Course summary

This exciting Level 4 Higher National Certificate course offers the opportunity to develop and enhance your practical skills to progress into the competitive world of the performing arts. The course provides the chance to develop as an original artist in singing, dancing, and acting, in order to achieve a wide-ranging knowledge of the performing arts industry and give your future career a dynamic head start. There are 2 pathways: Dance or Musical Theatre. Further details will be provided by EPA as part of the application process. Progressing students from this course should note that - from September 2025 - we will also offer a new HND Dance top-up course in addition to the existing HND Musical Theatre. Campus Location This course is delivered by our partners - the Expressions Academy of Performing Arts (EPA) in Mansfield. Located in the centre of Mansfield., the purpose-built campus offers 9 fully air-conditioned state-of-the-art spaces with sprung floor, sound facilities, mirrored rooms and natural light in a spacious and contemporary building. The largest studio is 3,864 square feet (46 feet wide by 85 feet long) ensuring no overcrowding in lessons. The Academy also provides purpose-built study rooms, common room meeting areas with hot and cold drinks and snacks. Wifi is available throughout with full CCTV covering all areas for added security. About the course This General HNC course provides a solid grounding in the performing arts, which students can build on when choosing to progress to higher level study Students will explore the three main areas of singing, dance and acting, as well as the contextual development of performing arts in the UK and globally. From a list of optional units, students can select one of two pathways - Dance or Musical Theatre - enabling them to specialise when progressing to the Level 5 Higher National Diploma courses. Core units for both pathways: -The Performing Arts Industry -Professional Development -Jazz Dance 1 -Choreography 1 -Musical Theatre History in Practice Specialist units for Dance pathway: -Contemporary Dance 1 -Ballet 1 -Dance for Camera Planned units for Musical Theatre pathway -Singing 1 -Vocal Repertoire Assessment Assessment is continuous, providing a range of evidence of your learning. This will include: practical demonstrations and live performances, essays, journals/log books, rehearsal evidence, video evidence, presentations, group projects and e portfolios. Qualification awarded Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Performing Arts (General) awarded by Pearson Bursaries We want our courses to be accessible to students from any background, so we’ve put together a cash support package in the form of non-repayable bursaries to provide financial help where it’s really needed. Details for 2024-25 will be advertised once approved by the university regulator – the Office for Students (OfS). Please check our website - www.nottinghamcollege.ac.uk - for more information. Your career and progression After successfully completing the HNC, you could progress on to the Level 5 HNDs in Dance or Musical Theatre. After this you could top-up to our BA (Hons) Dance and Education or BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degrees, awarded by The Open University or a similar course at another provider (subject to entry requirements) or enter into employment. Previous Academy graduates have gone on to work in theatres in the West End, UK and abroad; film and TV, cruise ships, holiday venues, community arts projects or into choreography/teaching.