Potential Earnings
£54,380.24
Key details
- Course area
- Performing Arts
- Student type
- University Level
- Course type
-
Full-time University Level course
- Course level
-
Level 6
- Start date
- Monday 21st September 2026
- Location
- City Hub 111 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7HB
- Fees
- £8,250.00
- Course code
- Parent course code:C042650 Child course code: Q042651
- UCAS course code
- DAN3
- UCAS institution code
- N30
Course introduction
This 3 year degree is designed to develop your dance skills in preparation for working in the industry. Two main focus points aim to provide a solid grounding in the practical and intellectual skills necessary for a successful career in performance or teaching.
Led by a team of inspiring staff with extensive experience working across the industry and within higher education, you'll embark on a creative journey that aims to provide the tools necessary to excel in your chosen field.
This is a dance training degree, predominantly taught through practical exploration and rehearsal, underpinned by research, practitioner study and critical reflection. Training focuses on building strength and confidence in a broad range of dance styles as well as enabling you to creatively build skills through composition and improvisation techniques. These attributes build confidence and deepen understanding of teaching dance to a range of clients within community or educational settings. You'll have the opportunity to create your own original work, exploring areas of specific and personal interest and finding your own creative voice or teaching style.
We have worked in partnership with Fabric, Lakeside Arts, NDD and a variety of local educational settings. We collaborate with other creative departments across college and invite guest lecturers in to support placement opportunities and progression.
Year 1 (Level 4) modules:
- Performance skills
- Dance practice, history and context
- Creative dance practice
- Facilitating dance
Year 2 (Level 5) modules:
- Developing dance practice
- Choreography, production and performance
- Dance education within the community
- Independent practice
Year 3 (Level 6) modules:
- Embodied practice
- Dance in an educational setting
- Ensemble performance
- Major independent project
Specialist Facilities
Performing Arts is based at our new £58 million City Hub campus in Nottingham City Centre’s Canalside quarter with state of the art facilities. These include specially-designed rehearsal studios for acting and dance, as well as a 160 seat versatile theatre space with fully-functional wardrobe and workshop facilities and industry-standard lighting and sound. Students also use our brand-new digital TV centre, recording studio and multi-media suites.
Timetable (subject to change)
The current timetable is as follows but this is subject to change:
- Monday 9:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00 and Thursday 11:00 - 16:00
- Plus self directed study
Please note: Some classes may be delivered online.
Useful links:
- Programme Specification
- Open University Student Guide 2025/26
- Open University Validation Regulations 2025/26
Nottingham College is proud to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Bronze Award for high quality student experience and outcomes. You can read more about this on the Office for Students website.
Course information
3 years
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dance and Education
We expect applicants to be working at (or to demonstrate competency at) Level 2 or above in English/literacy and maths/numeracy. We accept GCSE passes in English Language and maths at Grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C).
Applicants must also have a minimum of 48 UCAS points from study at Level 3:
- At least two A Levels at A2
- BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma
- International Baccalaureate
- Access to HE Diploma
- T levels
Other combinations of qualifications and experience will also be considered, as will Level 3 qualifications not currently listed on the UCAS tariff.
Applicants may be invited to attend an audition and informal interview. This can be held either on-campus here at the College or remotely.
Mature applicants not meeting the standard entry criteria but with relevant industry or life experience are very welcome to apply.
A combination of traditional and innovative assessment methods are used: including case studies, group projects, live briefs, peer review, time-constrained assessments and presentations.
There are no examinations.
Graduates will be well-prepared for a wide range of careers, with vital transferable skills potential employers are looking for. They bring hands-on experience of running dance projects, managing rehearsal schedules, evaluating and reviewing dance work and producing performance works in professional environments.
Previous graduates have moved directly into performance, teaching, dance production, choreography, youth and social work, arts admin, events management or related careers in the creative arts, leisure, health, fitness and well-being industries.
Nottingham College is approved by The Open University as an appropriate organisation to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University validated awards.
About the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.
Video gallery
Careers related to this course
Select career:
Dancers and Choreographers
Average Earnings
£29,079.12
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Pathways
Art, Performance and Design
People in these occupations create art and fine craftwork, produce and perform plays and motion pictures, and design graphics and other products.
Skills
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.
