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Performing Arts Medicine (by DL) PG Cert

Distance learning programme

Assessing a performing artist requires specialised skills and the ability to associate health issues with their particular artistic activity. This distance-learning PG Cert Performing Arts Medicine is for people already involved in health services or health education who want to work with musicians, dancers, actors, circus artists and other performers.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
Not applicable
£5,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
Not applicable
£10,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
Not applicable
1 academic year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A primary medical qualification (MBBS or equivalent) or a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a relevant discipline (e.g. medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, nursing, sports science, biomedical sciences, athletic training) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A second-class Bachelor's degree (or the overseas equivalent) in psychology, speech therapy, or performance science is also acceptable for the PG Cert.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


This PG Cert Performing Arts Medicine is ideal for students who want to learn more about performers' physical and mental wellbeing.

Offered as a distance-learning programme over one or two years, the course covers areas such as performance psychology, environment and lifestyle issues, travelling and touring. You will also delve into dance and music performance science, explore health promotion and health education within the arts, and learn about management of the professional voice.

If you have a clinical background, the programme provides the ideal foundation for our Diploma or MSc in Performing Arts Medicine.

You will become part of a cohort from all over the world and benefit from the culture and wealth of experience this brings. When you graduate, you will join an international alumni community, with academic bonds spanning many countries.

Who this course is for

We welcome students from diverse healthcare backgrounds including medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic medicine, manual medicine, nursing, sports therapy, athletic training or biomedical sciences as well as students from a psychology, speech therapy or performance science background. For other professions, we review applications on an individual basis. We may suggest additional short course training before we consider issuing an offer.

With our distance learning delivery, we welcome students from all over the world and we cherish the culture and wealth of experience this opportunity gives us all. Our alumni community is also international, and we look forward to forming academic bonds with all our students wherever their home country may be.

We offer Zoom chats for prospective applicants. If you wish to meet with us, email dsis.performingarts@ucl.ac.uk and we will arrange a convenient time to talk to you.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

  • Broad knowledge of a wide range of art forms and their demands on performers, and how these impact their wellbeing.
  • Specialised skills you can apply to your own professional practice.
  • The understanding and skills needed to work in performing arts clinics in various settings, including conservatoires, orchestras, music, or dance colleges.
  • An extensive curriculum updated regularly based on evidence-based literature.
  • The choice of studying one-year full time or on a modular/flexible pathway over two years.
  • Teaching by UK and international lecturers who are experts in their field.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This programme will give you the knowledge to understand and address the demands, needs and issues experienced by people working in the performing arts.

When you graduate, you will be part of a tight network of professionals from a variety of backgrounds that promotes and expands awareness and evidence-based knowledge in performing arts medicine.

You will have the chance to participate in the delivery of future performing arts medicine courses and short courses such as PAM DAY, and in further research.

Employability

You will graduate with highly valued knowledge and experience and become part of an ever-growing healthcare community with a common interest in the wellbeing of the performer.

You will develop specialised skills you can incorporate into your professional practice, or participate in performing arts clinics in various settings, such as conservatoires, orchestras, music or dance colleges. Some graduates go on to find roles as educators in performing arts medicine.

If you want to progress onto further academic study or research, we will offer you the guidance you need to achieve this.

Teaching and learning

Assessment is through online coursework, such as presentations, essays, blogs and forum participation.

For each module, you will have approximately three contact hours and two to three self-directed learning hours a week.

Modules

On the part-time programme, you will complete four compulsory modules:

  • Clinical management of the professional voice user
  • Environmental and lifestyle issues for the performing artist
  • Performance psychology
  • The science of dance and music performance.

All modules will be delivered online, with two modules in term one and two modules in term two. There is no full-time option for the PGCert.

As a part-time student, you should complete your PGCert in one academic year.

On the modular/flexible pathway, you will attend four modules over two years.

  • Clinical management of the professional voice user
  • Environmental and lifestyle issues for the performing artist
  • Performance psychology
  • The science of dance and music performance.

You will be able to choose which module you take in each term.

Module attendance and assessment dates are fixed for all students.

Compulsory modules






Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

The Postgraduate Certificate consists of four core taught modules (60 credits). Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Performing Arts Medicine (by DL).

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) Not applicable £5,400
Tuition fees (2023/24) Not applicable £10,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

The core textbooks for all modules are available in the UCL Libraries and journal articles in your reading lists are also mostly available electronically from our e-resources. Some students like to purchase their own textbooks or to print course documents. We suggest allowing approximately £200 per year for this.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Performing Arts Medicine at graduate level
  • why you want to study Performing Arts Medicine at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver. We may contact you for a short interview if we feel we need more information from you.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

dsis.performingarts@ucl.ac.uk

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