- 48 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Subjects that include experience of dance are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- You'll be required to attend an audition and interview, staged at Shockout Arts.
- If you don't have the above qualifications but possess equivalent qualifications or experience, we'll be happy to consider your application. In addition to attending an audition and interview, we may require you to provide a portfolio of work or complete another form of test so that we can assess your application.
- You'll need to provide a satisfactory medical report signed by your GP to confirm you are fit and well to undertake full-time intensive and rigorous physical training.
- You’ll be required to pay a registration fee. The registration fee is refundable if you do not gain the UCAS points required for entry to the course or a satisfactory medical report.
- Successful applicants and students on the course will need to wear suitable dance attire (a list of items will be provided). You may well have many of these items, but for an estimate of the cost if you need to buy them new, please contact Admissions at Shockout.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- This course is open to Home students only. Applications from International and EU students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course is not licenced by UKVI to sponsor students. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under the Student Visa Route to study in the UK, then, unfortunately, we'll be unable to consider your application for this course. Some EU students are eligible to study this course under the EU Settlement Scheme or Common Travel Area arrangement – for details, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
This foundation degree aims to provide an industry-relevant specialised education that will develop your skills, knowledge and expertise in a range of dance genres to a professional level. In addition, you could gain a range of key transferable skills such as confidence, self-presentation, teamwork, self-awareness, communication skills, and the ability to cope with criticism.
Providing our students with the best possible progression route is highly important to us. As a result of their hard work, our past and present students have performed with some of the biggest names in the dance and performing arts industry.
Credits include:
Janet Jackson, Dua Lipa, Zara Larsson, Alexander Burke, Tinie Tempah, Rita Ora, Kendrick Lamar, Ludacris, Mabel, Hrvy, Steff London, Jax Jones, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Pixie Lott, French Montanna, Demi Lovato, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Zayn Malik, Will.I.Am, Jess Glyne, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Leshur, Flo Rida, Bebe Rexha, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix, Spice Girls Tour, Rai Elle, Stormzy, MTV VMAs and EMAs, BRIT Awards, The MOBOs, X Factor, The Voice, Jingle Bell Ball, V Festival, Wireless, Parklife, Lovebox.
What can I do with this qualification?
FdA Professional and Commercial Dance graduates can take advantage of opportunities in a wide range of careers relating to performance, creative producing, education, community, and curatorial and arts administration. Opportunities exist in commercial dance for TV, cruise ships and in promotion and commercial events and popular music performances.
A career in performance is often complemented by employment in teaching or choreography. Self-employment may be another option, where you could establish your own dance-related business. Alternatively, you may choose to further your studies at the postgraduate level or train to become a dance teacher in the education sector.
Alternative career options
Foundation degree graduates can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or further study. Employment possibilities include:
- Teaching and education
- Arts administration
- Broadcasting
- Theatre stage support
- Event management
- Acting
- Dance therapy
- Sports training
- Marketing and PR
- Advertising
- Community arts
- Musical theatre
- Mental health and wellbeing
| Home Fees |
Year of study |
Total |
| Entry year | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|
| 2024 | £9,250 | £9,250 | - | £18,500 |
|---|
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year:
EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status.
If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the
normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in
March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
For 2023-2024 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year.
The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2023-2024 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Bursaries
Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.
We use a variety of teaching and learning strategies throughout the programme to develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills and help you achieve the intended learning outcomes. We take a blended learning approach that includes practical sessions, lectures and workshops, and online support via the University's virtual learning environment, Moodle. The practical sessions take place in the dance studio environment and are designed to teach each of the core technical forms and the specialist area of commercial dance and musical theatre.
In addition, you'll be expected to spend time on guided independent study; for example, engaging in general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on assignments, and rehearsing and training. We'll also support you in developing employability and information literacy skills and personal development planning (PDP).
We'll expect you to attend traditional lectures, seminars, practical sessions, workshops and tutorials. You may also have opportunities to work on live projects as part of your practical modules. Through these, you can gain unique insights and a thorough understanding of the performing arts industry operating in international markets and across many sectors.
Some key assessment forms for this programme are in-studio technical assessments, practical skills assessments, showcase performances, practical project reports, portfolios, oral presentations, written coursework and a major research project. You'll receive feedback on your assessments so that you'll know what you have done well and where you can improve.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Musical Theatre Techniques
- Core Techniques
- Professional and Commercial Dance Studies (Industry in Practice)
- Commercial Dance (Preparation for Industry)
- Musical Theatre Techniques and Performance
- Choreographic Devices
- Professional and Commercial Industry Practice and Performance
- Professional and Commercial Dance Industry in Context
Assessment methods
| Level | Assesment method |
|---|
| Level one | Coursework 25%, Practical exams 75% |
|---|
| Level two | Coursework 20%, Practical exams 80% |
|---|
Learning activities
| Level | Learning activity |
|---|
| Level one | Guided independent study 36%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 64% |
|---|
| Level two | Guided independent study 42%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 58% |
|---|
Disclaimer
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
