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
The Italia Conti BA (Hons) Professional Arts Practice (One-Year Online Top Up) is an innovative, unique, industry-leading programme.
The programme is designed to be completed entirely through distance learning, to fit around your schedule. Aimed at those who have completed their performing arts training, and may have already worked in the industry, the course is designed to help you reflect upon your journey to this point, research the avenues you wish to pursue next, and bridge the gap to take the next steps on your career journey. Through a wide variety of online resources, live and recorded webinars, group and individual tutorials, presentations, film creation, research projects and written work, you will deeply evaluate your own professional practice and personal qualities and attributes, extensively consider and research an area of the performing arts industry that interests you, and prepare a professional project that moves you towards that goal, through either the creation of a professional portfolio, an action research project or a written dissertation.
The programme focuses on you and your personal and professional development, training you in the reflective and research skills required to get you from where you are to where you want to be. We teach you how to critically reflect upon your life and work experience to date, intensively research the options you’re interested in pursuing and help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you wish to go next.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
There are three modules in the programme, which focus on the following:
This module examines and develops your understanding of reflection and the impact and benefit reflective thinking can have upon your practice. During this module, you will explore some models of reflection and how you can embed reflection into your practice in the performing arts, presented in a short literature review. Following this, you will apply your understanding of those models/practitioners, to reflections of your own practice, and an assessment of your skills, talents, and abilities through a written essay.
To finish the module, you will create a video focusing on your career trajectory, exploring the area of the performing arts/creative industries you wish to pursue, and informing your next steps.
This module involves gaining a deeper understanding of your employment opportunities moving forward, undertaking some further, more in-depth research into your specialist area. During this module, you can consider strategies to increase your skills, develop in new ways – you might even launch your own business! This research will be presented as a pitch/presentation which outlines your plan to develop your own employment opportunities. Following this, you will write a detailed Action Plan which can be utilised moving forward in creating professional development opportunities, employment opportunities or facilitate further progression in research or training/education/academic study.
This module allows you to further your knowledge and professional development, enhancing your understanding of your next steps. In this module, you have the choice of three options:
This option allows you to prepare and create a portfolio of tangible resources, ready to distribute and use in your future career, or to aid your development moving forward.
The Professional Portfolio could include:
Text, photographs, designs, stills, audio, showreels, voice-reels, self-tapes, promotional videos, brochures, website materials, an account/document detailing social media marketing activity, business plan, cash flow, short research essays.
This option will be suitable for those who wish to pursue their own performance goals, launch a business of some description, or create marketing materials for their personal career development.
This option allows you to undertake a practice-led project, allowing you to experiment and explore your creative practice in a practical, experiential way. This research can be presented as a filmed performance, alongside a written commentary that presents your findings and process.
This option will be suited to those who wish to explore, test or work across different contexts of practice, to make new work and further understand practice, or the practice of others. An example of this is a dancer who wishes to explore some aspects of developing their practice through improvisation.
This option offers you the opportunity to engage in a significant research project within the performing arts industry. You might choose to explore a specific aspect of your own practice, conduct an action research project to experiment with new methodologies, or investigate current topics and trends in the performing arts or performing arts education.
This option will be suited to those who wish to research an aspect of their practice or industry area and convey their findings through a full written dissertation.
The course is tailored to your own specialist area of industry, whether that be as a performer, creative entrepreneur, director, producer, 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.
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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