Bachelor in Dance

• Apply through SøknadsWeb within 15 December.
• On the receipt page in SøknadsWeb, as well as in the receipt email you receive, you will find a link to the additional application form. This form must be completed and submitted within the application deadline in order for you to have the opportunity to share your video with the faculty.
• In order for your application to be considered for admission, it is required that all necessary application documents (diplomas, transcripts of grades, language documentation, etc.) are uploaded in SøknadsWeb, and that the additional application form is completed before the deadline. What should be uploaded in SøknadsWeb can be found further down on this page
• Applicants for Bachelor in Dance take 2 rounds of auditions
• Round 1 consists of a self-produced video recording of 10 minutes, with established content requirements
• Shortly after the application deadline, you will receive an e-mail from the admissions officer with an instruction of where and how video should be shared with the faculty.
• The deadline for sharing video for round 1 is 15 January
• Start planning your video recording early. It is important that video material follows defined requirements. Read more about what the video must contain, as well as specifications for video submission in the articles Round 1 - requirements for content on video and Guidelines and tips for recording and submitting video
• You will receive a reply to the video assessment by e-mail at the end of January / February
• If you pass round 1 you will be invited to round 2
• Round 2 is conducted physically in week 10, either in Stavanger or in Oslo
• The auditions extend over 2-3 days, and you choose the desired location in the additional application form
• Round 2 is only for applicants who pass round 1
• During the physical auditions in week 10, there will be screening after the end of the auditions and / or at the end of the day
• In addition to the auditions, an interview will be conducted on the last day of the auditions with parts of the academic assessment committee and student administration.
• International applicants residing outside the Nordic countries may apply for exemptions from physical performance tests and interviews. In such cases, round 2 will be conducted by submitting supplementary video, as well as digital interviews.
• Results of your application will be published in SøknadsWeb no later than the end of week 12
• Remember to respond to offers and / or waiting list in SøknadsWeb within the stated deadline
  

Who can apply for Bachelor in Dance?

All applicants with a Norwegian social security number, as well as applicants from Norway, Denmark and Sweden, can apply for ordinary admission via SøknadsWeb, as long as the admission requirements are met.

The programme is also open to international applicants without a Norwegian social security number, residing outside Norway, Denmark and Sweden, who can document the English language, in addition to formal admission requirements. Read more about our studies offered to international applicants. Applicants residing outside these countries may apply for exemption from physical performance tests and interviews. In such cases, round 2 will be conducted digitally.

Application documents - what do you need to upload in SøknadsWeb?

• Diploma and transcript of grades with attained higher education entrance qualification from upper secondary school
• Documentation of proof of English proficiency - see language requirements to find out if this applies to you
• Certificates and references ( not mandatory)

f you are a Norwegian applicant and your diploma from upper secondary school is in the Norwegian Certificate Database (NVB), you do not need to upload it to SøknadsWeb. If you are an international applicant, you must document general study qualifications in accordance with the GSU list (General study qualifications for foreign applicants).

If upper secondary school or other basic education is completed in the spring of the same year that you are applying for admission, confirmation from the school as well as a preliminary transcript must be uploaded to SøknadsWeb.

File format

We want you to use the PDF file format. All attachments you upload must be images of your original documents (do not scan copies). A check of original diplomas may be carried out at the start of studies.

General admission requirements

For undergraduate studies such as Bachelor in dance (180 credits), a general study qualification (GSK) is required. International applicants must document general study skills according to the GSU list (General study skills for foreign applicants). In addition, you must be found qualified after taking entrance exams and an interview.

Language requirements

The Bachelor in Dance is taught in English, so good English skills are therefore a requirement. English language skills are required in accordance with requirements for general study skills or the GSU list. If you lack Norwegian and/or English to obtain general study skills, you can read more about how you can meet the requirement on Samordna Opttak's website, or on NOKUT's website for which countries an English test is required from (the GSU list).

