Academy of Circus and Performance Art
- 4 year
- English
- Bachelor
- Full-time
Online open day
Take a lookAbout Circus and Performance Art
At ACAPA we work with students with an excellent technical level. You are encouraged to develop your personal artistic profile both as creator and artist in circus art. The education at ACAPA enables its students to start a professional career in various fields of contemporary circus and in other performing arts.You will become an artistic entrepreneur and receive the opportunity to build up your professional network.
You can read all about the disciplines and the teachers here at ACAPA.
Why this study in the Netherlands?
- International qualified (guest-)teachers from the workfield
- Exceptional training opportunities in a professional hall with modern facilities
- You can work interdisciplinaire with other studies of Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts
- Great working environment, everyone is very committed
- ACAPA Tilburg is located between London, Paris and Berlin. And only 100km from Amsterdam. We are international oriented.
- We teach 14 different disciplines
What you will learn
We offer a 4-year, full-time study program with a pioneering, distinctive artistic shape. The international study program provides an globally recognised academic bachelor diploma of professional education as Circus artist, and has a qualified team and a clear misson. We also offer exceptional training facilities.
The study program focuses on:
- Educating you as a versatile, highly-skilled circus artist who will find employment as performer and creator in various branches of the professional field of contemporary circus and circus-related performing arts
- Developing your physical, technical, and creative talent to the highest attainable level
- Giving individual, distinct, and clear-cut shape to your artistic profile
- Stimulating both your aptitude and passion for individual and collective performance work
- Encouraging and facilitating intensive contact with the professional field from the start of your study
Study Circus and Performance art at Fontys
Life at ACAPA is very inspiring. You’ll spend a lot of hours in the training facility which is well equipped and tailored to the needs of circus training. You are encouraged to develop your personal artistic profile both as a creator and circus artist.
Language requirements
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required is explained in the table below:
| TEST | Bachelor's students |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (academic level) |
| TOEFL paper | 550 |
| TOEFL computer | 213 |
| TOEFL internet | 79/80 |
| TOEIC* | 670 |
| Cambridge ESOL | CAE-C |
* only if the units 'Speaking and Writing' and 'Listening and Reading' have been passed succesfully.
The level of English proficiency must always meet the entry requirements for the chosen Fontys course. Fontys always reserves the right to require a language proficiency test for all categories of applicants.
Exemptions
Some applicants can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test results:
- Candidates with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma
- EEA/EU candidates with diplomas from certain countries are exempted from the language test. Find the lit of diplomas and countries here
- Applicants whose previous education was English-taught, and taken in a country in which English is an official language
- Applicants whose mother tongue is English.
Educational requirements
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards.
For Dutch students: VWO-, HAVO- or MBO 4-diploma (your diploma will be verified via Studielink).
Non-Dutch students: once admitted after the audition you will be asked to send a certified copy of your original diploma and grades list of your high school diploma, so Fontys can evaluate these.
Minimum level of foreign diploma’s:
- Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with a transcript (after 7 years BSO or after 6 years ASO/TSO/KSO).
- Germany: Fachhochschulreife or Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife.
- France: Baccalaureat
- Other nationalities: check if your diploma will be sufficient through this Nuffic website.
NOTE: you do not need to apply for a diploma evaluation with Nuffic yourself. Fontys will arrange this and you will be informed about it. The diploma evaluation may take 2 weeks.
Talented prospective students with a different education have to take a test to prove capability of studying at a higher professional education level.
Language requirements
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required is explained in the table below:
| TEST | Bachelor's students |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (academic level) |
| TOEFL paper | 550 |
| TOEFL computer | 213 |
| TOEFL internet | 79/80 |
| TOEIC* | 670 |
| Cambridge ESOL | CAE-C |
* only if the units 'Speaking and Writing' and 'Listening and Reading' have been passed succesfully.
The level of English proficiency must always meet the entry requirements for the chosen Fontys course. Fontys always reserves the right to require a language proficiency test for all categories of applicants.
Exemptions
Some applicants can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test results:
- Candidates with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma
- EEA/EU candidates with diplomas from certain countries are exempted from the language test. Find the lit of diplomas and countries here
- Applicants whose previous education was English-taught, and taken in a country in which English is an official language
- Applicants whose mother tongue is English.
Visa
As a non-EU/EEA student, the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa* (MVV) and a Residence Permit. Fontys will apply onbehalf of its students for these documents. We recommend that you start withe process early, i.e. approximately three month before you plan to enter the Netherlands.
*except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the USA and Vatican City State.
Educational requirements
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards.
For Dutch students: VWO-, HAVO- or MBO 4-diploma (your diploma will be verified via Studielink).
Non-Dutch students: once admitted after the audition you will be asked to send a certified copy of your original diploma and grades list of your high school diploma, so Fontys can evaluate these.
Minimum level of foreign diploma’s:
- Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with a transcript (after 7 years BSO or after 6 years ASO/TSO/KSO).
- Germany: Fachhochschulreife or Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife.
- France: Baccalaureat
- Other nationalities: check if your diploma will be sufficient through this Nuffic website.
