With Worcester you’ll train with world-renowned contemporary artists as you explore contemporary circus practice and devise new and innovative performance pieces. Experience performing in a variety of performance venues and festival settings, preparing you for a future in performance, choreography, directing, producing and more.
First for jobs
The University of Worcester is first in the UK for sustained employment, further study or both, five years after graduation (excluding specialist institutions) - Longitudinal Educational Outcomes Survey 2024.
Course Overview
As one of the few Circus Arts and Physical Theatre courses in the country, you’ll have the rare chance to train with professionals from across the globe. This course will provide the opportunity to have aerial training, fitness and conditioning, choreography and direction for both solo and group performance. Through lectures you will discover the history of contemporary circus and develop your business and health and safety knowledge; preparing you for working in the entertainment industry.
You’ll be able to specialise in various circus disciplines such as aerial hoop, silk, rope, straps, handstands, acrobatics and contortion, and become confident in safely rigging a show. You will also explore human anatomy and physiology to provide you with injury prevention techniques.
Through learning at WMCC you’ll have access to indoor and outdoor training facilities and multi-discipline equipment, which will be available to book outside of seminars. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with RoguePlay Theatre, a resident theatre company who has worked with Dua Lipa, Beyonce and Disneyland Paris and the Commonwealth games. WMCC also hosts the annual circus & physical theatre festival TILT, where you’ll be taught by and perform alongside industry professionals from across the globe.
Worcester is currently one of the few universities to offer this course, and with high employer demand for performers and artists, this specialist course will help you stand out against other theatre and performance students. The transferable skills gained on this course will also provide the experience and qualifications needed for a wide variety of jobs, either within circus artistry and performing arts, producing and directing or teaching the next generation of performers.
Placements
In your final year, you will have the opportunity to develop and tour a production across the UK, gaining visibility and profile with working choreographers, directors and industry producers. You’ll experience work as a touring performer, helping you decide which area of expertise to pursue after completing the course. By working with industry professionals, you will start to build up your network of industry contacts who can support you in finding work as a professional performer.
Course content
In your first year, you’ll experience aerial acrobatics, experiment with physical theatre and learn about the history of contemporary circus and how to rig a show. This will be further developed in your second year, where you’ll also focus on choreography and composition, before moving on to try your hand at directing, devising your own choreography and touring a performance.
This highly practical course will enable you to develop your performance skills, alongside preparing you for the business element through support in reaching out to venues, performance and written CVs and understanding performance contracts.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.
Careers
This career-driven course will provide you with the skills and experience needed to be a highly employable performer. WMCC students have gone on to work for renowned companies such as Ockham’s Razor, Upswing and Cirque Du Soleil.
After graduating, you could move on to perform with touring companies or start your own theatre company. You could also go on to be a:
- Cruise ship Performer
- Circus Choreographer
- Circus Director
- Circus Teacher
- Circus Producer
Course highlights
Teaching and Assessment
Throughout the course you'll be training your body in various circus and physical theatre techniques. The course is mostly taught through practical, hands-on based classes, but there will be some theory based lectures and independent study as well as the expectation to practice the practical skills outside of scheduled sessions.
Assessments will typically be in the form of assessed performance or presentations and portfolios.
Teaching and assessment contents
You’ll be taught through a mix of seminars, lectures, practical classes and workshops. Practical classes will include aerial acrobatics training, fitness and conditioning, choreography and direction for both solo and group working. Whilst theory will focus on history, business skills and safety.
You will have access to resources in Birmingham Library, The Hive in Worcester and a specialised resource library onsite at WMCC.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 104
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BCC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | Merit |
Additional requirements
All applicants will be required to attend and pass an audition with West Midlands Circus Centre.
Mature students
At Worcester, we take a person’s life experience into account during the application process. If you are unsure if your experience will support your application, you can contact our course admission tutors for more information about whether you may meet their requirements for the degree.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The fees for 2026/27 are not yet confirmed. For 2025/26 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,535 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The fees for 2026/27 are not yet confirmed.
For 2025/26 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £16,700 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Circus Arts and Physical Theatre BA
You will be invited to an audition to demonstrate your passion for theatre, circus and performance.
Applications for this course will open soon
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Kim Wildborne
Course Director for Circus Arts and Physical Theatre
westmidlandscircuscentre@gmail.comAdmissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
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