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 Applicants to the single course (BDA850) - Independent Study must document a completed bachelor's degree in dance or equivalent.
3.3 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.
3.4 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 20th 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 committee, the applicant will have the opportunity to ask questions about the programme.
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).
4.5 Applicants to the single course (BDA850) - Independent Study will be assessed based on a submitted project description and a video/digital work in which the applicant presents their project idea.
5. Academic committee
5.1 The academic committee 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.
The academic admissions committee for the single course (BDA850) - Independent Study normally consists of the course coordinator.
5.2 The committee is responsible for:
1) assessment of applicants’ qualifications and skills
2) ranking of applicants (see point 6).
The committee 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 committee 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 specific ranking criteria based on the academic assessment of the committee.
6.2 For admission to the single course (BDA850) - Independent Study, the following additional ranking is applied:
1. Applicants who, at the time of the application deadline, are second-year students in the Bachelor's Programme in Dance at UK.
2. Applicants who, at the time of the application deadline, are third-year students in the Bachelor's Programme in Dance at UK.
3. Qualified external applicants.
6.3 If there are more qualified applicants than there are places available in the programme, some applicants may be placed on a waiting list based on the committee's ranking list.
7. Admissions procedure
7.1 Assessment of formal qualifications and admission requirements is carried out by the admissions officer.
7.2 Assessment of Entrance exam (audition and interview) is carried out by the academic committee.
7.3 The academic committee 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 committee and head of department
- resource considerations
7.4 Qualified applicants are offered admission to the extent that there are study places available or are put on a waiting list.
7.5 If there are vacant study places after the primary admissions round, the head of department may decide to hold a secondary admissions round. Supplementary admissions can also be made by the head of department, with the final decision by the Dean.
7.6 Qualification for admission in a particular academic year does not grant qualification for future admission.
7.7 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 programme, 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.
8.3 For students with an allocated study place who have been granted a leave of absence from performance studies for one year or more, an assessment of their relevant skill level may be conducted after the leave has ended. Regardless of the outcome, the student will retain their study place.
8.4 The startup for an incoming first-year class in the programme 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 programme.
10. Secondary admissions round
10.1 A secondary admission may be held if there are available study places following the primary admission. This secondary admission is intended for applicants who were unable to attend the primary entrance exam, as well as for any new applicants (cf. points 4 and 5).
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 7.
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 programme 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 programmes 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 15. oktober 2024.
