Become a new kind of performance director, voicing circus as a 21st century artform.

  • Join a creative lively, creative community of circus practitioners in Bristol – the UK’s city of circus.
  • Work with our professionals to hone your directorial skills and stay up to date with the most recent developments in the sector.
  • Challenge yourself and your assumptions through studio-based research within Circomedia’s industry-standard facilities and performance venue.

This MA is for makers of circus. It's been developed to address a recognised need across the global circus community to create and support a new kind of performance director – one who is aware of the possibilities and challenges of using circus techniques in an artistic context. The course gives the opportunity to work in a new medium and in a dynamic and developing artform.  

As an MA student, you’ll engage in both group and independent learning. You’ll have the chance to work with world-leading professionals in the industry and debate the most recent developments in circus and physical theatre performance and direction. 

You’ll get the chance to study a range of research methodologies, as well as roles, strategies, and practical skills for directing circus. The tutors at Circomedia encourage you to explore the need for directors to be originators, facilitators, and to deliver new circus performance to a waiting public. 

All kinds of directors are welcome to apply for this course. As well as circus, our applicants have backgrounds in visual art, live art, theatre, dance and street performance. Each student is encouraged to bring new flavours to the creation of circus performance. 

This course is taught by our partner: Circomedia, Bristol. 

You apply through us, and you're taught by Circomedia. Learn more about the course structure and content on the Circomedia website. 

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,590

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

This course suits individuals who have professional or semi-professional experience, either as a circus-artist performer who is interested in moving into directing, or as a theatre-based director who is interested in moving into circus-based work.

You’ll ideally have a background in circus, physical theatre or directing, or a related subject area, acquired through previous study as well as experience through work or other means that will show you have the ability to succeed in the programme. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) web page to learn more.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the "apply now" button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply webpages.

When to apply

Many of our postgraduate courses have a limited number of student spaces. To avoid the disappointment of the course being full, we recommend that you apply now.

Late applications (generally those made after 31 July) will only be considered if places remain on the course.

Need more information or still have questions? Contact us to discuss your situation.

Course leader: info@circomedia.com