Theatre Arts Courses: in India, Types, Online, Subjects, Jobs, Skills, Distance, Admission 2026

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Ishika Ray

Updated 3+ months ago

Theatre Arts courses in India include dramatic theory, technical Theatre, directing, playwriting,Theatre education, comparative drama and film industries,so on. However the main difference in these fields is mainly the focus area. 

Theatre Art courses focus on the performance, costume design, production design and more.

These all courses are offered in Offline as well as Online mode. Theatre Arts courses are offered at all levels whether it is Graduate, Postgraduate, Doctorate, and as well as at the Diploma level presently.

  • The duration of these courses varies from level to level. It is of 3 years at graduate level, 2 years at postgraduate level and 2 year in case of diploma courses and 1 year in pg diploma.
  • Certificate programs related to the Theatre Arts field can be as short upto few hours or can even go to 1 year.
  • Many online platforms offer Theatre Arts courses with zero fees also. Their programs are totally free and can be watched, for unlimited time.
  • The top specializations in india include master in Theatre Arts, masters in acting, certification in comparative Theatre etc.

After graduating, students of computer courses get jobs like a Coach, Director, Play Writer, Stage Artist,Theatre Lighting Designer, Lecturer, Choreographer etc.

Some of the top skills demanded by graduates of Theatre Arts are confidence, market yourself, teamwork, flexibility, organisation and time management, resilience, self discipline, analytical mind etc 

Theatre Arts Courses: Highlights

Since Theatre Arts courses can be pursued at UG, PG and as short term certifications, these courses help the students to enhance their employability. Below are the highlights of different Theatre Arts courses offered in India.

Popular Courses
  • Certificate:A plethora of topics ranging from sociology and literature survey of Theatre history.
  • Diploma & PG Diploma:diploma in Theatre, PG diploma in Theatre etc.
  • UG:.BPA, BA in Theatre Arts.
  • PG:MA in Theatre Arts, MPA.
  • Doctorate:PhD in Theatre Arts, PhD in Drama etc.
Duration
  • Certificate:3 months to 1 year (for Offline)
Few hours to 6 months (for Online)
  • Diploma & PG Diploma:1-2 years
  • UG:3years
  • PG:2 years
  • Doctorate:3-5 years
Eligibility
  • Certificate:Pass in Class X or XII from a recognized board
  • Diploma:Pass in Class XII from a recognized board
  • PG Diploma:Graduation from a recognized university with Arts as a subject.
  • UG:Pass in 10+2 from a recognized board
  • PG:Pass in UG from a recognized University with Arts or Sociology as a subject
  • Doctorate:Pass in PG program with masters in Arts
Average Fees
  • Certificate:NA
  • Diploma & PG Diploma:INR 7,000-1,00,000
  • UG:INR 5,000-1,00,000
  • PG:INR 3,000-40,000
  • Doctorate:INR 24,000-1,50,000
Online Courses Available
Types of Online Courses edx, Coursera, Udemy etc. (Includes Paid and Unpaid courses)
Top Job Prospects Database Administrator, Games Developer, Information Systems Manager, IT Consultant, Web Designer, Systems Analyst, Applications Analyst, etc.
Average Salary
  • Certificate:INR 2,00,000 - 3,00,000
  • Diploma:INR 1,00,000 - 9,00,000
  • UG:INR 3,00,000 - 7,00,000
  • PG:INR 2,00,000 - 8, 00, 000
  • Doctorate:INR 3,00,000 - 11,00,000

Certificate Theatre Arts Courses

The certificate programs in Theatre Arts are offered through both Online and Offline mediums. Online Theatre Arts certificates are very popular and the trend is increasing day by day. As mentioned before, they can be of any time length ranging from a few hours to a few months.

  • Certificate programs of Theatre Arts courses are specially designed to upgrade the candidates with additional skills..
  • They are suitable for those employees who want to continue their jobs along with learning extra skill sets which can help them solve complex problems.
  • Most of these courses are designed according to a number of topics and thus do not demand a lot of daily hours from you.

Those students who are looking for short-term Theatre Arts courses after 10th and 12th should opt for certificate Theatre Arts courses.

Earning additional certificates definitely offers one the opportunity to increase their pay package. For those who are starting their career in the field with a certificate course, the average salary is from INR 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 in the beginning.

