The BA Performance: Design and Practice curriculum is devised to develop cross-disciplinary skills appropriate to your emerging interests. It includes critical studies and personal and professional development. The course focuses on experiential practice, and personal reflection will inform your choices throughout. Across all stages of the course, we aim to build a shared language and study framework, made up of screenings, guest lectures, artist talks and external events.
Stage 1
Unit 1: Performance: Design and Practice: Introduction to Study in Higher
Unit 2: Right Here Right Now
Unit 3: Critical Practice 1: Drawing Colour Making
Unit 4: Performance: Frames and Territories
In Stage 1 you will begin to look at perspectives on the creation of performance. You will explore source material, concepts of space, time and the audience–performer relationship. You will be introduced to practical and writing skills, allowing you to start building your own approach to performance. Stage 1 establishes the critical skills needed to communicate ideas in collaborative, time-based media. These are mostly explored through peer-group projects.
Stage 2
Unit 5: Further Adventures in Performance: Making Stuff Happen
Unit 6: Critical Practice 2: Platforms and Communities
Unit 7: Performance Design in the Expanded Field
Stage 2 is a year of transition. You will continue to develop your individual creative identity. You will progress your own methods for working and identify the areas of particular interest that will inform your choices in Stage 3. The skills required to communicate your ideas effectively are refined through intensive practical projects. Towards the end of Stage 2, you will begin to prepare and plan for a major piece of written work in Stage 3.
Stage 3
Unit 8: Critical Studies
Unit 9: Design and Performance
The units in Stage 3 reflect the potential challenges of professional working life or further study at Master’s level. They are designed to help you apply and expand on the skills gained in Stages 1 and 2. Through project work, you will develop your creative perspective, enabling you to move between activities or pursue a specialist interest. These final units offer flexibility, allowing you to choose the best way to demonstrate your abilities.
Diploma in Professional Studies
Between Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the course there is an option for you to work within professional fields related to Performance: Design & Practice for the duration of an academic year (across three terms/two blocks) and complete a Diploma in Professional Studies. Whilst the Diploma is an optional aspect of the course, it is designed as an integrated and assessed part of your journey through the course, if you do take up this option. The Diploma results in a standalone qualification (rated at 120 credits), which involves researching, undertaking and reflecting on a 100 day/20-week (minimum) placement related to your professional interests and aspirations. The Diploma provides a valuable opportunity to make professional contacts and to develop your personal employability skills.
Mode of study
BA Performance: Design and Practice runs for 90 weeks in full-time mode. It is divided into three stages over three academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks.
You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study.
Credit and award requirements
The course is credit-rated at 360 credits, with 120 credits at each stage (level).
On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons degree).
Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications the stages for a BA are: Stage 1 (Level 4), Stage 2 (Level 5) and Stage 3 (Level 6). In order to progress to the next stage, all units of the preceding stage must normally be passed: 120 credits must be achieved in each stage. The classification of the award will be derived from the marks of units in Stages 2 and 3 or only Stage 3, using a dual algorithm.
If you are unable to continue on the course, a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) will normally be offered following the successful completion of Level 4 (or 120 credits), or a Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) following the successful completion of Level 5 (or 240 credits).