Prior learning 

Alternatively, applicants aged 25 years and older, without documentable higher education entrance qualifications, may request to have their qualifications assessed on the basis of prior learning. This entails, for example, all acquired skills accumulated through paid or unpaid work, continuing education, leisure activities or other. Applications for prior learning must be well documented.

Passed the auditions

The auditions for the individual study programme must be passed in order to be considered for admission.

In order to be admitted to the Bachelor in Dance, you must, in addition to obtaining general study competence, document your artistic qualifications and skills through entrance examinations. The entrance exams must be passed to be considered for admission. If you are found qualified after the auditions, there will be a compulsory interview.

The Dean adopts final admission (see admission regulations further down the page).

Round 1 - video audition

All applicants for the Bachelor in Dance must pass 2 rounds of auditions. The first round will be completed by submitting a self-produced video recording by 15 January. You will receive information on how to share the video link(s) in a separate e-mail that will be received from the admission officer shortly after the application deadline.

Video content requirements for round 1:

One must show good dance skills and show development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic. The video should show the applicant as a performer, as well as the ability to be creative.

The video should contain the following 2 points:

Dance technique 7-8 minutes

Excerpts from classes in classical ballet and contemporary dance, possibly hip hop.

• The video image should only show you, not fellow students or other dancers
• Do not use video footage from performances

2. Self-composed solo in 2-3 minutes

Arbeidet skal presentere deg som utøver, og også din evne til å være skapende.

• The solo must be self-composed (do not use material from classes, other teachers, choreographers or fellow students)
• You can use music/soundstage
• Don't use video footage from a performance

The deadline for submission of video audition round 1 is January 15.

For important information and tips for arranging your video recording, see Guidelines and tips for submitting video. In the article All about the Auditions in dance - video and week 10 you will find information about how the auditions will take place in spring 2023.

Round 2 - video as a substitute for physical attendance

All applicants for the Bachelor in Dance must pass 2 rounds of auditions. The first round will be completed by submitting a self-produced video recording by 15 January. The second round is normally conducted with physical attendance in week 10. International applicants residing outside Norway, Denmark or Sweden, on the other hand, can apply for exemptions from physical performance tests and interviews. In such cases, the second round will be conducted by submitting a new supplementary video.

Interviews are conducted only for applicants who are found qualified after consideration of video auditions for round 2. The interview will be conducted via digital platform in week 11, between 13-17 March.

Video content requirements for round 2:

One must be able to show good dance skills and show development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic. The video should show the applicant as a performer, as well as the ability to be creative.

The recording of auditions on video will have the same structure as the performance test in Stavanger and Oslo.
Applicants must document their artistic qualifications and skills by video audition. One must show good skills in contemporary dance, classical ballet, improvisation, as well as show good development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic.

Video applicants must, in the same manner as other applicants in round 2, present a self-composed solo of 2 - 3 minutes duration. The work must show the applicant as a performer, and emphasis is also placed on the ability to be creative.

The video should contain the following 5 points:

1. Presentation of yourself in 3 minutes

Name, age, where you are from, dance background, why you want to study dance further

2. Ballet in 7 - 10 minutes

Perform the specific exercises listed below. Entered in chronological order.

BAR EXERCISES:

• Plié. Must contain demi and grand plié and various port de bras. Finish with a half-toe balance in the 1st position
• Battement tendu. Must contain tendu from both 1st position and 5th position. Finish with a balance of half-toe in the 5th position.
• Fondu. Finish with a balance in attitude croisée derrière
• Grand battement. Finish with a half-toe balance in retiré (to the knee)

CENTER EXERCISES:

• One adagio
• A pirouette exercise
• A waltz and pirouette exercise with movement (diagonal)
• Jumps: 4 jumps in 1st position, 4 jumps in 2nd position, 4 changement and 2 echapé. Repeat 4 times
• Tombé, pas de bourrée, glissade assemblé on the right and on the left. 3 sissonne fermée laterally (h. legs start behind and close in front etc.) right, left, right. Stretch, plié. Optional arms. Repeat to the left side
• Grand allegro. Optional phrase but must contain a grand jeté

