Type: Postgraduate
Qualification: MA Contemporary Dance Performance (Professional Placement Scheme)
Duration: 1 year (full-time only)
Validated by: University of Kent
NSCD aims to have full degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, in the school’s history enabling us to take that next step in control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event NSCD does not achieve degree awarding powers in this academic cycle, our degrees will continue to be validated by the University of Kent.
This one-year, full-time programme provides an opportunity for students to undertake extensive professional development and refine their performance skills, as a member of an established professional dance company.
The full list of participating companies in 2025/26 can be viewed here
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 ENTRY ARE NOW CLOSED.
The distinctiveness of this programme lies in the offer of a work placement with a professional dance company of between six and nine months. Students work alongside professional dancers at their chosen host company, experiencing the creation, rehearsal, production and touring of a professional performance programme or project, including any related education and community outreach work.
Whilst on their placement, students are supported by a tutor at NSCD. Crucially, students on the professional placement pathway develop an understanding of the wider skills required of a professional dance artist, through small-scale projects, introductions to local networks and awareness of a variety of activities such as workshop teaching and project management.
NSCD programmes of study are validated by the University of Kent. The Programme Specification is available here: MA Contemporary Dance Performance – Programme Specification
balletLORENT, UK
Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, UK
Motionhouse, UK
National Dance Company Wales, UK
Balbir Singh Dance Company, UK
Soul X-pressions, Uganda
Entry is through a successful audition and interview. The course is open to graduates of two—or three-year dance training courses at the higher education level or dance artists with professional experience and equivalent vocational dance training. Applicants are usually 21+ years of age.
UK-based company placement
Due to visa restrictions, the placement is open only to UK applicants and those with EU-settled or Pre-settled Status. If your application is successful, further details will be provided in your offer letter.
Non-UK-based company placement
The placement is open to UK and non-UK applicants subject to receiving a visa from the company’s country of residence. If your application is successful, further details will be provided in your offer letter.
The course operates on a modular basis. Most modules count for either 30 or 60 academic level 7 credits, with the final major research project being worth 60 credits. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10-20 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study, directed study and assessment activity.
Students will take modules worth approximately 60 credits per term. All students take a total of 180 credits across the MA as a whole. Our teaching is informed by research, and module content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.
This course offers an ongoing and sustained placement with a professional dance company. You work alongside professional dancers at your host company, experiencing the life of that company. The exact schedule varies between companies depending on their schedule but normally includes a mix of creation, rehearsal, production, touring, education and community outreach work.
Whilst on placement, students are supported by a tutor at NSCD and a mentor within the company. Upon completion of the placement, students return to NSCD to embark on the MA research project. This enables you to further develop the learning you experienced at the company and to connect with other MA students at NSCD over an extended period.
NSCD employs a wide variety of assessment methods. Assessment evidence is collected through the following:
Students receive ongoing feedback in practical classes and through the tutorial system in which professional and academic development are considered and evaluated.
