BA Hons

This one year course consolidates the technical level of a specific circus discipline and its integration with a personal artistic approach.

The training is intensive; weeks are 35 hours long with a mix of taught sessions and scheduled independent learning. Each year is 33 weeks in length in order to sustain physical progression. As well as physical skill development there is a strong focus on artistic exploration and creativity, contextual studies and business planning.

The course will focus on continuous assessment of each student’s individual progress, as well as performance related assessment both as an individual and as part of an ensemble. Students analytical and critical skills are also assessed through research projects and presentations.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits. You must take modules worth a total of 120 credits across the whole year.

Our teaching is informed by research, and active performers and directors who are already working in the professional industry. Modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.

You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them on Teams, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), once you have registered for the course.

Applicants should hold a Foundation Degree from the National Centre for Circus Arts or another school listed below which is a recognised Full Type 1 member of FEDEC. Please see below list of schools:

• Académie Fratellini (St. Denis, France)
• Centre National des Arts du Cirque (Châlons-en-Champagne, France)
• Circomedia (Bristol, UK)
• Codarts Rotterdam – Circus Arts (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
• Dans och Cirkushögskolan (DOCH, Stockholm, Sweden)
• Ecole Nationale de Cirque (Montreal, Canada)
• École Supérieure des Arts du Cirque (ESAC, Brussels, Belgium)

Any candidate applying for direct entry to the BA (Hons) course from any of these institutions must provide evidence that they have successfully completed two years of training on a relevant course, equivalent to a Foundation Degree, along with details of their previous study (for example a student handbook or module guide).

Direct entry applicants will be interviewed at audition and will be expected to provide a reference and their transcript to date. This is to ensure that they are being assessed for entry on the same basis as internal applicants from the National Centre Foundation Degree.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate a proficiency in both written and verbal English language which would normally be GCSE English or equivalent International English Language Testing System. Overseas students may be required to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) prior to entry in order to meet VISA requirements.

We define BA level in this context as someone who can formulate and communicate his or her technical and artistic needs at a level consistent with a view to entering the profession as a young practitioner. We also expect candidates to be capable of working at a level of autonomy not necessarily present, or acquired at, Foundation Degree level.

Applications for our Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) Degree courses* will be opening in October 2021 for September 2022 entry.

*The Courses at NCCA are validated by the University of Kent. We periodically review and enhance them to ensure we are delivering high quality degree courses to our students. We are due to review our course in the 2021/22 academic year. As a result, there may be some changes to the course content and qualifications in September 2022. We will inform all candidates about changes to the course when applicable but for now the course summary document outlines the course you will be applying for. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Stevie Taylor or Joanna Young.

Deadline for applications: 14 March 2022, 1pm (BST)