Contemporary dance in 7 - 10 minutes

Use excerpts from contemporary dance classes and include the following items:

• Floor work sequence
• Phrase/motion sequence that moves in the room and involves moving up and down from the floor
• Phrase/movement sequence that moves in the room and focuses on the use of weight and off-balance
• Phrase/movement sequence across the floor with focus on rhythm
• Phrase across the floor involving resiliency/jump and rotation/turns

4. Improvisation in 5 minutes

Create and set a simple 5-second motion sequence.
For the video: repeat the sequence twice and then explore, expand and manipulate the material in a 5-minute improvisation. Please do not use music for this task.

5. Your own composed solo in 2 - 3 minutes (same solo as delivered in round 1)

The work should present you as a performer, and emphasis is also placed on the ability to be creative. The solo must be composed by you (do not use material from classes, other teachers, choreographers or fellow students). You can use music/soundstage.

The deadline for submission of video audition round 2 is February 20.

Information on how to share your video link(s) for round 2 will be provided in a separate email received from the case officer in early February.

In order for the faculty to be able to evaluate your video audition in the best possible way, it is important that you do a thorough job when filming and submitting video material to us.

What to wear?

Contemporary dance:

Barefoot or socks based on the floor you have available.

Ballet:

Ballet suit or tight-fitting clothing.
Ballet shoes are preferred (socks are also allowed).

What to consider when filming?

1. Make space

Use as large a room/studio as you have available. Move things, furniture and make the room as clean and tidy as possible. Then your dancing will come out better.

2. Dance to the fullest

Let the movements be to the fullest and dance with the use of space, dynamics and energy.

3. Dance with expression and communication

It can feel strange to perform dance without an audience, but it is still important that you focus on this. Think about how you can create an imaginary audience and your own inner mood and narrative.

4. Make the video recording from different angles

It's nice to see you from different sides (frontally, from the side, obliquely, etc.). Remember to include all of you in the picture!

5. Make the video recording of yourself in good light

We want to be able to see faces and expressions, so make sure you do not film yourself in silhouette.

6. Be critical of what you send away

Film again if, for example, you haven't included your whole body in the picture, or have forgotten parts of the exercise.

Where do you upload the video?

The audition video will be uploaded either to YouTube or Vimeo. Remember to check that the audio and video are ok and that you have uploaded the file(s) with the settings that give us the rights to play it, or attach the password when you submit it.

You will receive information on how to share the video link(s) to round 1 in a separate e-mail that will be sent from the admission officer shortly after the application deadline. In the email, you will find a link to a form for sharing the video.
If you are an international applicant and are going to share new video links to round 2, you will receive a new e-mail from the admission officer in early February.

Deadline for video round 1: January 15
Deadline for video round 2: 20 February (only international residents outside the Nordic countries).

NB! Please note that it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all links to the audition video(s) work. Check that the sound is OK and that you have uploaded the file to YouTube with the settings that give us rights to play it.

NB! There is no guarantee that all of your recorded video material will be viewed by the Commission.

Auditions spring 2023

To have the opportunity to send us your own produced video audition for round 1, you must have completed the additional application form and uploaded all mandatory documents in SøknadsWeb by the application deadline. If the video is also received within the deadline, your application will be further assessed for round 2 of the assigned committee.

Round 1 - video assessment

All applicants for the Bachelor in Dance must complete round 1 on video uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo. It's recomended to start planning your video recording as soon as possible.

The final deadline for submitting video is January 15.
Video link(s) for round 1 will be placed in a separate e-mail that will be received from the admission officer shortly after the application deadline.

The assigned committees are considering all video auditions after 15. January.

Read more about what the video should contain as well as tips and advice for recording it in the articles Round 1 - requirements for content on video and Guidelines and tips for recording and submitting video.

Round 2 - physical tests and interview in week 10

If the committee assesses your video audition to pass, you will be invited to round 2 in week 10. Round 2 consists of physical tests and interviews. You will receive an invitation to round 2 by separate email in early February, along with exact content for the trial days.