Online Theatre Arts Course Certificates

The table below shows some of the best Theatre Arts course certificates available online on different platforms.

Certificate Name Provider Duration Fees
Shakespeare: print and performance course Futurelearn 4 weeks Free
Music and Theatre Arts Massachusetts institute of technology NA NA
Acting workshop Study.com NA Free
Music and Theatre Arts NMIMS 12 months NA
Theatre acting drama GAALC.In 1 month INR 17,700

*In some of these free courses, instructors do conduct audits to finalize your certificate.

These are just a few of the multiple certificate programs available online. 

Offline Theatre Arts Course Certificate

Many institutes and training centres also offer Theatre Arts course certificates through classroom methods of teaching. Though the list of such courses is vast, we have given some of the top courses in the list below.

Certificate Name Colleges Offering Average Fees
Certification in Theatre Alchemy Kids Theatre INR 3,000
Certification in Theatre Padarpan Films and Theatre institute NA
Certification in Performing Arts- Theatre Arts IGNOU INR 4,000

How are Admissions in Certificate Programs of Theatre Arts Courses Done?

Admissions in the Theatre Arts certificate courses are not done in a proper organized manner like that in bachelor and master courses. There are no entrance exams for certification courses which are conducted for admission in these courses.

  • Enrollment in online certificate programs is simply done by applying on the website of the course provider or offline through draft.
  • Some premier institutes do analyze your profile and the answers to questionnaires asked.
  • In case of offline certificate programs, colleges might admit you on merit basis. Your score in Class X or XII (as applicable) will be considered in such a case. Mostly passing marks are taken into account.

Top Colleges for Theatre Arts Course Certificates in India

Given below is a vivid description of top colleges offering these certificates. We have categorized this according to colleges offering online certificates and offline certificates.

Colleges for Online Theatre Arts Course Certificates

Some of the top colleges offering online Theatre Arts Certificate courses are as follows: 

College/ University Name Admission Process
Wayne State University, Michigan Merit-Based
The New School, New York Merit-Based
Missouri State University, Missouri Merit-Based
Academy of Art University, California Merit-Based

Colleges for Offline Theatre Arts Course Certificates

Some of the top colleges which offer Theatre Arts Certificate courses are provided in the table given below: 

College/ University Name Admission Process
LPU, Jalandhar Merit-Based
Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Merit-Based
Christ University , Bangalore Merit-Based
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai Merit-Based

Also check LPU, Jalandhar Admissions here. 

Diploma and PG Diploma Theatre Arts Courses

Diploma and PG Diploma courses differ in terms of the eligibility criteria they ask for. While a diploma in Theatre Arts course can be pursued after completing Class 12 (Class 10 also in some cases), a PG diploma or post graduate diploma is pursued after completing graduation.

  • Diploma courses offer specific knowledge compared to elaborated teaching in full time bachelor and master degrees. Therefore, it saves both time and money.
  • While the diploma courses are 1-year long, PG Diploma courses can be of upto 2 years duration.
  • These courses are also preferred by students who want to join the job sector soon, instead of dedicating long years to detailed education.
  • Just like certificate programs, diploma Theatre Arts courses also give you the flexibility to choose from a huge set of specializations.

Candidates who are planning to save on resources and want to pursue a more career-oriented course should go for Diploma and PG Diploma Theatre Arts courses.

The average salary that a student gets on completion of Diploma courses is around INR 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 in India currently.

Top Diploma Theatre Arts Courses

Some of the popular diploma courses which can be pursued in the field of Theatre Arts are given below.

Diploma Name Colleges Offering Average Fees
Diploma in Theatre Arts Banaras hindu university INR 20,000
Dibrugarh university INR 7,260
Lovely professional university INR 50,000

Top PG Diploma Theatre Arts Courses

PG Diploma courses are pursued after one has completed his or her graduation or some diploma course. Both should be in the related field only.

Some of the top PG Diploma Theatre Arts Courses in India are given below. In addition to that, some online courses from foreign universities are also mentioned.

PG Diploma Name Colleges Offering Average Fees Mode
PG Diploma in Theatre Arts JIMS, New Delhi NA Offline
Nizam College, Hyderabad NA Offline
Pondicherry University, Puducherry NA Offline
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University INR 2,500- 60,000 Offline

How are Admissions in Diploma and PG Diploma Theatre Arts Courses Done?

