Bachelor in Dance

• Admission to the Bachelor of Dance is processed locally at the faculty
• Apply through SøknadsWeb and submit the Specification form within 15 December
• Check the study's admission requirements
• In order for your application to be considered for admission, it is required that all necessary application documents are uploaded to SøknadsWeb, and the specification form is completed within the deadline. What should be uploaded in SøknadsWeb can be found further down on this page
• On the receipt page in SøknadsWeb, as well as in the receipt email you receive, you will find a link to an electronic specification form. The link to the form will be active in the receipt email. Completion of the form is mandatory, and the form must be submitted before the application deadline in order for you to have the opportunity to share your video with the faculty and have your application further assessed
• Incomplete applications will be withdrawn
• Applicants for Bachelor in Dance must go through 2 rounds of auditions. Round 1 consists of a self-produced video.. Round 2 will be held at campus Bjergsted in Stavanger. Round 2 is only for applicants who pass round 1
• Applicants who have successfully submitted the Specification form will shortly after the application deadline receive an e-mail with information on how to submit the audition video
• The deadline for sharing video for round 1 is 15 January
• Start planning your video recording early.
• It is important that video material follows specific requirements.
• The result of the evaluation for round 1 will be shared by e-mail in January/February
• If you pass round 1, you will be invited to round 2 at our campus Bjergsted in Stavanger in week 10, which consists of audition workshops and interviews.
• The auditions and interviews last for 3 days, Monday 3 - Wednesday 5 March, and are only for applicants who pass round 1
• During the audition workshops in week 10, there will be a selection after day 2 and only applicants who proceed to day 3 will be able to complete a solo and interview with the assessment committee and study administration
• Read more about round 2 in the article Round 2 - all about the entrance exams in week 10
• International applicants residing outside the Nordic countries may apply for exemptions from the audition workshops in week 10. In such cases, round 2 will be conducted by submitting supplementary video, as well as digital interviews. The digital interview will be held in week 10/11 for applicants who passes round 2.
• Results of your application will be published in SøknadsWeb no later than the end of week 11
  

• Diploma and transcript of grades from completed upper secondary school with achieved general university entrance qualification (GSK). Note! If diplomas and/or transcripts of grades are not issued in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish or English, the documents must be officially translated into English. The documents must be uploaded in the original language and English.
• Copy of passport with photo or copy of national ID card - for confirmation of citizenship
• Documentation of proof of English proficiency - Read more about how to meet our English language requirement if this applies to you
• Confirmation of registration for a language test - if you do not have a valid test result and the test is to be taken during the spring
• Documentation of Financing (only required for non-EU/EEA applicants) - for more information, please see here

If 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 you have not yet graduated:

Please upload a confirmation from your place of study stating completion of higher secondary education during the spring semester together with a preliminary transcript.

File format:

We want you to use the PDF file format. All attachments you upload should be a picture of your original documents (do not scan copies)

NB! Random selection and verification of education documents may happen during the semester start.

In addition to uploading application documents in SøknadsWeb, you must complete an online follow-up form by the application deadline.

Completion of the follow-up form is mandatory for all applicants to studies at the Faculty of Performing Arts!

You will find a link to the follow-up form on the receipt page in SøknadsWeb, as well as in the receipt email you receive after your application has been registered.

If you submit multiple Specification forms, the last submission will be prioritized during application processing.

In the specification form, you fill in the following:
Personal information, supplementary information about your applicatio, artistic CV and brief information about your motivation for applying for the programme.

Sharing audition video:

A self-produced video of your audition for round 1 must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and shared with the faculty by January 15. Applicants will shortly after the application deadline receive an e-mail with information on how to share the video link(s).

Requirements for video - 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. Improv task  (5 min)

You can choose between two options:

• Give yourself an improvisation task that you practice for 5 minutes. After the task record yourself where you explain to us what the task was.

• The improvisation task «This and the opposite»:

1: Do a movement. Any continuous movement. 

