Program Overview

Performing Arts BA (Hons)

Overview

Our BA Performing Arts degree allows you to unlock your creative potential and explore acting, dance, voice, and multimedia performance. Immerse yourself in a dynamic learning environment where you’ll collaborate closely with experienced lecturers.

Course Details

• Level: Undergraduate
• UCAS Code: W470
• UCAS Points: 104
• Start date: Oct 2025, Oct 2026
• Duration: 3 years
• Location: Creative Campus, Kingsway, Chester
• UK fees: £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
• International fees: £14,450 per year for a full-time course* (2025/26)
• Course Leader: Nicole Wellings

Course Structure

Year 1 (Level 4)

• Introduction to Performance and Production (100 Credits) Core
  • Explore core performance skills with a focus on key practitioners through various mediums.
  • Engage with a comprehensive overview of performance theory and key practitioners.
• Production 1 (20 Credits) Option
  • Performers must not only master the art of performance but also understand the context in which they perform.
  • Cultivate abilities as performers while gaining a thorough understanding of the theoretical and historical contexts of your work.
• Language Module Options
  • Chinese: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits)
  • French: Communication in Practice (20 Credits)
  • French: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits)
  • German: Communication in Practice (20 Credits)
  • Spanish: Communication in Practice (20 Credits)
  • Spanish: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits)
  • Subsidiary Language for Beginners (20 Credits)

Year 2 (Level 5)

• Musical Theatre (20 Credits) Core
  • Develop essential technical and artistic skills required to grow as a musical theatre performer, artist, or practitioner.
  • Explore the cultural, social, and historical significance of Musical Theatre.
• Performance Skills and Techniques (20 Credits) Core
  • Unlock your full potential with this advanced performance module.
  • Develop the physical intelligence, rigor, and mental confidence essential for outstanding performance.
• Choreographic Approaches (20 Credits) Option
  • Develop and define your 'choreography toolkit' by working with compositional scores and choreographic approaches.
  • Engage with a variety of approaches and motivations for composing movement-based dance and performance.
• Screen Acting (20 Credits) Option
  • Enhance your critical skills, knowledge, and practices in screen performance.
  • Engage with advanced concepts and practices within the discipline.
• Creative Approaches: Adaptation and Storytelling (20 Credits) Option
  • Explore and engage in the process of adaptation.
  • Critically examine the field of adaptation and storytelling studies.
• Applied Practices for Performers (20 Credits) Option
  • Develop the skills and strategies required to facilitate and lead inclusive, participatory workshops.
  • Explore theoretical frameworks within which to contextualise the practice.
• Creativity in the Modern Workplace (40 Credits) Option
  • Undertake a 140-hour work placement.
  • Develop employability, professional practice, and understanding of career options.
• Creative Futures: CSP (40 Credits) Option
  • Identify and develop key employability attributes and skills in preparation for your future career.
  • Work collaboratively with other students on one major project or several smaller projects.

Year 3 (Level 6)

• Showcase: Professional Practice (40 Credits) Core
  • Deepen your knowledge and practice in stage and screen performance and production.
  • Curate and select performance material to showcase your skillset and professional practice.
• Final Production (40 Credits) Option
  • Engage in a substantial piece of practical work.
  • Undertake research to inform your process and showcase the skills developed over the course of the programmes studied.
• Creative Practice: Liquid Space (40 Credits) Option
  • Engage in interconnected creative practices.
  • Offer contexts where the fluid exchange between research methodologies, practice, and performance is lucid.
• Creative Practice: Performance Pathways (40 Credits) Option
  • Dive deep into the world of performance.
  • Explore the powerful concepts of authorship and agency in relation to your personal artistry, research methodologies, and creative processes.
• Creative Practice: Performance Making (40 Credits) Option
  • Dive deep into the world of theatre-making.
  • Explore the powerful concepts of authorship and agency in relation to your personal artistry, research methodologies, and creative processes.
• CSP Negotiated Research Project (40 Credits) Option
  • Initiate and develop your own major project ideas appropriate to your discipline of study.
  • Gain 'graduate trajectory' to enable you to better move into your chosen profession.

Entry Requirements

• Home Students:
  • UCAS Points: 104 points
  • GCE A Level: Typical offer – CCC-BCC
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
  • International Baccalaureate: 28 points
  • Irish / Scottish Highers: Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: BBBB
  • Access requirements: Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
  • T Level: Pass (C or above on the core)
  • OCR Cambridge Technicals: OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
• International Students:
  • English Language Requirements: IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

Fees and Finance

• Home Students: £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
• International Students: £14,450 per year for a full-time course* (2025/26)

Your Future Career

• Careers service: The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences.
• Related courses:
  • Drama BA (Hons)
  • Acting BA (Hons)
  • Professional Dance BA (Hons)