Admission for diploma courses are done on the basis of merit. The merit score cutoff list is released by the concerned college after all the applicants have filled their applications.

  • For the Diploma courses, marks of Class 12 score is considered, while Graduation score is considered for PG Diploma.
  • In the case of a few online diploma courses, as mentioned in the table above, the selection process is almost the same.
  • Here also, students need to satisfy certain Theatre Arts courses eligibility criteria in order to be eligible to be considered for the program, graduation degree being one of them.

Top Colleges Offering Diploma in Theatre Arts Courses

Given below are the colleges in India which offer Theatre Arts courses as both diploma and PG diplomas.

Bachelor Theatre Arts Courses

Bachelor degrees are the most opted Theatre Arts courses as a large share of students look to earn a full-time degree. These bachelor courses are more proper campus education, though most of them are going online now due to coronavirus spread.

  • The duration of bachelor Theatre Arts courses is from 3-4 years.
  • Bachelor or UG courses come in both General and Specialization form.
  • Admissions in most of these courses are done through entrance exams at national as well as state level.
  • These courses provide students with proper foundation learning through rigorous classroom programs.

Students willing to dedicate full time to the field and make a long-time career should opt for the bachelor Theatre Arts courses, rather than going for diploma courses.

Graduates of Theatre Arts courses can expect an average salary of INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000 in the beginning. This depends on the skills they have earned and also on the college they are graduating from.

Top Undergraduate Theatre Arts Courses

Undergraduate Theatre Arts courses are given in bachelors in Theatre Arts. The table below shows the colleges you can opt.

Course Name Top Colleges Average Fees Domain
Bachelors in Theatre Arts Jadavpur University, Kolkata INR 2,400 Bachelors
SPPU, Pune INR 26,090 Bachelors
LPU, Jalandhar INR 56,000 Bachelors
Bachelor of Acting Arts Amity University, Noida INR 1,70,000 Bachelors

Also check top BA Acting Colleges here. 

How are Admissions in Bachelor Theatre Arts Courses Done?

Admissions in bachelor Theatre Arts courses are done through both entrance exams as well as merit lists.

  • Some of the top entrance exams for UG computer courses include SUAT, ITM NEST.
  • Students need to have completed their Class 12 from a school affiliated to a recognized board, and should have also obtained a minimum of 50% marks.

Colleges for Bachelor Theatre Arts Courses

The table below shows some of the best colleges in India to pursue Theatre Arts courses in both the science domain and Theatre Arts application domain at the UG level.

College/ University Name Admission Process Average Annual Fees
Amity University, Noida Merit-Based INR 3,00,000
Rashtrsant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur Merit-Based INR 13,153
SGT University , Gurgaon Merit-Based INR 1,62,000
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai Merit-Based INR 7,00,000
Sharda University, Greater Noida Merit-Based INR 1,36,000

Master Theatre Arts Courses

Master Theatre Arts courses are generally pursued by those students who are not satisfied with bachelors and have a zeal for more specializations

  • The duration of PG Theatre Arts courses is 2 years in most of the cases. Master courses refine a student’s skills and equip them with abilities to solve more complex problems.
  • Admissions here also are majorly done through entrance exams. One of the popular entrance exams for master Theatre Arts courses in BHU, conducted for admission in government college.

Even those students who are looking to enter the research field should opt for master Theatre Arts courses as they are compulsory to pursue a PhD course.

The average salary of Master Theatre Arts course graduates in India ranges between INR 2,00,000 and 10,00,000. Many experienced professionals have seen to be earning a lot more.

Top Postgraduate Theatre Arts Courses

Given below are details of top Theatre Arts courses that students can opt for Theatre Arts courses after graduation in India.

Course Name Top Colleges Average Fees Domain
MPA Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra INR 1,227 Masters
Pondicherry University, Pondicherry INR 23,781 Masters
Chandigarh University , Chandigarh INR 50,000 Masters

See more: 

How are Admissions in Master Theatre Arts Courses Done?

Admissions in Master courses are also done through both merit and entrance exams.

  • BHU is conducted for admission in the MPA programs of top government colleges in India.
  • Candidates need to have completed their bachelors in a Theatre Arts subject along with 50% marked to be eligible for master computer courses.
  • Certain colleges give admission on merit basis also, after considering the CGPA or Percentage obtained in graduation.

