The course runs at our dedicated on site facility - the Jellicoe Theatre   Our tutors include a wide range of specialists from the College's large full-time Performing Arts team, supplemented by an intensive work experience project  and a programme of workshops by visiting professionals.

If you are thinking of studying performing arts, you might be dreaming of taking to the stage to perform for a living. You may be thinking of gritty TV roles or comedy turns in ongoing series. You may even be thinking of re-inventing yourself as a superhero and going into battle with a fellow Marvel character. However, the skills you will learn, will also prove to be valuable in a range of other careers, especially if you are able to effectively combine creative talent with the practical aspects of self-promotion and arts management. So many graduates from Bournemouth & Poole College have gone on to experience an array of roles within the creative industries as well as in careers that value and demand the skillsets fostered and supported within our HE courses.

In addition to teaching self-expression, critical thinking and creative application, performing arts helps society as a whole in supporting self-knowledge and understanding. Theatre and the performing arts teach society about itself, hoping to point out the attitudes and mindsets of the current cultural climates. It can be a tool used to educate people about the world in which they live and the role they play within it.

What the course leads to

What courses can I do after this? 

Students can progress on to a one-year Honours degree Top-Up (level H), or employment in a range of performance-related activities. The FdA Performing Arts is focused on preparing students for work in the industry. The department has strong links with the profession and working practitioners. The expectation of students on the course mirrors the Performing Arts with an emphasis on discipline, focus and ambition. For more information, please refer to careers guidance/course specific details on The College’s Higher Education website: www.thecollege.co.uk/higher-education/careers-guide/career-planning

 

What jobs can I get? 

Throughout the course you will work with various industry professionals. As part of the work experience units, students will study briefs that are set by companies and individuals from within the performing arts industry. There are also opportunities for teaching, producing, directing and performing.

We can provide full-time learners the opportunity to enter employment in the Performing Arts sector such as Acting (Film Theatre and TV), Singing, Variety, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Theatre, Classical Theatre, Commercial Dance, Contemporary Dance, Production roles (Lights, Sound, and Stage Manager etc) or to progress to vocational qualifications such as an FDA in Contemporary and Musical Theatre and Contemporary Dance at Bournemouth and Poole College. Alongside the Performing Arts and entertainment industry, the transferable skills you will develop will enable you to find work in various industries i.e. Customer Service, Project Management, Team Leading, Professional Development, Recruitment, Sales, Media, Events Management and Advertising.

What do I need to apply

To do this course you should have... 

Four GCSE passes at grade 4 (formerly C) minimum, including Maths* and English or equivalent, plus
Two A Levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification e.g. BTEC Extended Diploma or NVQ3 or
Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Creative and Media may be considered in combination with other qualifications, or
An Access to Higher Education Diploma
UCAS tariff points 48 from two full A Levels or equivalent, including one full A Level at 32 tariff points (i.e. grade C) in a relevant subject.

Relevant subjects: Dance, Performing Arts, Drama 

What about work experience? 

International entry requirements 

If you are not from an English Language speaking country, you will need to have a minimum of UKVI IELTS 6.0. We accept a wide range of academic qualifications awarded overseas and use the UK NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) guidelines for international comparisons. For tuition and accommodation fees please visit www.thecollege.co.uk/international/courses/tuition-fees and our International Operations team can offer you advice and guidance before and during your studies.

Course costs

Course CodeUCAS Code Start Date Costs
BP1000854D2 30/09/2024 £7250.00

* Please note fees are subject to change.

Costs 

£7,250 per academic year

Students who are eligible, can apply for a student loan with Student Finance.

International Fees 

For tuition and accommodation fees please visit www.thecollege.co.uk/international/courses/tuition-fees and our International Operations team can offer you advice and guidance before and during your studies.

Course content

Course Content 

The course is made up of a mixture of practical and theoretical sessions.

Students will be studying a specialist programme focused on performance that offers a broad but interconnected selection of units. This course offers students opportunities to explore old and new performance-based methodologies, musical theatre performance, dramaturgy, analysis of contemporary play texts, voice-over, acting for online gaming and professional development with a clear focus on employability and next steps.

As part of this course, and in replication of the ’real world’ students will find themselves collaborating with their peers from other disciplines (Radio, Film and Events departments) to complete project work that places the individual at the centre of creativity and to give that individual experience of many aspects to the creative industries. There will be opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning to assure preparation for the wider artistic climate and the development of a clear perception of the role of performer in an industry that is evolving rapidly, with online content now providing a significant opportunity for a performing arts graduate. The self-confidence required to contribute to collaborative, time-bound creative projects are developed through a secure understanding of the current demands of the industry. Students will therefore be supported in the development of their strengths, the improvement of their weaknesses and the creation of new opportunities through exposure to a wide range of teaching methods, theatrical and new media experiences, staff expertise and visiting professionals.

Initially there is a practical introduction to performance. From audition to full scale production in our 135-seat theatre. Running in parallel with the introduction to performance will be a unit that places an intense focus on practical skills training. Students will work on singing, acting, dance and voice for industry focused careers. While there is some focus on skills for theatre performance there will also be a consideration of how these skills can be used in wider employments contexts. Examples: gigs, voiceovers, cruise ships, teaching, workshop leading and more. In addition, students will undertake units considering performance contexts and criticism to assure their understanding of the importance of theoretical underpinnings of performance. There will be work-based learning experiences throughout the course and students will have the opportunity to work with industry practitioners.

Students are expected to continuously engage in critical analysis utilising the theoretical skills they will have gained throughout their studies. This could be a consideration of a local theatre company, an essay, or an analysis of a particular theatre genre/historical perspective.

Continual Assessment through a series of practical performances, written assignments and oral presentations. 100% attendance is expected to pass the programme.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

More info

Start Day/Time 

September 2024

Duration 

2 Years

Attendance 

Full-time

UCAS Code 

54D2

Campus Code 

P

Qualification Name 

Foundation Degree

Institution 

Bournemouth & Poole College B49

Awarding Body 

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB)

Curriculum Area 

Creative and Digital Industries - Performing Arts

More about the course 

You will have the opportunity to perform in the Jellicoe Theatre which is a fully functioning venue.  We produce 22+ shows per year with a variety of shows including Musicals, Dance Shows, Classical and Contemporary Plays

By the end of the course, you will be able to...

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the intellectual, imaginative and practical skills needed to embark on a career in the creative industries.
  • Demonstrate and articulate your understanding of the relationships between different aspects of performance, trends and histories and a clear sense of where your own professional strengths              lie  and how you intend to launch your career in the industry.
  • Communicate your ideas both in both a verbal and practical way.
  • Articulate your understanding of the complex nature of the industry, the forms that this may take and the target audience a specific project is aiming at.
  • Collaborate with others effectively in the realisation of a performative and/or participative event within or across disciplines.
  • Extend academic learning as an independent, self-reflective, and creative practitioner, fully prepared for professional environments or postgraduate study.

Please note although accredited by Arts University Bournemouth, students on this course will enrol directly with The Bournemouth and Poole College.

Venue: The course is delivered at The College's Jellicoe Theatre.

Academic Year 

2024/25

Duration 

2 Years

Attendance 

Full-time

UCAS Code 

54D2

Campus Code 

P

Qualification Name 

Foundation Degree

Institution 

Bournemouth & Poole College B49

Awarding Body 

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB)

What Uni? Student Choice Awards 2018 Third Place FE College