Qualification | Degree
Course Leader | Jenny Coyle
Validated by | University of Chichester
Location | Online
Course Length | 1 Year - flexible learning
Start Date | January 2025 / September 2025
Take your career to the next level with Italia Conti’s BA (Hons) Professional Arts Practice (Top-Up), validated by The University of Chichester.
Designed for performers and creatives looking to refine their craft, this fully online, industry-leading course offers a unique opportunity to reflect on your journey, explore new possibilities, and develop the professional skills needed to shape your future in the performing arts.
The Italia Conti BA (Hons) Professional Arts Practice (Top-Up) is a bespoke professional development experience, equipping you with the skills, insights, and resources to build a successful and sustainable career in the industry.
You’ll gain essential research and analytical skills; alongside critical reflection techniques that will help you take ownership of your career trajectory. Tailored to your specialism, this course helps you identify new pathways, whether you are advancing in your current field, or pivoting in a new direction.
With a deep dive into your industry sector, you’ll have the chance to implement change immediately within your practice while developing tangible assets to enhance your visibility and professional brand. Whether you want to curate a standout portfolio, embark on practice-led research, or craft a compelling dissertation, this programme is designed around your career ambitions.
This course is ideal for those who have completed a Level 6 Trinity Diploma or equivalent Level 5 qualification, as well as industry professionals looking to return to education. With flexible, real-world application, it’s the perfect next step for performers and creatives ready to push their careers forward. If you have further questions, please contact the Course Leader: Jenny.Coyle@italiaconti.co.uk or apply below.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
There are three modules in the programme, which focus on the following:
This module deepens your understanding of reflective practice and its impact on your development as a performer or creative professional. You’ll explore key models of reflection and learn how to embed reflective thinking into your artistic process, culminating in a short literature review. You’ll apply these concepts to your own experiences, critically assessing your skills, strengths, and areas for growth in a written essay.
To complete the module, you’ll create a video presentation outlining your career trajectory, identifying your aspirations within the performing arts or creative industries, and mapping out your next steps.
This module is all about opportunity, strategy, and action. You’ll research and analyse your specialist area, exploring the various career pathways available to you. Whether you’re refining your skills, pivoting into a new creative direction, or even launching your own business, this module helps you develop a strategic approach to your career.
You’ll present your findings as a pitch or presentation, outlining a concrete plan for your professional development.
To complete the module, you’ll create a detailed Action Plan – a practical roadmap that can support you in securing employment, building professional opportunities, or pursuing further study.
This module allows you to tailor your learning to your specific career goals by choosing one of three pathways:
Build a comprehensive, industry-ready portfolio showcasing your work, designed to enhance your professional brand and visibility in your area of industry. Depending on your field, this could include (but is not limited to):
· Showreels, voice reels, self-tapes
· Promotional videos, brochures, website content
· Business plans, cash flow projections
· Social media marketing materials
· Short research essays
This option is ideal for those looking to promote themselves as performers, creatives, or entrepreneurs and develop professional materials for their next steps.
Engage in a practical, exploratory project, testing and expanding your creative practice through hands-on research. Your findings will be presented as a filmed performance, accompanied by a written commentary detailing your process.
This option is ideal for those who want to experiment, push boundaries, or explore new creative methodologies. For example, a dancer might investigate improvisational techniques, or a director might
test a new approach to devised theatre, a playwright might experiment with a new piece of work through a rehearsed reading.
Conduct a deep-dive research project within the performing arts or creative industries. Your dissertation could focus on:
· A specific area of your own practice
· Action Research exploring new research / artistic / educational methodologies
· Industry trends or developments in performing arts education
This option is ideal for those who enjoy academic research and want to critically engage with their field, producing a full written dissertation as a result.
This programme is designed to be flexible, career-focused, and tailored to your ambitions. Whichever path you choose, you’ll gain practical insights, develop professional materials, and take tangible steps toward your future in the industry.
You can complete this course with a focus on your practice as a: performer, creative entrepreneur, director, producer, choreographer, facilitator, educator, filmmaker, writer, a leader, or within arts administration. The course can be completed from anywhere in the world, but you must have internet access. So far, we’ve had students from across the world, the U.K., Sweden, Los Angeles, Chicago, Australia, Saudi Arabi, Dubai, and those who are on cruise ships or touring. You will have access to Moodle (Virtual Learning Environment) which houses all recorded sessions, resources, and important information regarding assessments, tutorial booking, and helpful policies. Live group sessions are scheduled in advance and will be recorded and uploaded to Moodle to watch at your own convenience. You will also have opportunities to drop in to group sessions, schedule 1-1 sessions, and join our thriving online community of past/current students.
A typical week may involve around 10-14 hours of independent work, and this may vary at certain points. The course is manageable around work/family/life commitments
There is a reason why Italia Conti is one of the most recognised names in performing arts training. For over a century we have helped students to fulfil their potential as performers and to work at the very highest level in every aspect of the performing arts industry. We provide a programme of training that responds to industry needs and current teaching and learning developments.
Italia Conti has a proven track record of nurturing talent at the very highest level; Italia Conti graduates can be seen on stage and screen in the UK and internationally. We have graduates working in the West End and on Broadway in musicals and in plays, in national and international tours, in cabarets and on cruise ships. We have graduates working in Film and in Television. We have produced some of the UK’s top recording artists – solo artists and band members.