Colleges for Master Theatre Arts Courses

The table below shows some of the best colleges in India to pursue Theatre Arts courses domain at the PG level.

College/ University Name Admission Process Average Annual Fees
AISECT University, Jharkhand Merit-Based INR 14,400
Chandigarh University, Chandigarh Merit-Based INR 1,80,000
Indian institute of Arts and Design, Delhi Entrance-Based INR 4,29,520
CMJ University, Meghalaya Merit-Based INR 33,000
Shri Krishna University , Madhya Pradesh Merit-Based INR 42,850

Doctorate Theatre Arts Courses

Doctorate Theatre Arts courses are chiefly pursued for the purpose of entering the research field.

  • The minimum duration of these programs is 3 years, though it can be extended according to demands of research.
  • After PhD, students also get the option to become Teachers and Lecturers in some colleges.

The average salary after doctorate Theatre Arts courses is around INR 10,00,000 to 20,00,000 in India.

Top PhD Theatre Arts Courses

The table below shows the most popular PhD Theatre Arts courses around the world.

Course Name Top Colleges Domain
PhD Theatre and Performance University of Bristol, England Doctorate
PhD Drama and Theatre Brigham Young University, Utah Doctorate

How are Admissions in Doctorate Theatre Arts Courses Done?

Admissions in doctorate courses in India are mainly done through entrance exams.

  • There are multiple exams conducted to get research fellowships in India.
  • Some of these include UGC NET, CSIR UGC NET, AMUEE, etc.

Students need to have a master Theatre Arts degree or PG Diploma in order to be eligible for doctorate Theatre Arts courses.

Colleges for Doctorate Theatre Arts Courses

The table below shows some of the best colleges in India to pursue Theatre Arts courses in both the science domain and Theatre Arts application domain at the doctorate level. These colleges offer research fellowships to students.

NIRF Ranking College/ University Name Admission Process
9 SPPU, Pune Entrance-Based
17 AMU, Aligarh Entrance-Based
37 Amity University, Noida Merit-Based
101 VELS institute of science, technology and advanced studies, Chennai Entrance-Based
What are the Top Job Options After Theatre Arts Courses?

What are the Top Job Options After Theatre Arts Courses?

Since Theatre Arts jobs are one of the preferred options these days, employers often look for candidates that are up-skilled with the latest requirements trends and all other related fields.

Below we have discussed some of the common and popular job roles after this course, their average salary and what skills the employers seek.

Top Job Options After Theatre Arts Courses

Source: College Websites

Coach

A Coach knows about rules and regulations required in performing the Theatre Arts.coach are required to inspire students to push themselves both physically andmentally to perform best. They are required to extract emotions from candidates.

Starting Salary: INR 2,00,000 to 5,00,000

Skills Required

  • Team guiding skills
  • Emotional balance 
  • Mentoring skills
  • Leadership skills

Producer

Producers are required to deliver satisfactory results by making commercial success of the show. They are required to give quality performance on time, within time budget and with lots of investments.

Starting Salary: INR 8,33,009 

Skills Required

  • Quality performance 
  • Ability to accept criticism 
  • Work under pressure
  • Leadership skills

Play Writers

Play writers spend most of their time writing scripts, developing profiles for actors. He should be able to envision and communicate important details like looks and characters

Starting Salary: INR 8,00,000 to 15,00,000

Skills Required

  • Literature skills
  • Proofreading
  • Creative listening
  • Imaginative idea
  • Time management
  • Self motivation

Stage Manager

Stage Manager checks the practicality of the play. They manage processes orderly and perform communication among teams to make sure that everything is up to date and take charge of backstage during shows. 

Starting Salary: INR 9,45,000

Skills Required

  • Business management
  • Leadership skills
  • Customer service skills
  • Coordination skills
What Skills are Required in Theatre Arts Courses?

What Skills are Required in Theatre Arts Courses?

Employers look for candidates who have more than one skill, especially the ones which are transferable, and not somebody confined to general skills. 

It’s necessary to know everything about Theatre Arts courses along with its prerequisite skill sets to land yourself a job in this field. Some of these skills have been mentioned below along with tips how to hone these skills. These skills are in-demand by the employers.

Communication Skills

An effective communication is must for expressing or receiving any form of information with another person. Actions like listening, speaking, observing, empathizing are some of the important communication skills.

