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Course award Duration Application Deadline Places  Delivery 
BA (Hons) 2 years Part time Applications for September 2027 entry open on 1 October 2026 20 Remote online

 

Join our online Open Day on 22 September 2026 to find out more about the course:

Register now

 

NSCD

NSCD and the ISTD are proud to announce a new validated higher education partnership

 

Course overview

Professional Dance Teaching and Education for Dance Practitioners


The BA (Hons) Professional Dance Teaching and Education is a Level 6 top-up degree designed for dance teachers and practitioners who wish to develop their professional expertise and achieve an honours-level qualification. Delivered entirely online by the ISTD Academy, the programme combines advanced pedagogical study, applied teaching practice and professional development to prepare graduates for successful careers in dance education.

Students explore how people learn in dance contexts and apply learning theories to the planning, delivery and evaluation of teaching. Through reflective practice and mentored teaching experiences, they develop the skills to create inclusive, safe and engaging learning environments that support dancers of different ages, abilities and backgrounds.

We encourage students to think critically about the role of the dance teacher within a rapidly evolving education landscape. The programme provides opportunities to connect theory with real-world teaching practice, develop specialist expertise, and engage with professional standards that support high-quality dance education.

Throughout the programme, students build a broad range of industry-relevant skills, including curriculum design, assessment, reflective practice, leadership and professional judgement. Alongside advanced teaching practice, students also explore business, entrepreneurship and professional sustainability, equipping them to thrive in freelance, studio-based, community and educational settings.

 

 

How does the course do this?

Study flexibly from anywhere

Delivered 100% online, the programme enables you to balance honours-level study with existing teaching commitments, professional practice and employment while remaining connected to tutors, mentors and peers.

Develop your expertise as a dance educator

Explore advanced learning theory, dance pedagogy, curriculum design and assessment, gaining the knowledge to plan and deliver high-quality teaching across a range of dance education settings.

Put theory into practice

Apply contemporary teaching approaches through lesson planning, observed teaching, filmed delivery and reflective evaluation, helping you build confidence, creativity and professional judgement in real-world teaching environments.

Learn through specialist mentoring

Undertake Advanced Teaching Practice supported by experienced mentors, enabling you to develop your own teaching identity, respond to diverse learner needs and align your practice with recognised professional teaching standards.

Prepare for a sustainable career

Gain practical knowledge of business planning, marketing, finance, legal responsibilities and entrepreneurship, equipping you to succeed in freelance, studio-based, community and educational settings.

Become a reflective and inclusive professional

Engage with safeguarding, learner development, inclusion and professional responsibility, while benefiting from ongoing feedback, tutorials and mentor support that help you continually refine your practice and progress with confidence.

Fees and finance

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is a Higher Education Institution and our Home fee-paying undergraduate students are entitled to the same financial assistance as students at UK Universities. This support includes government-sponsored loans and grants. Most Home fee-paying students are able to apply for a course fee loan to pay for fees and a maintenance loan to contribute towards living costs from the Student Loans Company.


Other types of financial assistance are available for applicants of low income households, care leavers, and refugees.


For detailed information on tuition fees, financial support, and associated costs for all courses, visit our Fees and Finance page here: www.nscd.ac.uk/study/fees-finance/undergraduate

Home Overseas
£9,500 £9,500

 

Year 1

Understanding Dance Teaching and Learning (30 Credits) Compulsory Module

In this module, students explore the principles that underpin effective dance teaching and learning. Through the study of learning theory, dance psychology, curriculum design and inclusive practice, students develop a deeper understanding of how learners engage with dance across different stages of development. The module encourages students to critically evaluate teaching approaches and apply pedagogical knowledge to create safe, supportive and engaging learning experiences.

Putting Theory into Practice (30 Credits) Compulsory Module

In this module, students translate pedagogical theory into practical teaching strategies through planning, delivering and evaluating dance lessons. Emphasising communication, creativity, differentiation and reflective practice, the module develops confidence in teaching diverse learners within a range of dance education settings. Students strengthen their ability to make informed professional decisions while refining their teaching skills through observation, feedback and critical self-evaluation.

 

Year 2

- Advanced Teaching Practice (30 Credits) Compulsory Module

In this module, students develop advanced teaching expertise through sustained professional practice within their chosen dance education context. Supported by specialist mentoring, students plan, deliver and critically evaluate teaching that demonstrates progression, inclusion and responsiveness to learner needs. The module encourages autonomy, reflective practice and professional judgement, enabling students to refine their teaching identity while aligning their work with recognised professional teaching standards.

