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Performance at University of the West of Scotland - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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Course summary

OVERVIEW UWS’s BA Performance offers you a combination of practical and theoretical study or performance. This degree will provide you with the opportunities to work across multiple disciplines so that you can learn and create independently and collaboratively. It aimed at emerging performers, performance makers and those interested in developing their practical skills, researching their discipline and thinking critically about performance and culture. Upon completion you become a creative, critical thinker who’ll make a positive impact in the workplace. To help you explore performance critically and practically, teaching on this degree focuses on the practical, historical, theoretical applications of performance. In addition, masterclasses led by leading industry staff and professionals will enhance your learning and provide insights into contemporary performance industries. We recognise the important role that having practical experience under your belt has on securing a graduate career, which is why this degree strives to offer real-world professional settings to help you hone your practice. PRACTICAL FOCUS Our focus on practice, history, theory and industry allows you to explore performance critically and practically and gain a deeper understanding of diverse creative and research practices. You will be encouraged to develop your existing skills and passions whilst engaging with a series of new skills. Master classes and workshops led by leading industry professionals and contemporary performance scholars will support your learning and make you confident about future employment. Practice is developed in our state-of-the-art performance and television studios. Professional skills are developed throughout the course through a number of modules. You will also be introduced to relevant professionals, protocols and employers. You are encouraged to become a 'reflective practitioner' and tio be able to demonstrate awareness and relevancy of choices leading you to deploy a range of professional creative skills to realise a contemporary practice specialism. You will also undertake modules which aim to develop critical thinking regarding career choice and ethics. You will be encouraged to use a number of processes to help you focus on your career including: show reels, exhibitions, installations, audio recordings etc. This will help you focus on your performance attributes but enable you to consider career routes and opportunities and enahnce your presentation, communication and generic cognitive skills as you move towards employment in the cultural sector. CAREER PROSPECTS Jobs With this qualification, you could find yourself acting, directing, producing or writing for stage and screen. Or you could be designing and delivering community theatre projects or even forming your own theatre company.  You may also go on to become a primary school or secondary school drama teacher by undertaking a 12-month Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) - note additional requirements regarding English and Mathematics qualifications will apply for PGDE study.

Modules

In Year 1, you will study a selection of core and optional modules to provide a solid foundation of performance as a discipline. Modules such as Performance Histories, Performance Contexts - Production Aesthetics adn Reading Performance can be augmented with optional modules such as Creative Writing, and Collaboration & Practice. In Year 2, you will build on your understading of performance and study from modules including: Theory & Performance, Culture & Society, Crossmedia Collaboration, Performance Contexts - Creative Processes. In Year 3, you will start to explore the role of research in performance. You will study modules such as: Research in Creative Practice, Writing for Stage and Screen, Contemporary Arts in Context, Practice: Creative Festival, and Performance Contetexts - Testing Ideas. In the final year of study, you will undertake perofrmace core modules with major emphasis on your individual research project. Modues include: Creative Arts Research Project, Practice in Context, Creative Industries - Entrepreneurship & Professional Practice and Performance Realisation.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

31Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W400
Institution code:
U40
Campus name:
Ayr Campus
Campus code:
A

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3
  • Year 4

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Year 2 Entry: Scottish Advanced Highers: BBB) A Levels: BBB HNC: Acting & Performance; Musical Theatre; Theatre Arts; Dance; Performance Year 3 Entry: HND: Acting & Performance; Musical Theatre; Theatre Arts; Dance; Performance with B in Graded Unit

International applicants

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. These are shown below.

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification Requirements

Applicants with degree/diploma qualifications in an unrelated subject accompanied by professional theatre experience will be considered. Entry to Year 1 with SWAP Access to Humanities (BBB)

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill / component.
Cambridge English Advanced176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Cambridge English Proficiency176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Trinity ISEPassISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with no element below 51
TOEFL (iBT)78no sub-test less than: Reading: 17; Listening: 17; Speaking: 17; Writing: 17

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The reason for this is that it’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS. All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of: // Native speakers of English // Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise) // non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification) The qualifications above must have been gained within two years prior to the start of your course at UWS.

UWS's English language requirements

https://www.uws.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Scotland £1820* Year 1
England £9250* Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250* Year 1
Wales £9250* Year 1
Channel Islands £9250* Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250* Year 1
EU £15250* Year 1
International £15250* Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - SCOTTISH STUDENTS: Eligible Scottish domiciled students can usually apply to have their tuition fees paid for them each year of their studies by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). If you're not sure about your eligibility, you should contact SAAS. You need to apply to SAAS each year of study to have your tuition fees paid directly to UWS. TUITION FEE INFORMATION - UK, IRISH & GIBRALTARIAN STUDENTS: Eligible students who are domiciled in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland as well as from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland will qualify for tuition fees of £9,250 per academic session of study to a maximum of three years if you are studying on a four year bachelor degree course (eg. BAcc (Hons) / BA (Hons) / BEng (Hons) / BSc (Hons)). So, if your degree is four years' duration, you will only be charged tuition fees for three years. Similarly, if you are studying a five year integrated master's degree course (eg. MEng (Hons)) the you will only be charged tuition fees for four years. TUITION FEE INFORMATION - INTERNATIONAL (NON-EU) & EU STUDENTS: These tuition fees apply to all non-EU, EEA, and all other EU students (excluding those from Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whose fee level is as per UK (non-Scottish) students - see section above for more details). ADDITIONAL COSTS: The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career. In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs such as consumable study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms. You may also want to purchase some core texts and technology such as a new laptop etc. Some of these additional costs are optional, some, such as uniforms or safety equipment may be mandatory. Check the course entry on our website for more more information.

Sponsorship information

Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships

Performance at University of the West of Scotland - UCAS