Remember!

Regardless of where you are going to take your audition (Stavanger or Oslo), you must remember to bring your own music to your own composed solo presentation (mobile, ipad, mac etc. that has aux / jack socket). Also remember clothes and footwear for the different dance classes.

Stavanger - campus Bjergsted:

Monday and Tuesday : 6 - 7 March (week 10)

Oslo:

Saturday and Sunday: March 11-12 (week 10)

All applicants who are going to take auditions in either Stavanger or Oslo will receive an invitation by e-mail at least 2 weeks before the audtions start. Remember to confirm that you are attending the auditions by responding to the invitation sent to you. Should you be indisposed on the day(s) you are invited to, please let us know as soon as possible.

What happens at the audtions in week 10?

Applicants must document their artistic qualifications and skills by practical tests. One must show good skills in contemporary dance, in classical ballet, improvisation, as well as show good development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic.

Applicants who advance to the 2nd round should also present a self-composed solo of 2-3 minutes duration. This is the same solo that was recorded on video for Round 1. The work must present the applicant as a performer and emphasis is also on the ability to be creative. The solo must be self-composed (not material from classes, other teachers or fellow students).

Interviews are only conducted for applicants who passes to the last test day/test part. The interview is then conducted on the last day of rehearsal.

• You select the desired location in the additional application form. You can choose between campus Bjergsted in Stavanger and Oslo
• The Faculty of Performing Arts and our campus Bjergsted are located just outside Stavanger city centre, in Bjergstedparken
• Exact location in Oslo will be announced in January / February
• An orientation meeting will take place in the morning on the first day of the audtion, regardless of where you chosen to take round 2. The exact time and where the orientation meeting takes place can be found in the invitation sent to you in early February
• The orientation meeting is mandatory for all applicants invited to round 2
• There will be registration of attendance prior to the orientation meeting

International applicants residing outside Norway, Denmark or Sweden.

International applicants residing outside Norway, Denmark or Sweden may apply for exemptions from physical performance tests and interviews. In such cases, the second round will be conducted by submitting a new supplementary video, as well as a digital interview. Interviews are conducted only for applicants who are found qualified after assessment of video auditions for round 2. The interview will be conducted through a digital platform in week 11, between 13-17 March.

Am I eligible for admission?

After completion of the auditions, the committee carries out an overall assessment of the applicants. The applicants are then assessed as qualified/ineligible based on the commission's assessments and rankings, submitted video material, submitted application documents, tests during the admission week and interviews. Final admission is then adopted by the Dean.

See supplementary rules for admission in the admission regulations further down the page.

Qualified applicants are then offered admission to the programme to the extent that there are available places on the applied programme. If the faculty has more qualified applicants than the admission framework indicates that we can offer, the applicants will be placed on a waiting list based on the commission's ranking list.

Secondary audtions

If something unforeseen should happen and you are not given the opportunity to submit a video to round 1 by the deadline, you will be able to transfer your application to secondary auditions which are usually held in May / June. It is important to remember that the secondary tests are only carried out if there are more available study places left after the primary admission.

The Faculty publishes important news regarding applications and admissions during the period when SøknadsWeb is open and until all offers have been published.

We welcome all our applicants, and good luck on the tests!

Admission letter, Rejection letter or Waiting list letter will be published in SøknadsWeb under ''My applications''. You will receive an e-mail when the results are ready.

If you have any questions about your offer, refusal or waiting list place, you can send us an e-mail to music-dance@uis.no

Remember to reply

If you are offered letter of admission or waiting list letter you must remember to reply ''Yes'' or ''No'' in SøknadsWeb within the mentioned deadline. Information regarding deadline is shared in the admission letter/waiting list letter.

If you have taken the exam in courses from another place of study, you can apply to have these admitted to the programme you have admission for. However you cannot apply until you have been granted the admission. Admission are awarded in early August. You must therefore apply for admission in the ordinary way through SøknadsWeb.