Business for Dance Teachers (30 Credits) Compulsory Module

In this module, students explore the business and professional skills required to build a sustainable career in dance education. Through the study of entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, leadership and legal responsibilities, students develop strategic approaches to managing and growing their professional practice. The module supports students in understanding the wider dance education landscape, preparing them to operate confidently within freelance, studio-based, community and educational settings.

Entry requirements

Entry is through a successful application and interview.

The minimum age to study this programme is 18 years old by 30 September in the year of entry. There is no upper age limit.

Applicants must complete the programme application process and provide evidence of prior learning equivalent to Level 4 and Level 5 study in dance teaching, dance education, or a related discipline. Evidence should be supplied through copies of original certificates, transcripts, and/or other approved documentation.

Applications based on professional experience rather than formal qualifications may be considered through the institution's Recognition of Prior Learning procedures. Applicants may be required to complete an RPL mapping exercise and provide supporting evidence demonstrating achievement of the relevant Level 4 and/or Level 5 learning outcomes.

Students with English as a second language

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate an appropriate standard of written and spoken English.

Accepted qualifications include:
IELTS: Overall score of 5.5 with no component below 5.0
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT: 33–38 in each skill area

 

Application process

Step 1

To apply for the BA (Hons) Professional Dance Teaching and Education, you will need to complete an application through the ISTD Academy application process. The application will include:

Personal details

  • Details of your academic qualifications, dance teaching qualifications, and relevant professional experience
  • Evidence of Level 4 and Level 5 learning, including qualification certificates, transcripts, or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) documentation where applicable.
  • A personal statement (up to 250 words per question):
    • Why do you want to study the BA (Hons) Professional Dance Teaching and Education?
    • How has your teaching experience prepared you for honours-level study?
    • What are your future ambitions within dance teaching and education?
  • Evidence of a secured teaching placement that will support your professional practice during the programme.
  • Evidence of safeguarding training, where required. Applicants who have not completed the ISTD DDE or DTCD must provide evidence of safeguarding training completed through a recognised provider.
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion monitoring information (optional).

Application process

Step 2

Applicants who meet the entry requirements will be invited to attend an interview with the ISTD Academy admissions team.

During the interview, you will be asked to discuss:

  • Your dance teaching experience and professional background.
  • Your motivation for undertaking honours-level study.
  • Your career aspirations and future plans within dance teaching and education.
  • Your understanding of the responsibilities of a dance educator, including inclusive practice and professional conduct.
  • Your suitability for the programme and readiness to engage with advanced study, reflective practice, and professional teaching requirements.

The interview provides an opportunity for you to discuss your experience, ambitions, and preparedness for the programme, while also allowing the admissions team to assess your suitability for honours-level study and professional dance teaching practice..

Key Attributes

Student support

At the ISTD Academy, you'll benefit from a personalised support network designed to help you succeed throughout your studies. Support includes a dedicated Programme Manager, one-to-one mentoring, academic and technical guidance, regular feedback, and flexible online learning resources such as recorded lectures and learning materials. Our team maintains regular contact with students, ensuring you feel connected, supported and confident as you develop your teaching practice.

Course changes

As part of your decision-making process, we appreciate you will want to research potential programmes of study ahead of application deadlines. To enable you to do this, we work hard to ensure that our website is as up to date as possible.

Although we try to ensure that this is as current as possible, there are always changes we make to ensure that the course is as vibrant and up to date with sector requirement as possible. Dance is a dynamic, fast-moving sector and our courses evolve to ensure they reflect and respond to the industry’s needs.

Sometimes it may be necessary to change course content, delivery and entry requirements, if we believe it will enable us to improve the high-quality experience we offer. Changes sometimes comes because of student feedback/consultations, external examiner feedback and consultation with industry partners.

All reasonable care has been taken to ensure course information is accurate, however ISTD Academy cannot guarantee all courses will be available in exactly the form and detail described here. We encourage you to regularly check the pages of the course(s) you are interested in. At Open Days and Interview Days we will take the opportunity to inform you about any proposed changes and will also notify you if any changes are made after you have accepted an offer.

Course module options

Within the Advanced Teaching Practice module, students can choose between two assessment pathways:

Professional Teaching Practice Route – designed for students wishing to develop advanced teaching practice in their own teaching context.
Licentiate Route – designed for students who wish to gain the prestigious ISTD Licentiate qualification alongside their degree studies.

Licentiate Route Requirements: Applicants must hold (or be eligible to hold through the ISTD APEL process) the relevant Advanced 1 qualification and have experience of teaching ISTD syllabus work. Full details will be discussed during the admissions and interview process.

 

Bookings for the course will open in October 2026.

For more details on the course, please join our online Open Day on 22 September 2026 to find out more:

Register now

 

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