Let this movement establish itself in the body and in the space for 1 minute. 

2: Then do a movement that is the opposite of the first movement, and let it establish for 1 minute. 

Use the transition to help you find the opposite of the first movement. 

3: Then do the opposite of the opposite movement. 

Note that this is not the same as the very first movement!!! 

Do this continuously until you have done all together 5 movements (5 minutes.) 

• 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.

Information and guidelines about the video recording, see article ''Guidelines for recording and submitting video''. In the article ''Round 2 - Entrance exam week 10'' you will find information about how the auditions are carrried out.

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?

Barefoot or socks based on the floor you have available.

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.

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

The following information applies to applicants who have passed round 1.

Entrance exam in week 10:

If the committee finds your video audition eligible for further evaluation and you pass round 1, you will be invited to round 2 for the entrance exam in week 10 in Stavanger. The entrance exam consists of auditions-workshops (that will extend over 3 days: Monday 3rd to Wednesday 5th  of March 2025) and an interview. The interview will be conducted on the last audition day. Please note! Screening will take place during the entrance exam and only applicants who pass the auditions until the last day will have the interview.

There will be more spesific information regarding the entrance exam in the invitation. The invitation to round 2 will be sent by e-mail in February.

Please note!

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.

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, improvisation and creative work, as well as show good development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic. During the audition days there will also be a class with classical ballet as this is a supporting dance genre in our program. However no prior knowledge or skills in ballet is required to attend the audition.

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.

• The Faculty of Performing Arts and our campus Bjergsted are located just outside Stavanger city centre, in Bjergstedparken (Bjergsted 1, 4007 Stavanger)
• The orientation meeting will take place in the morning on the first day of the audition. 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

The following information applies to applicants who have passed round 1.

Round 2 - Video as a substitute for physical attendance

All applicants for the Bachelor in dance must go through 2 rounds of auditions. The first round is carried out by submitting a self-produced video recording by 15 January. The second round is normally carried out with physical attendance in week 10.

International applicants residing outside of Scandinavia

Applicants living outside Norway, Sweden or Denmark can apply for an exemption from the entrance exam in Stavanger in week 10. In such cases, the second round will be carried out by submitting a new supplementary video.

Interviews are only conducted for applicants who have passed both rounds on video. The interview is conducted via a digital platform at the end of week 10 or week 11.

Requirements for video content - Round 2:

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

The audition video will have the same structure as the entrance exam in Stavanger.
Applicants must document their artistic qualifications and skills by video audition. You must show good skills in contemporary dance, improvisation and creative work, and basic skills within a supporting dance genre like classical ballet or other, as well as show good development opportunities in terms of the dance artistic.

Video applicants must, in the same way 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 the ability to be creative is also emphasized.

The video must contain the following 5 points:

1. Self-presentation (3 minutes)

Name, age, where are you from, dance experience, why you want study

2. Contemporary dance (12-15 minutes)

Use examples from contemporary dance classes and include the following elements:

• Floor work sequence
• Phrase/movement sequence that focus on alignement
• Phrase/movement sequence that moves in space and involves movement up and down from the floor
• Phrase/movement sequence that moves in space and focuses on the use of weight and off-balance
• Phrase/movement sequence across the floor with a focus on rhythm
• Phrase above the floor involving bounces/jumps and rotations/turns

3. Classical ballet or another dance style (7-10 minutes)

• Floor work sequence

• Phrase/movement sequence that focus on alignement
• Phrase/movement sequence across the floor with a focus on tempo
• Phrase above the floor involving bounces/jumps and rotations/turns
• Phrase/movement sequence with focus on travelling
• Phrase with focus on movement dynamics and details

4. Improvisation and creative work (10 to 15 minutes)

Use one of these terms as your guideline/inspiration for an improvisation of 10 to 15 minutes: 

• time (timing, dynamics, etc.) 
• space (or spacing) 
• movement and its oppositions. 

