FURTHER EDUCATION
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3 Years – BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice, RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma for Creative Industries Practitioners
Duration 3 years
Start Date Sept 2025
Applications Open
Funding Available
OVERVIEW
RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma
RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma
Level 3 BTEC in Performing Arts, RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma for Creative Arts Practitioners, Intensive Professional Training, Optional ISTD Level 4 DDE Dance Teacher Training
35+ hours per week
Aimed at candidates looking to progress to a higher level of education. This qualification has been designed to encourage the development of skills and self reflection needed to navigate a unique and varied route through a complex landscape of careers.
Qualifications include:
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
- RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma for Creative Industries Practitioners
- ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Ballet, Tap and Modern (optional)
- ISTD Intermediate to Advanced 2 in Imperial Classical Ballet, Modern and Tap (optional)
- RAD Intermediate to Advanced 2 (optional)
Course is equivalent to the first year of a degree, worth 120 credits
Official education provider for the BTEC – SCL Creative
Official education provider for the Level 4 – RSL
Any students currently studying our 2 Year BTEC are able to transfer onto this course, external students studying a similar BTEC course will be eligible to join this course for a year to achieve their Level 4.
This Level 4 qualification will allow learners to progress onto our Level 5 course, apply to further study at university, or apply for a specialist performing arts institution.
STRUCTURE
First Year
Enhanced Course (Recommended)
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (either Dance or Musical Theatre)
Units studied:
- Exploring Performance Style
- Creating Performance Material
- Unit 1 – Preparing for Safe Teaching
- Unit 3 – Vocational Graded Examination in Dance: Intermediate
- Unit 5 – Child Development
- ISTD syllabus tuition: Intermediate-Advanced 2
- RAD syllabus tuition: Intermediate- Advanced 2
- Intensive professional training
- Rehearsal and performance opportunities for things like Move It! and Can You Dance?
BTEC Only
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (either Dance or Musical Theatre)
Units studied:
- Exploring Performance Style
- Creating Performance Material
Second Year
Enhanced Course (Recommended)
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (either Dance or Musical Theatre)
Units studied:
- Performing for an Audience
- Planning a Career in the Industry
- Unit 4 – Dance Practice
- Unit 5 – Child Development (continued)
- ISTD syllabus tuition: Intermediate-Advanced 2
- RAD syllabus tuition: Intermediate- Advanced 2
- Intensive professional training
- Rehearsal and performance opportunities for things like Move It! and Can You Dance?
BTEC Only
BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (either Dance or Musical Theatre)
Units studied:
- Performing for an Audience
- Planning a Career in the Industry
Third Year
RSL Level 4
RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma for Creative Industries Practitioners
Units studied:
- Skills Development
- Self Analysis
- Contextual Analysis
- Industry Project
- Creative Industries Income Streams
- Working to a Brief
- Continuation of any DDE’s previously started and/or the option to study an additional genre
- Intensive professional training
- ISTD syllabus tuition: Intermediate-Advanced 2
- RAD syllabus tuition: Intermediate- Advanced 2
- Rehearsal and performance opportunities for things like Move It! and Can You Dance?
SUMMARY
Core Subject Summary
Dance Course
Classical Ballet
Jazz Techniques
Lyrical Contemporary
Musical Theatre
Commercial
Tap
Singing
Acting
Body-conditioning
Choreography
Musical Theatre Course
Singing (solo and ensemble)
Acting Skills
Acting Through Song
Classical Ballet
Jazz Techniques
Lyrical Contemporary
Commercial
Tap
Body-conditioning
Choroegraphy
FEES
First and Second Year
Enhanced Course (RECOMMENDED)
Funded Element
- Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice – Fully Funded
Top Up Element
- ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Ballet, Tap & Modern (optional but recommended)
- ISTD Exam Tuition (up to and including Advanced 2 Modern Theatre, Tap and Imperial Classical Ballet – Level 4 vocational)
- RAD Ballet Exam Tuition (up to and including Advanced 2 – Level 4 Vocational)
- Access to evening and weekend classes plus additional private tuition
- Rehearsals and performance opportunities (workshops, show, competition and conventions, Dance World Cup, Can You Dance?, Move It!)
- Intensive professional training
£2500 per year
*Not included: ISTD and RAD exam entry fees, competition entry fees, DDE Unit 2 may incur additional costs
All course fees are subject to adjustment and will rise annually in line with inflation.
BTEC Only
Funded Element
- Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice
Third Year
RSL Level 4
£5000 per year* to cover:
Self Funded
- RSL Level 4 Extended Diploma for Creative Industries Practitioners
- ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Ballet, Tap & Modern (optional)*
- Intensive professional Musical Theatre or Dance training
- ISTD Exam Tuition (up to and including Advanced 2 Modern Theatre, Tap and Imperial Classical Ballet – Level 4 vocational)
- RAD Ballet Exam Tuition (up to and including Advanced 2 – Level 4 Vocational)
- Access to evening and weekend classes plus additional private tuition
- Rehearsals and performance opportunities (workshops, show, competition and conventions, Dance World Cup, Can You Dance?, Move It!)
*Learners who choose not to study the ISTD DDE qualification will have reduced course fees of £4500
All learners will be entitled to the same privileges as any Further Education learner; for example, student bursaries (if eligible), UCAS guidance, pastoral care, education support, FE enrichment programmes and GCSE re-sit opportunities (if required).
*Not included: ISTD and RAD exam entry fees, competition entry fees, DDE Unit 2 may incur additional costs
All course fees are subject to adjustment and will rise annually in line with inflation.
Possible Bursaries Available:
ISTD Teacher Training Bursary: Students from low income households may be eligible to apply for ISTD bursaries of up to £5,000 to fund their teacher training qualifications
16-19 Bursary Fund: FE student bursaries for students from low income households
ElliTe Community Association: Our partner charity offers bursaries to students from low income households
ElliTe Studios College Bursaries: We aim to support exceptional students from low income households
APPLYING
Applicants are expected to attend an audition for entry onto the programme.
To apply please fill out our Application Form and select an audition day you wish to attend. All auditions are free. Early application is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Applicants are normally expected to have:
- Previous dance or musical theatre training
- Qualifications at or equivalent to Level 2. GCSE Maths and English grade 4 or above. There is an opportunity for these subjects to be re-studied whilst training with us if this is not achieved.
- The level of health and fitness to study intensively
- Be 16 or over before the 1st of September in the year in which they enrol in
*additional fees may be incurred for learners over 19
We are open to offering a combination of courses or qualifications to suit individual needs – please get in touch if you would like to discuss your options further.
Open and Experience Days
We host lots of Open & Experience days to give you the opportunity to meet our faculty, see our facilities and experience life as an ElliTe Studios College student!
