About the course
Are you an undergraduate dance or performing arts student who dreams of taking your professional performance and creative practice to the next level? Then this performance-based programme is designed with you in mind.
This exceptional course will enhance your skills across artistic, academic, educational and community contexts, offering you the opportunity for professional-level repertory performance practice along with membership of The Ensemble, our postgraduate university dance company. The programme also offers a truly global perspective with students and choreographers from around the world bringing a wealth of ideas and diversity.
Units include repertory and performance; choreographic and dance research; somatic practice; and dance psychology. The emphasis is on the health of mind and body through dance practice and includes contemporary dance, yoga, improvisation, fusion styles and dance science.
You can choose a written dissertation or a practical research project in performance, choreography, dance film-making, teaching/pedagogy or experimental performance.
Intermediate qualifications available:
- Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master's level
- Postgraduate diploma - 120 credits at Master's level
See photos from our performances and workshops instagram.com/theensembleuob
Why choose this course?
- Gain high-level practical, professional and theoretical skills in performance and/or choreographic practice
- Work with a dynamic, experienced team of tutors with internationally significant experience as academics, practice-led researchers and dance artists
- Our recent choreographers include Julia Cheng, Urja Desai Thakore, Sung Im Her, Annie Lok, Simonetta Alessandri, Colin Poole and Tim Casson
- Benefit from professional-level facilities including four dance studios, an 80-seat studio theatre and a 260-seat main-stage theatre
- Develop your professional network through our existing relationships with key organisations such as Arts Council England; Youth Dance England; dance agencies and development organisations; performance venues; professional dance companies; independent artists; community arts organisations; colleges and schools
- Our graduates can be found working in the UK and internationally, in fields including freelance dance artist or choreographer; education or wider community environments; the film/video industry; and commercial sector
- Our graduates include Hayley Lemon, teaching artist at Dance East; Katie Boag and Ash Goosey, independent choreographers for Arts Council projects; Emma Bouch, lead artist at NK Dance; and Katie Bateman, dancer/entertainer on Disney cruises
Course Leader - Dr Tamara Ashley
Moving inside and outside, within and without, I am interested in how we can partner with one another and with the earth to create moving dance works and empowered relationships.
I co-ordinate the MA Dance Performance and Choreography programme, and I am the artistic director of The Ensemble, the MA performing group, through which I work with professional choreographers each year to create new works for touring. I also teach technique and choreography across the undergraduate dance and performing arts programmes.
Units
- Choreographic Research (PER008-6) Compulsory
- Dance Research Project/Dissertation (PER001-6) Compulsory
- Repertory And Performance (PER010-6) Compulsory
- Researching Dance (PER002-6) Compulsory
- Somatic Practice (PER007-6) Compulsory
- The Repertory Artist: Skills, Roles And Contexts (PER021-6) Compulsory
Why study in the School of Arts and Creative Industries?
- Professional theatre and dance studios
- Latest digital and VR technologies and performance techniques
- Taught by experienced performers and practitioners
- Industry links and Media Masterclasses
- Media arts centre equipped with industry standard facilities
- Specially equipped Art and Design building
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above.
The University of Bedfordshire warmly welcomes students from all over the world.
Individual courses may vary, but we generally require an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above.
To ensure a smooth application process, we have dedicated pages with detailed information about country-specific requirements. You can find information on our generic entry requirements too, if your county is not listed.
English Language
The English Language requirement for this course is 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in any subtest) in IELTS, or an equivalent SELT. Have a look at our webpage for a list of English language qualifications we accept. If you do not have the required level of English for your chosen degree, we offer pre-sessional courses to enhance your language skills before commencing your studies.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our international admissions team for further assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant academic community.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above.
The University of Bedfordshire warmly welcomes students from all over the world.
Individual courses may vary, but we generally require an undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above.
To ensure a smooth application process, we have dedicated pages with detailed information about country-specific requirements. You can find information on our generic entry requirements too, if your county is not listed.
English Language
The English Language requirement for this course is 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in any subtest) in IELTS, or an equivalent SELT. Have a look at our webpage for a list of English language qualifications we accept. If you do not have the required level of English for your chosen degree, we offer pre-sessional courses to enhance your language skills before commencing your studies.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our international admissions team for further assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant academic community.
- Audition
- Interview
All applicants will be invited to auditions and interview in order to provide evidence of your practical knowledge of dance. You will also discuss why you consider the course to be an appropriate choice that will enable you to develop your dance knowledge, skills and understanding.
You will be assessed not only in relation to your current practical knowledge of dance but also in relation to whether you are able to articulate goals that match your abilities and your understanding of how this course will help you achieve your goals.
We do not assess physical fitness, strength, flexibility or other physical attributes as part of the criteria for entry, but you should consider the physical demands of core units in dance technique and performance and improvisation and composition in deciding whether this course offers you the best opportunity to achieve in this subject area.
If you are unable to attend in person for audition and interview, you may submit a digital portfolio and be interviewed by telephone.
You are also advised that in order to benefit from all the opportunities available through study you may be advised to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
How will this course improve my career prospects?
As a graduate of this course, you will be equipped to pursue a wide variety of professions as a performer; interdisciplinary performance practitioner; choreographer; educator; independent portfolio worker (consultant or researcher, for example) in the creative industries; or follow careers in screen-based performance.
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Extra costs for this course
For this course you need to have appropriate clothing. We estimate that the total spend on a kit would be around £35 to £50.
Your kit should include
- Yoga mat
- Appropriate exercise clothing/leggings/dance belt etc.
- Loose outer wear for various activities
*The information above is for guidance only. Exact costs may vary.
Extra Costs
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
You can apply online using our applications portal.
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
You can apply online using our applications portal.
Find out more about how to apply as an International student