Economics & Acting

Fundamentals of Acting and Economics

During the first year of the program, you will acquire fundamental technical skills in acting. You will receive essential training in performance, speech/voice, and bodywork. The intensive focus on your instrument, the body, will cultivate a mindful approach towards yourself and your surroundings, developing an understanding of interpersonal interactions and an awareness of archetypal behavior patterns. These classes are typically conducted in small groups, with a maximum of 14 students.

After you have acquired a basic understanding of economics, business management and its sustainable design in introductory courses in business administration studies, you can choose your specialisations according to your interests. We are happy to support you in putting together your individual study plan.Setting your own focus

Choose your own specialisations

From the second year onwards, you can and should set your own specialisations. For example, you can deepen your acting training, learn how to use a camera and microphone or choose an individually supervised role study. Workshops provide insights into the areas of scenic writing, improvisation and mask play, among others. You may also develop and realise your own performance. After having learnt to work artistically on your own beforehand, you will now cultivate cooperation, networking and practical experience.

In the business administration studies, you can deepen your knowledge and skills in the areas of culture, work and aesthetics in staff management, marketing, management and controlling. In addition, you can study other topics such as innovations, business start-ups, social finance, trade or logistics.
 

Bachelor thesis

If you have chosen business administration as your major subject, your Bachelor's thesis will be written as an academic dissertation in the field of business administration. In areas such as marketing or employee management, a scenic presentation or performance can be part of the solution and the academic discussion of your thesis. Your Bachelor's thesis is supervised on the artistic side by the Department of Drama and in relation to the scientific side by the Department of Business Management.

In the case of a course of study with equal shares of business and drama, there is the alternative of carrying out the Bachelor's thesis in the form of an artistic-practical work as well as its documentation.
 

Click here for the study plan for the Bachelor's degree programme in Economics and Acting.

You can enter a profession directly after your successful graduation. You are ideally trained for all creative areas of business and for management positions where your sense for people and your communication are of great advantage, or you can launch your own start-up. The Business Administration & Acting degree programme offers comparable career entry opportunities as a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, the training is just as well-founded, but more specialised due to the focus. For example, in your business studies you concentrate on marketing and human resources, but not on finance and controlling.

In addition, your studies will give you advantages in the arts und culture sector, as you will be able to move professionally in several cultures. When artists accompany change processes in business enterprises, you speak "both languages" and can advise on the conceptual side or contribute artistically yourself.

Depending on the specialisation, there are further job opportunities in the arts as an actor or actress, as a speaker for dubbing and radio or as a performer.
 

Is a subsequent Master's degree possible?

At Alanus University you can study the Master's degree in Business Administration - Sustainable Business on a full-time or part-time basis.

The combination of subjects from drama, business administration and the Studium Generale is unique throughout Germany. The intensive study and learning experience with the different disciplines will enable you to further develop your personality and social skills.

You will be personally supervised and will be in close contact with our lecturers, who are always available to answer any questions. Our small study groups with a high supervision ratio are ideally suited for this.

An essential component of all degree programmes at Alanus University is the interdisciplinary and inter-year Studium Generale. Cultural and philosophical content encourages students to engage with social issues and forms the basis for their own positioning in social discourse.

The topic of sustainability is a particular focus at Alanus University and in the Business Administration & Acting degree programme. Alanus University has been a Fairtrade University since 2018.

The programme has its own venue, the Hoftheater. It also works closely with various regional and national cooperation partners, such as Theater Bonn, Theater im Bauturm Cologne, Theater in der Brotfabrik Bühne Bonn and various independent and municipal theatres in German-speaking countries.

Applications are possible at any time. At Alanus University you will study in a family-like environment. We accept a limited number of students per year. For this reason, it is advantageous to apply early in order to secure your place at Alanus University. You can even apply now, regardless of whether you will receive your Abitur, university entrance qualification or other school-leaving qualification later in the year.

International degree-seeking students are asked to contact the General Student Advisory Service for the admission procedure. Please contact the person at this office who is responsible for the degree programme you are interested in.

These documents are necessary for the application to the programme:

• Curriculum vitae
• Photo
• Letter of motivation, maximum one DIN A4 page
• certified copies of certificates (foreign certificates in officially certified German translation)
• Proof of health insurance
• Copy of identity card
• Language certificates, if applicable

After we have received your application documents, you will be invited to the artistic aptitude test (you can find more information on the test at "Admission requirements / Aptitude Test" further below).

Help with the online application:
Do you have further questions about your application? Our colleagues in the Student Administration Office will be happy to help you.

The Department of Drama is part of a strong network with numerous cooperations, which offers students numerous opportunities to gain professional practical experience and establish important contacts.

Are there any age restrictions for the program?
There are no age limits. The application process is open to everyone (please refer to the admission requirements).

What type of degree will I receive?
Upon completion, you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, which allows you to pursue a Master's program.

Can I consider myself a trained actor/actress and apply to theaters with this degree?
The program encompasses various modules, including acting, and upon graduation, you will receive a Bachelor's degree. Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to work on audition roles for theaters. Depending on your specialization, talent, and choice of additional modules, you may complete your exams before the ZAV and/or be prepared for the stage. Several universities and colleges, such as Zurich, Munich, and Basel, offer relevant Master's programs.

Is the study program apt for BAföG funding?
Yes, the study program is eligible for BAföG. There are also multiple financing options available, such as KfW student loans, scholarships for talented students, bank student loans, student education funds, and scholarships. Our financial aid service is ready to provide guidance.

Can I receive recognition for previous training/professional experience?
Upon request, the university may grant credit for skills and qualifications based on the submitted documents. You may receive credit for up to 50% of the required achievements for your degree, provided that your skills and qualifications align with the required level and content of the exams.

If the performART/Business Administration & Acting program did not exist in its current form, to what extent can previous achievements be recognized?
Alanus University received state recognition in 2002 and has continuously worked on expanding and refining its study programs since then. In May 2010, the university received institutional accreditation from the Science Council, the highest advisory committee ensuring quality in research and teaching, appointed by the Federal Government and German state governments. Alanus University was granted the highest recognition with a 10-year accreditation and the right to confer doctoral degrees in the Department of Education. The institutional re-accreditation of Alanus University by the Science Council was decided in 2021.