In order for the Committee to make correct assessments of your application, it is important that you provide us with information about which courses you have completed and to which year you wish to be admitted. Remember to upload documentation (transcripts of grades and course descriptions with any reading lists) for already completed courses so that the Committee can assess you to the level/year you have required.

If you are offered admission to the study programme you have applied for and accepted, you can apply for admission to already completed courses through Digital Studentexpedition. You will have access to Digital Studentexpedition from the beginning of August when the admission has been established and you have completed semester registration and paid semester fees.

The deadline for applying for admitted courses is 20 August, but the sooner the better hence your adapted time schedule and educational plan

1. Scope and basis for the regulations

The regulations apply to admission to the Bachelor in Dance of 180 credits at the Faculty of Performing Arts, UiS, (UK/UiS) announced in the Nordic countries and internationally.

The admissions regulations for bachelor's degree in dance are based on the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges (The Universities and University Colleges Act), of 1 April 2005 § 3-6 item 7 and FOR-2007-01-31-173: Regulations on admission to higher education, and Regulations on admission to studies and courses at the University of Stavanger, of 18 October 2018 §1-1.

2. Term definitions

Main discipline: dance.

Entrance exam: audition, submitted documentation, and interview.

Audition: audition in dance skills.

3. Admissions criteria

3.1 Norwegian applicants for a Bachelor in Dance must document their Higher Education Entrance Qualification (GSK).

To be eligible for admission international applicants must document completion of secondary school (generally representing 12-13 years of education) in accordance with the GSU list (Higher Education Entrance Qualifications for Foreign Applicants).

Alternatively, applicants from the age of 25, without documented Higher Education Entrance Qualifications, may request an assessment of their qualifications based on prior relevant experience. The applicant must reach the age of 25 in the year in which he/she applies for admission.

3.2 In addition, English language proficiency is required in accordance with the required higher education qualification (GSK) or GSU list. All teaching will be in English, and good English skills are therefore mandatory.

3.3 Applications for specific recognition of previous education/transfer credit evaluation must be made in accordance with the Faculty’s guidelines and are processed via the Digital Student Service Desk. Further information can be found on the Faculty’s website. The application deadline for specific recognition/evaluation of previously earned credits is August 20^th in the year in which the student is admitted.

4. Organization of the entrance exam in dance

4.1 The entrance exam consists of two segments.  Both segments are conducted on the basis of defined requirements published on the UK Faculty’s website.

Segment 1 is a pre-audition screening and consists of a self-produced video recording. Segment 2 is conducted in person at a scheduled time and place.

4.2 Applicants who have passed segment 1 are invited, at least 2 weeks in advance, to segment 2.

4.3 Depending on the number of applicants, segment 2 takes place over 2 - 3 days. Segment 2 consists of:

a) An audition consisting of several sections (classical ballet technique, contemporary dance technique, improvisation/creative work, and a solo dance).

Applicants who are selected to proceed to the next section of the audition will be notified of this at the end of each audition section and/or day.

b) Interview with applicants who are considered qualified after the last cut.

During the interview with members of the commission, the applicant will have the opportunity to ask questions about the program.

4.4. International applicants residing outside the Nordic region may seek an exemption from attending the in-person audition and interview. In such cases segment 2 will be conducted digitally. (see point 11).

5.  Academic commission

5.1 The academic commission is appointed by the head of department and normally consists of a minimum of three dance faculty members. The administrator of the entrance exam can be one of the dance faculty members or an additional representative from the Faculty administration. Student representatives (preferably second year students), appointed by the UK student council, have the right to be present as observers during the entrance exams, but do not have the right to comment.

5.2 The commission is responsible for:

1) assessment of applicants’ qualifications and skills

2) ranking of applicants (see point 6).

The commission assesses the applicants and decides who may move on to the next segment/section of the entrance exam. Applicants are assessed as qualified/not qualified based on the submitted video and other submitted application material, the audition and interview. The commission then ranks the qualified applicants. The results are collected by the Faculty’s admissions office and presented to the head of department, with a final decision made by the Dean.