Top Communication Skills Courses

To build a foundation on the language, the following courses can be picked up by the students.

Course Provider Fees
Communication course alison.com Free
Improving communication skills Coursera NA
Communication skill course Udemy Upto 500

Top communication Course Syllabus

The subjects covered in the communication course are mentioned below.

Business conflict Community relations
Negotiation Public relation
Advocacy Media liaison
Relationship Building -
Influencer -

Communication Job Profiles

  • Communication specialist
  • Communication officer
  • Digital communication associate
  • Position manager corporate communication 

Creative Problem Solving

Problem solving skills are connected to a number of other skills like analytical skills, innovative and creative thinking, a lateral mindset, adaptability and flexibility, level headedness, initiative, resilience(in order to reassess when your first idea doesn't work ).

Top Creative Problem Solving Skills Courses

To build a foundation on creative problem solving, the following courses can be picked up by the students.

Course Provider Duration Fees
Problem solving technique Linkedin NA Free
Problem solving courses udemy , edx, coursera 14 hours NA

Creative Problem Solving Skills Course Syllabus

The subjects covered in the problem solving skills course are mentioned below.

Active listening
Analysis
Research
Creativity
Decision making

Creative problem solving skills Job Profiles

  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Engineer
Theatre Arts Courses Online Fees and Rating Comparison

Theatre Arts Courses Online Fees and Rating Comparison

To know in detail about more courses, give a look to this table below here. We have listed the best online Theatre Arts courses. The fees and duration of these online courses are also mentioned.

Course Provider Duration Fees
Shakespear : print and performance course Futurelearn 4 weeks Free
Course in recording and Theatre Microfusa 6 months Free
Shakespeare’s hamlet : the ghost Nine-learning. Harvard. edu 3 weeks Free
Comparison of Online Platforms Offering Theatre Arts Courses

Comparison of Online Platforms Offering Theatre Arts Courses

Online Biotechnology courses offered by two different online courses providing platforms like Udemy and Coursera are compared with each other based on some parameters. The famous courses in each of the websites are compared.

Parameters Udemy Cousera
Course Name Acting for Film, Television and Theatre: Introductory Course Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization
Fees INR 3,200 Free
Student Rating 4.2 4.8
Enrollment 269 students 7,786 (approx.)
Duration 2 hours 7 months (approx.)
Theatre Arts Courses: FAQs

Theatre Arts Courses: FAQs

Ques. Can I learn Theatre Arts courses Online?

Ans. There are plenty of certifications and PG Diploma courses online that can be pursued by a Theatre Arts course aspirant. All of them we have discussed in the article above.

Ques. Which is the Theatre Arts Free Online Course in India?

Ans. There are various courses online, but pursuing a Theatre Arts course from a recognized academy adds value to your resume. Some of the best online Theatre Arts courses are offered by:

  • Future learn 
  • Coursera
  • study.com

Ques. What is the duration of a Theatre Arts Course?

Ans. The duration of the course depends on what level of study you are pursuing it at. For UG, it is 3 years, at PG level it is around 2 years, diploma 1-2 years and for Certification, the course is for a few months.

Ques. How much does it cost to do a Theatre Arts course?

Ans. Fees for Theatre Arts Course may vary as per the institute you choose. There are online certifications available, but the individual fee depends on the level of course and where you pursue the course from. Average fee charged range around INR 18,000 to 1,00,000 per annum. 

Ques. Should I go for a Theatre Arts weekend course or should I look for a job in the Theatre Arts and learn from experience?

Ans. Well, the degree course, certification and job have their different values.So we’ll suggest you to pursue at least a certification before stepping into the field directly. More than 90% of the employers consider Theatre Arts certification as a hiring criteria. 

Ques. Is it worth pursuing a Theatre Arts course?

Ans. It is definitely worth pursuing a Theatre Arts course as it multiplies your chances of opening your Theatre company and institute.

Ques. What is the average salary after completing a Theatre Arts course?

Ans. The salary you will earn will depend upon the post at which you will join a firm. The average starting salary for the Theatreartist stays around INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000 per annum.

Ques. Do I get a scholarship to pursue Theatre Arts certifications?

Ans. Yes. Few websites like www.buuy4study.com provide scholarships and financial aid to students to pursue their favorite courses. Students need to fill an application form with all details.

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