Bachelor of Dance

The Bachelor of Dance at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts is a two-year degree for people who want to dance seriously and build a working life around it. It sits at AQF level 7, the same level as any other Australian bachelor degree, but it is delivered over two years rather than the usual three. That compressed structure means you spend more of each week in the studio and less in unrelated electives, so the training is intense from the first semester.

Expect the course to be built around technique, performance and choreographic practice. Contemporary and classical technique classes run alongside improvisation, composition and rehearsal work, and you'll study dance history, movement analysis and safe practice so you understand the body you're training. Australian bachelor degrees are organised into units of study, each carrying a set credit point value, and you need to pass a set number of credit points to graduate. At this institution the units are sequenced across semesters, with practical units usually assessed through performance showings and studio-based tasks rather than written exams alone. Most cohorts finish with a major performance project or showcase, which is the closest thing to a capstone in a performance degree.

Work-integrated learning is central here. Dancers learn by performing in front of audiences, so you should expect regular public performances, collaborations with musicians and other artists, and possibly placement or industry project work with dance companies, independent choreographers or arts organisations. The Academy sits inside Australia's performing arts sector, which is small and relationship-driven. The people you rehearse with and perform for during your degree are often the people who hire you afterwards. You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight on a Student visa while you study, which matters if you want to take paid performance or teaching work alongside your training.

This degree suits school leavers with strong dance training, mature students returning to dance, and international students who want an Australian qualification in a specialist conservatoire setting. You'll need to pass an audition or portfolio requirement, and international applicants need to meet the English standard published for the course. If you finish and want to stay on, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets eligible graduates remain in Australia to work. Check the current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website, and confirm course structure, audition details and fees with the Academy and the CRICOS register, where the course appears under code 085362D.

• Professional dancer, contemporary and classical companies, independent choreographers, commercial and musical theatre productions
• Choreographer or movement director, theatre, film, television, music video and live events
• Dance teacher, private studios, school dance programmes, community arts organisations
• Performer in musical theatre and commercial dance, Australian and touring productions, cruise and event entertainment
• Arts administrator or producer, dance companies, festivals, venues and arts funding bodies
• Community arts practitioner, youth programmes, health and wellbeing settings, cultural organisations
• Movement coach or choreographic assistant, rehearsal direction, understudy work, production support

Australian employers in this field include professional dance companies, performing arts venues, festivals, independent arts collectives, private dance schools and the education sector. Many graduates combine several of these roles rather than holding one job, so the degree is built to give you options across performance, teaching and production.