Courses Explained
When choosing a course to apply for it is important to do lots and lots of research. Preparation is key. You can start looking at this information well before it is time to apply.
Think about which dance style you love the best and you think you have the most potential to succeed in, for your future. You may be more of a classical or contemporary dancer or perhaps you are the complete opposite and commercial/ street dance is your style? You might be focused on pursuing a career in Musical Theatre? Whatever it may be, have this in mind as you look at the courses all the schools, colleges and universities offer.
Most colleges will train you in many different styles but there are some that focus on specific disciplines more than others. You might go to college with a specific style you would like to pursue however when you begin to train and explore others you may find this initial thought changes and you excel at something else.
6th FORM
BTEC/UAL
There are many fantastic two-year courses on offer for students at 6th form colleges, vocational colleges and some schools. Maybe you have auditioned for a place at your dream college and not yet been successful or perhaps you prefer to leave home at 18 or wait until you can audition for a degree course?
These courses are a brilliant way to work on your technique, strength, flexibility, different dance styles and prepare you for full-time vocational training. The teachers are experts in this field and will also be able to help you with audition preparation, personal statements and college and university choices.
We often hear parents and teachers advise students that they should study A levels first and then pursue their Performing Arts training, which of course is and option. If this is what you choose to do then an ‘A’ level in Dance or Drama would be good to have. However, doing one of these practical courses has many great advantages and most are equivalent to 3 ‘A’ levels and enough UCAS points to apply for a degree too (always check this before applying). Some colleges offer ‘A’ level dance/drama alongside the course. You would then have 4 ‘A’ levels! Please be aware there is a lot of work involved as you will have written work for your diploma alongside assessment's and performances and then the same plus exams for the ‘A’ level dance/drama.
Courses to look out for:
BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council)
UAL (University of the Arts, London)
LEVEL 3 NATIONAL EXTENDED
DIPLOMA IN:
- PERFORMING ARTS
- DANCE
- MUSICAL THEATRE
- DRAMA
FOUNDATION/PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSES
These courses are 1 year and most Performing Arts colleges offer them. There is no funding available for these and they can be quite costly however they are brilliant courses to consider.
You will be taught by industry professionals who are trained and qualified in this field and have lots of expertise in dance, singing, acting, audition preparation and much more. Their aim is to help you improve your technique in areas you are weaker and help you improve and excel in others, equipping you with the best skills and chance for your future auditions for full time vocational colleges and universities.
You can apply for these courses and entry is by audition only but often you will be offered a place on one of these when you have auditioned for full time Performing Arts college places and they see you have potential but feel you need some further training so you are ready for the 3 year course.
Please note . . .
If you are offered a foundation course instead of the 3-year course, try and see it as positive feedback from the college! It isn’t what you wanted but it isn’t a no and that extra year will put you in a strong position at your next auditions.
There are colleges in the UK solely dedicated to foundation courses.
DIPLOMAS
There are many different Diplomas within the Performing Arts sector. Typically Dance, Musical Theatre and Acting.
Many of the colleges offer their own Diplomas, this allows them to concentrate on their own devised course and deliver this in their own unique way. When researching the colleges, take time to read what each course offers as they will vary and this can be crucial in your decision and needs from a course. What is important for you?
Professional Performing Arts Diplomas validated by Trinity College London are offered at many of the UK’s colleges (a list of these can be found on our Funding Explained page). These have the advantage of having the Dance and Drama Awards funding. Also, you can convert your Diploma to a Degree with an extra year at one of the colleges or universities that offer a Top Up Course or a long-distance learning Conversion Course through Middlesex University (this particular course allows you to work and study).
THE TRINITY PROFESSIONAL ARTS DIPLOMAS OFFERED:
LEVEL 5 DIPLOMA IN PROFESSIONAL DANCE (CLASSICAL OR CONTEMPORARY)
LEVEL 5 DIPLOMA IN PROFESSIONAL ACTING
LEVEL 6 DIPLOMA IN PROFESSIONL MUSICAL THEATRE
LEVEL 6 DIPLOMA IN PROFESSIONAL DANCE
LEVEL 6 DIPLOMA IN PROFESSIONAL ACTING
BA HONOURS CONVERSION COURSE
HND -HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN PERFORMING ARTS (DANCE)
Some colleges offer these and they are 2-year courses. You will need to have a BTEC level 3 or equivalent. These courses are equivalent to the first 2 years of a degree course and unlike the Diplomas you are able to apply for Student Finance which can help students attend a specialised college but have all the same financial options as a university student. You can also go onto do an extra top up year to make this a Degree. The fees for this are similar to university fees but can vary.
BA (HONS) ‘TOP UP’ COURSES
If you have completed a Trinity College London Diploma or the HND these courses are perfect if you want to do an extra years training to convert your Diploma into a Degree! You will have to do some research to see which universities or colleges offer this. You will be able to apply for student finance for these courses.
Here are a few that offer this course:
UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER -
ADDICT DANCE ACADEMY -
MGA -
BA (HONS) DEGREE
Dance degrees cover a wide range of styles. A lot has changed in recent years, gone are the days you could only study a degree at university. Now many of the UK’s Performing Arts colleges offer BA (HONS) Degree courses as well as a huge amount of universities. Each college is validated by a university, for example – Shockout Arts in Manchester is validated by The University of Bolton. Each college or university varies in which courses they offer so there is a lot to find out!
You have to be 18 or over and have enough UCAS points/credits to apply. The application process is the same as any other University Degree course, including personal statements and application deadlines, however you will have to audition.
Have a good look at all the courses and attend open days if you can. Think about where in the country you would like to live, do you want to be at a Performing Arts school or a University?
Make a shortlist and remember you can apply for several courses.
The variety of Degree courses is overwhelming when you really start to research what’s on offer.
- Dance and Performance
- Professional and Commercial Dance
- Professional and Musical Theatre
- Dance/Sociology
- Dance/Drama
- Dance Education
- Dance and Fitness
- Arts and Festivals Management and Dance
The list goes on! You can simply Google – Dance Degrees UK or try www.digitalucas.com and then search dance, so many are listed on this site, including the vocational colleges.
You will of course be able to apply for all the student finance that any other university student can, even if you are at a Performing Arts college.
CDMT
We wanted to mention the CDMT, Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre. When you are researching schools and colleges and see that they are accredited by CDMT, this ensures the provision of high quality professional training. You can find all the schools and colleges accredited, as well as many other resources on their website. www.cdmt.org.uk
We really hope this information has been useful. Really think about what suits your needs, circumstances and try and stay calm and remember there are so many great options available to you. So even if your dream college or university doesn’t work out, there are other brilliant options that can make this work for you.
Good Luck!