The Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy) is a specialist postgraduate qualification that sits at the intersection of creative practice, critical thinking, and theatrical production. It is the first and only course of its kind in Australia and Asia, offering a curriculum that extends dramaturgy well beyond the analysis of written scripts to encompass contemporary performance forms including dance, hybrid works, installation art, community-based performance, and performance art. Students develop deep knowledge of dramaturgical philosophy, history, and practice, learning to work as a connective force between a script, a creative team, and an audience. The course is structured as an 18-month full-time (or 36-month part-time) program, delivered through a carefully balanced blend of theory and practice across three semesters — including laboratory-based workshops, seminars, self-directed exercises, practical masterclasses, and an independent project.

The degree is closely interwoven with postgraduate specialisations in Theatre Directing and Theatre Writing, enabling rich cross-disciplinary collaboration. Students engage alongside directors, writers, designers, choreographers, and performance-makers in an intensive training environment, building the collaborative instincts and critical vocabulary that define the contemporary dramaturg's role. The program is underpinned by a commitment to artistic excellence, interdisciplinarity, and the advancement of both established and emerging local, national, and international dramaturgical practices.

Graduates are equipped for careers across the performing arts ecosystem in Australia and beyond. Employers include major state theatre companies, independent theatre groups, opera and dance companies, arts festivals, new writing programs, community arts organisations, higher education institutions, and arts funding bodies such as the Australia Council for the Arts and state arts agencies. The qualification opens pathways not only into professional dramaturgy and literary management, but also into artistic leadership, arts advocacy, cultural policy, and academia.

To be considered for entry into a Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy), applicants must typically hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent in the arts — spanning disciplines such as performing arts, music, visual arts, film, dance, or digital arts — or an undergraduate degree in an associated area such as cultural studies or the design industry sector. Alternatively, applicants who do not hold a relevant degree may qualify through demonstrated professional experience, with an equivalent of approximately six years of documented professional practice in the creative arts industry accepted as an alternative pathway. Meeting minimum academic requirements does not guarantee selection, as the cohort is small and highly competitive.

In addition to academic or professional qualifications, applicants are generally required to submit a supplementary application that outlines their interest in dramaturgy, articulates their areas of creative inquiry, and demonstrates the nature of their existing practice or prior engagement with performance. Shortlisted applicants will typically be invited to attend an interview in which they discuss their creative practice and suitability for the program in depth. A written statement of creative intent or portfolio of relevant work (such as dramaturgical notes, production documentation, essays, or creative writing) is also commonly required as part of the selection process.

For international applicants, English language proficiency requirements apply. Accepted test scores typically include IELTS Academic (overall score of 6.5 or above, with no band below 6.0) or equivalent TOEFL or PTE Academic scores, in line with standard Australian university postgraduate entry requirements. Some providers may accept evidence of prior study in English as a partial exemption. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to contact relevant Indigenous support services within the faculty before applying, as tailored guidance and pathway support may be available.