NOTE: you do not need to apply for a diploma evaluation with Nuffic yourself. Fontys will arrange this and you will be informed about it. The diploma evaluation may take 2 weeks.
Talented prospective students with a different education have to take a test to prove capability of studying at a higher professional education level.
Language requirements for Dutch students
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required. As an applicant with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma you can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test.
Educational requirements
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards.
For Dutch students: VWO-, HAVO- or MBO 4-diploma (your diploma will be verified via Studielink).
Non-Dutch students: once admitted after the audition you will be asked to send a certified copy of your original diploma and grades list of your high school diploma, so Fontys can evaluate these.
Minimum level of foreign diploma’s:
- Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with a transcript (after 7 years BSO or after 6 years ASO/TSO/KSO).
- Germany: Fachhochschulreife or Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife.
- France: Baccalaureat
- Other nationalities: check if your diploma will be sufficient through this Nuffic website.
NOTE: you do not need to apply for a diploma evaluation with Nuffic yourself. Fontys will arrange this and you will be informed about it. The diploma evaluation may take 2 weeks.
Talented prospective students with a different education have to take a test to prove capability of studying at a higher professional education level.
Costs
The tuition fees indicator helps you to determine the tuition rate for your situation. The information and tuition rates from this indicator are without engagement.
For the 2021-2022 academic year, you can count on a one-time discount on tuition fees from the ‘Nationaal Programma Onderwijs’. Do you want to know what this means for you personally? Check the tuition fees indicator to see how high your tuition fees are for academic year 2021-2022.
A distinction is made between statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees. Only if you satisfy all statutory requirements regarding your nationality and if you have not yet been awarded a degree, will you be eligible for statutory tuition fees. Via the tuition fees indicator, you can secure an indication of the type of tuition fees that will be applicable in your situation. To do so, please make use of the indicator above.
Distinctions are made between the following types of Institutional Tuition Fees:
• Low institutional tuition fees
• High institutional tuition fees
These different types of tuition fees and the Exemption Regulations are fully detailed in the
The amount to be paid may vary in accordance with the following situations:
• If you have enrolled in more than one course programme (at Fontys and/or elsewhere), it is possible that you may only be obliged to pay one set of statutory tuition fees.
• If you believe that you may be eligible to pay only the statutory tuition fees on the basis of information that may be unknown to us, please report this to your Course Department.
• If it later transpires that you do not meet the requirements for statutory tuition fees, you will be obliged to pay the (higher) institutional tuition fees and if this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.
Paying in instalments
Collection will take place in a maximum of ten equal instalments on or around the 26th of the month. Depending upon the processing time required after your enrolment, the direct debit may need to be moved to the following month. If so, the amount outstanding will then be divided and added to the remaining instalments to be executed until and including the June instalment.
If paying the full sum in a single payment
If you commence your studies on 1 September, the direct debit pertaining to your Tuition Fees will be executed on or around 25 September. If you commence your studies after 1 September, the direct debit will be executed on or around the 26th of the month in which you commence your studies.
Non EU students
Incoming Non EU students will receive a payment letter from their study department which must be paid before the deadline. In the following academic years payment can be done by direct debit.
The Dutch currency unit is the Euro (i.e. abbreviated to ‘EUR’ or ‘€’).
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Holland are between EUR 900 and EUR 1,100 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Costs within the first months upon arrival will be higher than all other months due to a housing deposit, intro week and books. Study books are usually bought at the start of the semester and therefore it is wise to reserve and have direct access to an amount at the start of the semester which can cover the price of all study books and the living expenses for the first two months.
Career opportunities
The education at the Academy for Circus and Performance Art enables you to start a professional career in various fields of contemporary circus and in other performing arts. It provides you with the aptitude to meet the requirements of an incessantly evolving art form on a professional level.
You will work in the field of circus, a large professional field that has evolved considerably, and that nowadays embraces various structures: circus, variety shows, street performances, site-specific work, circus theatre, visual theatre, amusement parks, events and more.
Read all about the disciplines we teach.
How to apply
Audition
Prospective students have to apply for an audition. The purpose of this examination is to select the most talented students, who at the same time are most likely to meet the requirements of the education and the requirements of the profession.
We will publish new information about auditions for school year 2022-2023 in October/November 2021.
More about Circus and Performance Art (English)
Right now we haven't planned new virtual open days. New dates will be planned later this year. We would like to keep you posted about new dates.
Would you like to have a conversation with students of this programme? Are you curious about their experiences? What do they like most about the programme, what do they find difficult? What is it like to study in The Netherlands and at Fontys?
Then sign up for 'Meet the student'. Our students are ready for you online!
The situation and guidelines resulting from the corona pandemic are constantly changing, also for higher education. One thing we know for sure: in the new academic year we will have to observe the 1.5 metre distance rule in our buildings and on campus for the time being. We are adapting our education accordingly so that a good mix of face to face education on location and online education is created.
We carefully consider which form of education is best suited to each course, each subject and even each component.
In the factsheet you will find the most important programme information at a glance.
Download the factsheet