The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme Theatre SPACEs, launching in September 2026, focuses on using theatre and performance as tools for social change, inclusion, and community building.

This innovative programme is coordinated by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, with partner institutions including Trinity College Dublin, University of Arts Târgu-Mureș in Romania, University of Hamburg, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of Trinity’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, highlighted Trinity’s leadership in this pioneering project, emphasizing its potential to demonstrate the transformative power of drama in education and society.

Applications for the programme are open until December 1, 2025, with no tuition fees for the inaugural class (2026-2028) thanks to EU support, and scholarships are available to cover living costs.

Starting in September 2026, students will have the opportunity to combine academic learning, artistic practice, and community engagement across multiple countries, with fieldwork in settings such as hospitals, prisons, museums, and cultural centres.

Trinity College Dublin’s School of Education, in collaboration with European partners, received Europe’s first Erasmus Mundus grant for applied drama and arts education, amounting to nearly €4.3 million.

The programme will confer a joint degree after four semesters and 120 ECTS credits, highlighting its international and interdisciplinary scope.

The programme emphasizes participatory and performative practices aimed at social, pedagogical, and community change, often involving non-professional participants in non-traditional theatre spaces.

Industry partners supporting the programme in Ireland include the Abbey Theatre, Irish Refugee Council, and various youth and theatre organizations, providing practical engagement opportunities for students.