Completing your BA (Hons) degree with Italia Conti will equip you academically and practically to move on to the next stage of your performing arts degree, with the knowledge and expertise of the faculty of one of the longest-established performing arts schools in the country behind you.
UK Tuition Fees | £9535 (paid in advanced in termly instalments) International Students | £13,449 Deposit | £150 (The deposit is refundable within 14 calendar days of the payment being received by Italia Conti but will not be refunded thereafter for non-enrolment. It will be held by the School and will be refundable on completion of the course, without interest, less any outstanding sums owed by the student to Italia Conti.)
Terms and conditions apply upon acceptance to Italia Conti.
The BA (Hons) Top Up course offers the following funding options:
See further funding Info
“I have just graduated from Liverpool Theatre School with a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. I wanted to do the BA Hons (Top Up) in Professional Arts Practice course to further develop my skills for the industry. It is the perfect balance between academic writing and creativity. I already have seen improvements, both in my academic and performing work, and I now really value the ability to critically reflect on past experiences in order to improve my current skills.”
“I have found that my first term at Italia Conti has been better than I could’ve imagined. I am working with driven, passionate, likeminded people within all different realms of the performing arts industry. I find that the course is very tailored to each individual and the content is broad enough to apply to everyone but specific enough to challenge each person within their abilities. I find the course to be a place where I can collaborate and interact with people who I’d never had met otherwise. I only look forward to what the next few months of the course bring and feel more motivated than ever.”
Current Student, Class of July 2024“The course is allowing me to reflect on my past practice, current position, and future endeavours. I really enjoy how flexible the course is, with regards to being able to tailor my studies to my own practice, enabling me to maximise the benefits of this on my future career. I expect my professional development to be impacted exponentially and I am excited to continue!”
“Italia Conti’s BA Top up course was the one for me! Creating a business in under 9 months has been a massive accomplishment! The course really helps shape your future, enables you to meet professional contacts to support your research, and gives you lots of time to understand the area of the industry you want to specialise in.”
I’m a professional dancer but have taught only ballet. These classes are EXACTLY what I was looking for to show some basics of contemp for my students !! Absolutely love every single Video
I’ve watched a lot of your videos and I love every single one that she teaches. THANK YOU. Gorgeous movement.
Amazing class, one of the best I’ve ever done. So easy to follow, thank you!
I’m a dancer in LA and can’t keep up with my peers on how often they take dance classes. This channel has been so helpful for me to keep up my training. Thank you for sharing this with the world. I feel like we are all dancing together even though we are all doing this at different times and in different spaces. 🖤
Best ballet teacher on the internet❤ Great explanation, enthusiasm and commentary throughout the exercise!
Applications for the BA Top-Up for January 2025 are by direct application only. Please see our application form via the link below. You will not need to complete a UCAS application form. Direct application is now open.
Direct Application Form (italiaconti-apply.co.uk)
Applicants should have completed Italia Conti’s application form by the 10 December in the year of application in order to be considered for an interview for January intake – i.e. 10 December 2024 for January 2025 entry.
Applicants should have completed Italia Conti’s application form by 01 July in the year of application, in order to be considered for an interview for the September intake i.e. 01 July 2025 for September 2025 entry.
In line with our admissions policy, Italia Conti reserves the right to alter or withdraw offers at any point. Places on our courses are limited; it is usual for drama schools to make more offers than there are places. Acceptances are dealt with on a first come first serve basis and so early acceptance is advised.
Apply Now
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BA (HONS) IN PROFESSIONAL ARTS PRACTICE (TOP UP)
NON-STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
On occasion, admission may be considered through recognition of non-standard entry through the AEL or ACL process. Where the student demonstrates good capacity practically through the interview process, but prior qualifications do not demonstrate sufficient evidence to adjudicate a student’s capacity to engage with the written aspects of the relevant course, an offer conditional on providing a written exercise could be made (within the previously noted processes for AEL). UEL also provide equivalences data for students who may have international qualifications, which can inform the decision-making process.
NO FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
We also welcome applications from students who have gained appropriate skills through a wide range of vocational qualifications or suitable experience. Candidates may be required to give an additional element at interview to demonstrate their suitability and this may include written work. Any offer would be subject to the approval of the Italia Conti Panel and UEL. Mature students (over 21) with no formal qualifications should contact the Course Administrator prior to sending in their application form to ensure that the necessary information can be supplied to the School.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) process.
All prospective students wishing their prior certificated or experiential learning to be considered will have to attend an in-depth interview with the Italia Conti Course Leader and panel to determine suitability and qualification for entry. A portfolio of written and/or creative work may also be requested. Evidence will be reviewed by a panel on a case-by-case basis. All recommendations for entry on the basis of accredited certificated or experiential learning will need to be ratified by the UEL Award board, which will do so according to the standard time frames.
CRITERIA FOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO BE PRESENTED TO A PANEL IN THE ABSENCE OF A RECOGNISED FORMAL QUALIFICATION
The evidence will be reviewed by a panel on a case by case basis. Consideration may be given to the following, to evidence a successful and high quality, professional performance career:
ICV | Free online classes