6. Ranking

6.1 Applicants are ranked according to criteria based on the commission's professional assessment.

6.2 If there are more qualified applicants than there are places available in the program, some applicants may be placed on a waiting list based on the commission's ranking list.

7. Admissions procedure

7.1 The academic commission submits an admissions proposal to the head of department, who then recommends to the Dean admissions based on an overall assessment of the number of available study places and budgetary consequences. Final admissions are decided by the Dean.

The Dean determines admissions according to:

• assessment and ranking by the commission and head of department.
• resource considerations

7.2 Qualified applicants are offered admission to the extent that there are places available or are put on a waiting list.

7.3 If there are unfilled places available after the end of the primary admissions round, the head of department may decide to hold a secondary admissions round. (See point 10). Supplementary admissions can also be made by the head of department, with the final decision by the Dean.

7.4 Applicants who are placed on a waiting list after the first admissions round will not automatically have priority over qualified applicants from the secondary admissions round.

7.5 Qualification for admission in a particular academic year does not grant qualification for future admission.

7.6 The admissions process is confidential and exempt from public disclosure.

8. Admissions follow-up

8.1 Applicants are informed of either an offer of admission to the program, placement on the waiting list or rejection.

8.2 If an applicant does not confirm an offer of admission within the given deadline, their place will be offered to another qualified applicant from the primary or secondary admissions round. Applicants placed on the waiting list after the primary round must compete with applicants in the secondary round.

8.3 Students who are on leave from the Bachelor in dance for one year or more will normally be required to go through a new audition.

8.4 The startup for an incoming first-year class in the program is dependent upon factors such as group size and financing.

9. Postponed entrance exam

9.1 Applicants who due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances cannot attend the primary entrance exam at the stipulated time and place may apply for a postponed exam. The postponed entrance exam will normally be carried out in connection with the Faculty's secondary admissions round, if there are still available places in the program.

10. Secondary admissions round

10.1 A secondary entrance exam may be arranged if, after the primary entrance exam, there are available study places. The secondary entrance exam is arranged for applicants who did not have the opportunity to attend the primary exam, as well as for any new applicants (cf.  points 3 and 4).

10.2 Applicants who have undergone the primary entrance exam are not allowed to retake the exam during a secondary admissions round.

10.3 Admission of secondary applicants is decided by the Head of department and the Dean in accordance with the same procedure as mentioned in paragraph 6.

11. Video recording and digital interview as a basis for admission assessment round 2

11.1 A self-produced video recording with good sound and image quality, as well as a digital interview, may replace the in-person entrance exam for international applicants residing outside the Nordic region. The video recording must be made according to the specifically defined requirements for a digital segment 2 as published on the UK Faculty's website.

12. Admission of exchange students

12.1 International students who wish to study for a limited period through an exchange program are assessed academically by members of the dance faculty. An offer of admission as an exchange student is based on:

• a video recording of approximately 10 minutes showing the student's level
• submitted application documentation

13. Right of appeal

13.1 Individual decisions made pursuant to these regulations may be appealed pursuant to sections 28-32 of the Public Administration Act. The deadline for appeal is 3 weeks from the day the admissions results are published, or 3 weeks after receipt of reasons given for the decision.

13.2 Appeals against individual decisions regarding admission to programs that are not included in the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Samordna opptak) are considered by the Appeals Board of the University of Stavanger pursuant to Sections 5-1 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

13.3 Complaints about formal errors in the admissions process are first handled by the Faculty of Performing Arts. If the Faculty upholds the original decision, and the applicant chooses to continue the appeal, the appeal will be forwarded to the university's appeals board. Pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of the Public Administration Act, decisions may be appealed in writing within 3 weeks of the date of receipt of notification of the decision. The appeal must be sent to the University of Stavanger

Vedtatt av IR/IMD 9. desember 2008. Revidert og vedtatt av kvalitetsutvalget/Fakultet for utøvende kunstfag 7. desember 2018. Sist revidert og vedtatt av Studieporteføljeutvalget/Fakultet for utøvende kunstfag 18. oktober 2022.