The idea is to see you reacting to these notions in your own way, exploring possibilities, without giving it a 'right' or 'wrong' flavor. 

After, please film yourself while you talk arounde the following prompts (3-5 minutes):

• What did you work with?
• How did you understand the concepts, conceptually but also physically?
• If you had some inspiration that led you to do what you did, please indicate that?

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

The work must present you as a performer, and the ability to be creative is also emphasized. The solo must be self-composed (do not use material from classes, other teachers, choreographers or fellow students). You can use music/sound image.

The deadline to submit the video audition round 2 is 20 February.

You will receive information on how to share your video link(s) for round 2 in a separate email received from the admission officer at the beginning of February.

The programme is taught in English, and is advertised both within the Nordic countries and internationally.

This means that all applicants with a Norwegian personal identity number, as well as applicants living in the Nordic countries, can apply for local admission via SøknadsWeb, as long as the admission requirements are met.

When can I apply?
Applications for primary admission are open from 1 November to 15 December.
Applications for studies in performing arts are processed via the local SøknadsWeb.

The secondary admission is opened if the programme is not filled up after the primary admission. The secondary admission is open from April 15 to May 15.

We also welcome differently abled dancers to our program.

Please note! Applicants with citizenship outside of EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fee.

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 qualification according to the GSU list (General study skills for foreign applicants).

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.

Language requirements

There is no requirement for Norwegian language proficency, however, the Bachelor in Dance programme 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 English to obtain general study skills, you can read more about how you can meet the language requirement here.

Pass the auditions - round 1 and round 2

In addition to achieving general university admission and meeting language requirements in English, you must document your artistic qualifications and skills through entrance examinations. You must pass 2 rounds of entrance exams that are assessed on the basis of submitted video material (round 1) and ordinary physical entrance exams and interviews on campus (round 2).

Who are offered admission?

The head of the departments and the dean makes an overall decision from the committee's final evaluation after the entrance exam. Final admission is decided by the dean of Faculty of Performing Arts.

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

Secondary admission

If something unforeseen should happen and you do not get the opportunity to submit a video for round 1 within the deadline or cannot attend round 2, you will be able to transfer your application to our secondary admission. It is important to remember that the secondary admission is only carried out if there are vacant study places after the primary admission. If the faculty has vacant study places, applications will be opened again on 15 April, with an application deadline of 15 May. Round 2 of the secondary admission usually takes place at the beginning of June.

After completing the entrance exams and interviews, the Academic Committee for dance makes an overall assessment of the applicants. The applicants are assessed as qualified/not qualified based on the Academic Commission's assessments and rankings, submitted video material, submitted application documents, auditions during the admission week and interviews. Proposals for admission are presented to the head of department. The final admission is then decided by the dean.

Qualified applicants will be offered a place to the extent that there are available places on the programme they have applied for. If the faculty has more qualified applicants than what the admission framework indicates that we can offer, the applicants will be put on a waiting list based on the academic committee's ranking list.

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

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. Please notice: the faculty does not give out information regarding placement on the waiting list.

If you fail to submit a successful application to the faculty within the deadline, your application will be withdrawn from the system.

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 evaluation of your application, it is important that you provide us with information (in Specification form) about which courses you have completed and to which programme 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 Student Service desk. You will have access to Digital Student Service desk 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 recognition of courses is 20 August, but the sooner the better hence your adapted time schedule and educational plan.

If something unforeseen should happen and you do not get the opportunity to submit a video for round 1 within the deadline or cannot attend round 2, you will be able to transfer your application to our secondary admission.

It is important to remember that the secondary admission is only carried out if there are vacant study places after the primary admission. If the faculty has vacant study places, applications will be opened again on 15 April, with an application deadline of 15 May.

Round 2 of the secondary admission usually takes place at the beginning of June.

Students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who start their studies in autumn 2025 are required to pay tuition fees at the University of Stavanger. For more information regarding the tuition fee, please see here.

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.