Program Overview

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Performing Arts with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Overview

This four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Performing Arts course includes an integrated foundation year. Learn to be a versatile performing artist, personalise your studies to suit your evolving interests and aspirations, and become a confident, experienced, industry-ready professional.

Course Structure

In the first year – the foundation year – you'll study five modules. After completion of this foundation year, you'll then move onto BSc (Hons) Performing Arts.

Teaching is largely studio-based with supporting lectures, seminars, workshop discussions, and independent learning. All modules integrate theory and practice, tasks, and problem-solving, which engage you in interactive learning.

Assessments are often practical or performance-based and also include presentations, workshops, essays, and e-portfolios. We provide regular feedback to help you develop your work.

The first year provides you with a solid base with a range of diverse learning experiences. As you move through the course, you have a choice of modules and an opportunity to undertake a placement.

Whatever your route, you'll perform at a range of venues and in professional theatres including The Fire Station.

Course Modules

Foundation Year:

Core modules:

• The Creative Industries (Arts, Design, Performance, Media Production)
• Integrated Foundation Year includes five modules:
  • Foundations of Art, Design, Performance and Media Production (40 credits)
  • Essential Study Skills (20 credits)
  • Foundation Project (20 credits)
  • Practical Numeracy Skills (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Creative Practice (20 credits)

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

• Ensemble Performance (60 credits)
• Behind the Scenes (20 credits)
• Showcase Performance (40 credits)

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

• Cabaret (20 credits)
• Approaches to Creative Practice (40 credits)
• Mid Showcase Performance (20 credits)
• Arts Identity and Industry (20 credits)
• Musical Theatre Practice (20 credits)

Final year (national level 6):

Core module:

• Final Showcase (40 credits)

Optional modules (choose 80 credits):

• Creative Enterprise Project (20 credits)
• Touring Theatre (20 credits)
• Independent Study (20 credits)
• Musical Theatre Performance (40 credits)
• Multi-Platform Performance (20 credits)
• TV Drama Project (20 credits)

Facilities

This course is based at the Priestman Building, the main base for art, design, and performance on City Campus. The Priestman Building provides state-of-the-art teaching space and resources as part of a vibrant and creative learning environment.

Entry Requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree.

Eligible entry qualifications:

• If you're unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us.

Fees and Finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,535 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Career Ready

You'll gain highly transferable skills in communication, presentation, and collaboration with others. These skills, together with a track record of creativity and innovative thinking, provide a valuable advantage when it comes to applying for many different fields of employment.

Career Options

This course prepares you for roles in the performing arts such as:

• Performer
• Teacher of dance/music/drama/musical theatre
• Facilitator/corporate trainer
• Entrepreneur in dance/music/drama/musical theatre
• Producer/director/choreographer
• Arts administrator/manager
• Freelancer/self-employed in community arts education
• Practitioner of arts therapy.

Links and Contacts

Our academic team have an extensive network of professional, educational, and community contacts in the region. You'll benefit from these in your negotiated projects, workshops, and visits. Extracurricular classes are available throughout the year with a range of guest teachers, for example, musical theatre repertoire with touring cast members, one to one vocal lessons, yoga, character development, street dance, and harmony singing.

Where possible, we invite visiting companies and artists to the University. Examples include Big Foot, Puppetship, Live Theatre, Mee Mee theatre, Tom Whaley, Bell and Bullock Circus, Dani Dee Drag Artist/Dancer, Charlie Richmond Tyne Theatre pantomime, and The Suggestibles improv comedy. We'll also take you to see lots of regional live work from big West End musicals to fringe productions.

Work by our students is hosted by venues such as The Fire Station, where masterclasses are also held and led by visiting artists.

Placements and Projects

The independent study module allows you to take educational and professional opportunities as they arise. Examples include the production of a new play performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a cross-generational performance with a professional choreographer and dancers. Many projects are sited in schools and the wider community.

We also arrange end-of-year performances in a professional arts venue, working alongside schedulers, box office staff, technicians, and professional performers. Your involvement in these performances develops skills in marketing, design, and communication with venues.

All students studying on-campus undergraduate performing arts courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we're offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.

Creative Industries Week

Creative Industries Week gives everyone in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits, and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience, builds your confidence, and helps develop your career path.