. This course can prove to be the best choice for creative students.
- It teaches students how to blend the art of performing of the old times with the modern world. Through this course, students learn the art of interaction and implication and students after the completion of this course can serve as performers, musicians, dancers etc.
- This course makes students confident and teach them how to present themselves in stage.
- It is a practical course whose highlight is first hand application of what is taught.
- After the completion of it’s 2 years, students are made ready for job and are recruited in film industry, theater etc.
Course comparison Online MPA vs. MA
| Parameters | Master of Performing arts | Master of arts |
| Overview | It’s a 2-year course that offers specialization in the field of dance, drama etc. | It’s a 2-year course offering specialization in subjects offered in humanities. |
| Eligibility | BPA or BA with 50% aggregate | BA with 59% aggregate marks |
| Course fee | 2,500-60,000 INR | 6000-40,000 |
| Admission process | Merit/Entrance based | Merit/entrance based |
| Job offered | Theatre, choreographer, musician, actor etc. | Teacher, social worker, journalist etc. |
| Avg. Salary | 2 LPA to 6 LPA | 2 LPA to 4 LPA |
College Comparison of top 3 Colleges for Online MPA
| Parameters | Pondicherry University | Chandigarh University | NIMS University |
| Overview | The performing arts department was introduced here in the year 1989. Under this dept. Students can study MPA, M.phil, and PhD in performing arts. | It is a private university which is given A+ grade by NAAC. It consists of a total of 16 departments offering a no. of courses to it’s students. | This University which is under UGC is also approved by AICTE. |
| Location | Puducherry | Chandigarh | Jaipur |
| Eligibility | BPA/BA/diploma with 50% aggregate. | Graduates with 50% aggregate | Graduates from a UGC approved university |
| Admission process | CET | Interview+ Skill assessment test | Entrance exam+interview |
| Fees | INR 23,781 | INR 50,000 | INR 30,000 |
| Avg. Salary | 5 LPA | 6 LPA | – |
| Top recruiters | Cognizant, Honeywell, Bank of America etc. | Accenture, HCl, HP etc. | Deloitte, Next novity etc. |
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 |
Best books for Online MPA
- Understanding Dance by Graham McFee
- Theater theory theater by Daniel C Gerould
- Universal dance and drama by P. Medini Hombal
- The classical music of North India by Ali Akbar Khan
- Indian folk and tribal paintings by Charu Smita Gupta
Job roles after Online MPA
| Job role | Job description |
| Actor | Acts in films, serials, TV advertisment etc. |
| Music teacher | Has the responsibility to teach music, from basic to advance. |
| Theatre artist | Acts in front of live audience |
| Stage manager | Manages the stage |
| Choreographer | Expressing emotions through dance |
| Director | He creates motion pictures, commercials etc. |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the fees of private and government institutions offering Online MPA ?
Ans. Fee of government college is approximately between 3000-1 lakh Indian rupees and private college fees is between RS. 20000- 1.7 lakhs.
Q2. What salary does Online MPA graduates get ?
Ans. They receive around 3-5 lakh per year depending upon their specialization and project assigned.
Q3. Why should we do Online MPA ?
Ans. Those who want to polish their skills in the field of performing arts, this course is designed for them. So, if you are Keen in learning arts, you should definitely go for this course.
Q4. What is the duration of this course ?
Ans. This course is of 2 years having 4 semesters.
Q5. What makes this course so desirable ?
Ans. It offers knowledge in the field of dance and drama and also provides good jobs with decent salary.
Q6. What are the best job profiles after Online MPA ?
Ans. Artrepreneur and Drama Therapist are some best jobs after Online MPA.
Q7. How can a Online MPA graduates earn by not joining any firm and working by themselves ?
Ans. People who do not wish to join anywhere can open up their own centers where the teach and counsel students about the course.








