BA (Hons) (Top-up) Performance
Study LevelLevel 6 Course TypeHigher Education Duration2 Academic Years Start DateSeptember 2025 Study ModePart-time LocationLister BuildingOverview
This Level 6 Top-up programme is designed to allow both students from a prior approved qualification and applicants with relevant experience to progress to an honours level degree
The programme is delivered by experienced practicing Performing Arts professionals and academics who have a wide range of skills and relevant industry experience in TV, Film and Theatre. For example, working with ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Sky, The Bolton Octagon, The Royal Exchange in Manchester and The Lawrence Batley in Huddersfield.
The programme builds on your previous learning and experience, giving you the opportunity to produce work of a professional standard within your Performing Arts specialism.
Key Info
The programme prepares you for the reality of a challenging and competitive industry. It gives you a range of experiences and roles to fully prepare you for a portfolio career in the Performing Arts.
You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively across different disciplines, creating a professional and vocational experience. For example, this could include music students, as part of a Musical and Film, Media and Media Make-up students on film projects.
Students in their final year will perform in a ‘Showcase’ which they plan and organise and invite industry professionals. This potentially gives students the opportunity to meet and perform in front of agents and casting directors as well as other industry contacts, possibly in an external venue.
The programme offers a range of opportunities to enhance your learning. For example, overseas trips, visiting guest lecturers, live performance opportunities and professional commissions.
Qualification Gained: Bolton Institute BA (Hons) in Music for the Creative Industries - Bradford College
Year 1
Semester 1:
Advanced Creative Practice – develop the skills to perform and produce work in a range of genres and styles. You will be expected to rehearse, develop, perform and produce advanced pieces with expression and within stylistic conventions. You will respond to direction, demonstrate your enthusiasm for performance and show professionalism, explore various direction, production and rehearsal techniques.
Semester 2:
Individual Case Study – this enables you to carry out research into a particular practitioner, company or movement, which relates to your individual vocational interests. The research, when completed, will be presented at a University Centre based symposium.
Year 2
Semester 1
Freelance Working and Self Employment – develop a network of professional contacts, create an appropriate professional portfolio, work within the relevant and appropriate legal and statutory frameworks. You will be allocated a personal mentor. You will draw up a detailed career plan that includes at least three ‘milestones’.
Semester 2
Independent Project – A substantial piece of work that will enable you to demonstrate the extent of your achievement on the degree as a whole. You will be allocated a personal tutor at the outset. The project could be a performance, composition, installation or collaboration.
Entry to this course requires 80 UCAS tariff points.
T Level qualifications are accepted, a T Level PASS with a minimum of a grade A*-C (equates to 96 UCAS points).
Additionally, you may need an FdA qualification in Performing Arts or a related discipline or 120 credits at NQF Level 4/5 or equivalent.
You will be asked to present a one-minute monologue of your choosing from either a film, television series or published play. This will be followed by a short interview.
Assessment has many forms, including assessment of a performance, vlog, blog, essay, presentation, viva voce or portfolio. Across the programme a range of assessment formats will be used, reflecting the nature of the module (theory or practical) and to account for different learning styles.
Bradford College was the first FE/HE college to be a Lead Associate School for the Royal Shakespeare Company, offering opportunities to work and train with the RSC. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in projects with the Performing Arts Graduate Theatre Company, offering a bridge into the industry.
The department has significant partnerships with local venues, companies and organisations to ensure that professional experience is embedded within your programme.
The course will develop skills, knowledge and experience of performance in order to become a successful practitioner within the performing arts industry and other related fields. It will enhance employability within the creative industries by promoting a collaborative approach to teaching and learning across different disciplines.
Ultimately the course will enable students to become a capable and well-rounded Performance graduate who will make a contribution to the performance indsutry having developed appropriate knowledge and specialist skills.
Below are some examples of job roles the qualifications could lead to:
- Performing Arts: TV and Film Actor, Voice Over Artist, Musical Theatre Performer, Theatre Practitioner, Writer, Director, Theatre Producer, Stand-up Comedian, TV Presenter, Radio DJ, Content Creator.
- Education: Workshop Leader, Facilitator, Creative Education Content Creator, Theatre Outreach Officer.
- Other: Theatre Marketing Assistant, Programmer, Booking Coordinator, Production Manager, Creative Engagement Officer, Box Office Manager.
Other Costs: Approx. £500 for trips, visits to exhibitions and shows. (All optional)
This is representative of the most common fees scenario, but actual fees can vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact us if you need more guidance.
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Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.
