Bachelor Programme in Circus

The programme consists of three main areas:

• Circus discipline training, different movement techniques as well as stage performance forms and techniques.
• Theoretical courses about the history of culture, history of circus, health and mental training, rigging and safety.
• Courses focusing on creative and artistic work.

From the start, you will present your work and develop the ability to perform for different types of audiences. This will take the form of recurrent presentations and performances within the courses for all three years.

In the third year, you will do an independent exam work in the autumn, and in the spring, you and the other students will present your graduation performances, your "Closing Acts".

You need to fulfil general entry requirements for university studies with the exception of Swedish 1, 2, 3 and English 6 (courses in the Swedish upper secondary/high school system).

The language of instruction is English so you don’t need any knowledge of Swedish. You do need English 5 or the equivalent level of English language skills.

If you don’t fulfil the formal entry requirements for the programme you may apply for recognition of prior learning, in other words that the knowledge and competence you have acquired through other activities are assessed as the equivalent of the formal merits that are required. Submit your application for recognition of prior learning with your application for the programme.

You may also apply for an exemption/a waiver, that allows you to proceed to the selection process even though you don’t meet the general admission requirements. Submit your application for an exemption/a waiver together with your application.

Read more about how you can show that you meet the entry requirements (that you are eligible).

Start your application early

Don’t delay in submitting your application! You may run into trouble if you wait until the last day and your internet connection happens to be down, or you find that your files are in the wrong format. You will not be able to apply once the last date for applications has passed. Keep in mind that your application has to be turned in by 23:59 (Swedish time).

You apply to the programme in two steps

1. Apply to the programme via universityadmissions.se.
Last day for application: 15 January 2025.
Note: select "autumn 2025" when you seach for the programme.

Please note that you need to submit supporting documents showing that you meet the general entry enquirements via: universityadmissions.se/My pages/Documents/Upload documents.
Last day to submit supporting documentation: 3 February 2025.

2. Submit your worksample via Varbi (according to instructions below).
Last day to submit worksamples to be part of the selection: 15 January 2025.

Other important dates

• 3 February 2025: Last day to submit supporting documentation of previous studies (qualification)*.
• 3 February 2025: Last day to pay the application fee or prove that you are not required to pay the fees (read more under Application and tuition fees below).
• 3 April 2025: Admission results published on “My pages” on universityadmissions.se.
• 16 April 2025: Last day to reply to the admissions result to Stockholm University of the Arts.

* 19 June is deadline for submitting your final grades for you who are currently studying the last term of your Upper Secondary Education in Sweden.

5 July is deadline for submitting your final grades for you who are currently studying the last term of your Upper Secondary Education in another country or IB- education.

5 July is deadline for you who need to submit proficiency test in English or Swedish.

Instructions on how to submit your work samples* via Varbi

* Please read below which type of documentation and/or files that is required for the programme you are applying for.

Note! If you have used AI tools/AI techniques to produce or process video, image, audio or text in any of your artistic work or submitted work samples, we expect you to disclose and describe your use and your production process.

When you have entered Varbi

1. Register by stating your name and e-mail address.
2. Fill in your personal data (including your Swedish civic registration number if you have one).
3. Note! Fill in your application number from universityadmissions.se/antagning.se.
4. Fill in the application form and upload the required documents.

Before uploading your documents, they must be prepared

• You must scan your original documents. If the document is in colour, scan it in colour.
• All documents must be in PDF-format.
• Please name the document/file with content and your name for example: CV_ first name_ family name.

You will get a confirmation e-mail to the e-mail address you have provided. If you do not get the confirmation, please look in the spam folder and/or contact the technical support team at Varbi by e-mailing: support@varbi.com.

Specific documentation needed for the programme

Circus Discipline

You apply to the Bachelor's Programme in Circus with one circus discipline. In the webform, please clearly state with which discipline you are applying. If you work with a duo/group discipline please include a second discipline of your own. If your partner/s are also applying for this programme, please state their names. If the Subject Area Circus does not offer your discipline/s we will contact you.

Send in the following via Varbi:

1. Writing sample

A part of our programme is expressing oneself in writing. Please write a short text (maximum 1 page in English, double spaced) discussing the following questions:

• What about the field of circus inspires you? (E.g. why circus, and not another art form?)
• What are your goals in circus after school? (What future do you imagine for circus?)

2. Work samples – Videos

You must upload three (3) videos with your application. Maximum size for each film is 150 MB. Cell phone footage should be recorded in "Landscape". All three videos must be uploaded by the application deadline, 15 January (Swedish time).

Video #1: CD (Circus Discipline) maximum 3 minutes 

• If you work with a duo/group discipline, clearly explain how we can identify you on the video.
• 3 minutes: A presentation of disciplinary and technical skills in your discipline. You may include techniques in related or relevant disciplines. You may include techniques with a spot or lunge line.
• Please record the entire movement or sequence from beginning to conclusion (entrance to exit). Make sure that we can see you clearly in the video.
• If you work with a duo/group discipline, clearly explain how we can identify you in the video.
• Only video #1 and #2 is used in selection 1. Video #3 will only be watched for applicants that proceed to Selection 2.

Video #2: CA (Circus Act) maximum 5 minutes + 30 seconds presentation

• 30 seconds: a short presentation of yourself. If you work with a duo/group, clearly explain how we can identify you on the video.
• 5 minutes: A presentation of your circus act in your primary discipline.
• Only video #1 and #2 is used in selection 1. Video #3 will only be watched for applicants that proceed to Selection 2.

Video #3: OP (Oral Presentation) maximum 3 minutes

A part of our programme is speaking about your work and discussing the work of others. The aim of this video is to demonstrate how you speak about circus and how you connect your past with your present. Please send a video of yourself speaking about the following topic:

• 3 minute video: "Why my experiences in circus lead me to choosing Stockholm University of the Arts".

A brief description of your experiences that influenced your decision to pursue circus (e.g. schools, performances, shows you have seen) and how that connects to why you want to attend the circus programme at Stockholm University of the Arts.

• Video #3 will only be watched for applicants that proceed to Selection 2.

Please note that you might have to reduce/compress your video size before uploading it. Read more about reducing video size.

Here you will find detailed information about the selection tests.

The selection of candidates will be carried out in several steps. The assessment will be made by an admissions group consisting of teachers from the relevant field. A student representative will also participate in the admissions group, but will not vote in the assessment. After each step a decision will be made regarding which candidates will proceed to the next step. Every candidate will receive notification of whether they have proceeded to the next part of the process or not.

Here you will find detailed information about the selection tests

If you are a Swedish citizen or a citizen of another EU or EEA country you are not required to pay application or tuition fees. Some other groups are also exempt from the requirement to pay application and study fees.

If you are not a Swedish citizen or a citizen of another EU or EEA country you are required to pay application and tuition fees. The level of the study fees depends on which course/programme they are for, and the level is set in order to cover the actual costs of the course/programme in question. SKH has some possibilities of offering scholarships that cover the study fees for programmes.

If you are required to pay an application fee, the Swedish Council for Higher Education needs to receive your payment by the last date for paying the application fee. The application fee is SEK 900. If you are required to pay the application fee and the Swedish Council for Higher Education has not received your payment by the last date for paying the tuition fee, they will not process your application. Read more here.

The tuition fee for the first term is SEK 260,500 and for the whole programme SEK 1,563,000.

Read more about tuition fees and scholarships.