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GET A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The Diploma in Performing Arts is a unique qualification that offers you an opportunity to specialise in a performing arts discipline or related inter-disciplinary areas in the performing arts creative sector. The Diploma aims to train creative innovators and entrepreneurs in inter-artistic fields of performing arts and will enable you to either enter the formal or the informal creative industries sectors.


With an emphasis on Africanisation, you have the opportunity for multi-disciplinary collaboration that serves the core of the qualification. In addition, you have the opportunity to select and specialise in one of three discipline streams, namely Dance (including a variety of dance styles and techniques), Theatre Arts & Design (including further selection into either a performer stream, or a technician and design stream) and Music (including jazz and opera).


As a graduate of the programme you will be able to apply your skills as a practitioner of and producer of artistic outcomes and artefacts within the performing arts sector. Furthermore, you will contribute to the economy of South Africa through the performing arts as a diverse, well-trained performing artist.


You will be empowered with creative and artistic skills and abilities in the performing arts, such as acting, performance, singing, music, dance, theatre design and technology, creativity, entrepreneurship, research skills and conceptual and critical thinking. With these skills and abilities, you will be able to contribute meaningfully to economic transformation through your creative entrepreneurial endeavours.


All these skills contribute to a vocation or career in performing arts and meet the expectations of the creative industry and society. The Performing Arts programme has practical, intellectual, educational and entrepreneurial applications and will develop your ability to be employed or to work independently in the performing arts discipline or inter-related fields.

POSSIBLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

MUSIC Stream

• Choral conductor
• Composer
• Film-score composer
• Jingle writer
• Opera singer
• Performing Arts reviewer

• Chorus member

• Creative entrepreneur

• Jazz musician

• Music producer

• Performing Arts maker

• Theatre maker

DANCE Stream

• Choreographer 
• Dancer 
• Performing Arts maker
• Theatre maker

• Creative entrepreneur

• Dance captain

• Performing Arts reviewer

THEATRE ARTS & DESIGN Stream

• Actor 
• Creative entrepreneur 
• Lighting/sound operator  performer (radio and television)
• Musical Theatre performer 
• Performing Arts reviewer 
• Physical Theatre practitioner 
• Scriptwriter 
• Stage technical crew
• Theatre technician

THEATRE ARTS & PERFORMANCE Stream

• Applied Theatre practitioner
• Director
• Media performer (radio and television)
• Performing Arts maker
• Performing Arts technician
• Production manager
• Stage manager
• Theatre maker
• Voice-over artist

FOR APPLICANTS WITH A SENIOR CERTIFICATE OBTAINED BEFORE 2008:

Admission requirement(s):
A Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification.


Selection criteria:
To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 20.

FOR APPLICANTS WITH A NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE OBTAINED IN OR AFTER 2008:

Admission requirement(s):
A National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s degree or a Diploma endorsement, or an equivalent qualification, with an achievement level of at least 3 for English (home language or first additional language).


Selection criteria:
To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 20 (excluding Life Orientation).

FOR APPLICANTS WITH A NATIONAL CERTIFICATE (VOCATIONAL) AT NQF LEVEL 4:

Admission requirement(s):
A National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 4 with a Bachelor’s degree or a Diploma endorsement, with at least 50% for English (first additional language) and 40% for Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, 40% for Life
Orientation (excluded for APS calculation), and 50% for any other three compulsory vocational subjects.


Selection criteria:

To be considered for this qualification, applicants must have an Admission Point Score (APS) of at least 20 (excluding Life Orientation).

FOR APPLICANTS WITH NATIONAL N DIPLOMA AS PUBLISHED IN NATED 191:
N4/N5/N6 (NQF-LEVEL 5)
:

A National N Diploma (Nated 191: N4/N5/N6) in Music or Theatre or Performing Arts at NQF Level 5, with at least 50% (APS of 4) for English and at least 50% (APS of 4) per subject.
 

Applicants will be exempted from subjects at NQF Level 5 on the grounds of N4/N5/N6 subjects passed at 50%
per subject.

FOR APPLICANTS WITH QUALIFICATIONS ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATION
SUB-FRAMEWORK (HEQSF) OFFERED BY UNIVERSITIES OF TECHNOLOGY:

A Higher Certificate in Music or an equivalent qualification on NQF Level 5. Exemption might be granted for equivalent National Higher Certificate in Music modules.

Assessment procedure(s):

The Diploma in Performing Arts has four discipline elective streams: Dance; Music; Technical Theatre and Design and Theatre Arts and Performance. Applicants will be required to stipulate for which discipline elective stream they are applying. To be successfully accepted for the selected discipline stream elective, students will be required to fulfil the following relevant assessment process:

Dance (DPDC20):
Applicants will be invited to attend an audition during which they must present the following:
• participate in a dance class (demonstrating multiple techniques); and
• present a solo in preferred technique.

Jazz Music (DPMU20):
Applicants will be invited to attend an audition during which they must present the following:
• an interview;
• music proficiency test; and
• practical individual audition demonstrating a musical instrument and playing a prescribed piece of
an own choice.

Opera (DPMV20):
Applicants will be invited to attend an audition during which they must present the following:
• an interview;
• singing; and
• perform two opera classical songs/arias (any language).

Theatre Arts and Design:

Applicants apply and register for any one of the following disciplines:

Technical Theatre and Design (DPTT20):
Applicants will be invited for an interview. Selected applicants must participate in the following:
- creativity assessment; and
- demonstration of technical skills test (includes both theory and practical).

Theatre Arts and Performance (DPTD20):
Applicants will be invited to attend an audition. Selected applicants must present the following:
• perform a prescribed text; and
• perform an own choice extract – comprising either acting, singing or dance.
Acceptance is subject to available capacity according to the Student Enrolment

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Acceptance is subject to available capacity according to the Student Enrolment Plan (SEP) and preference would be given to first-time entering students. Once a programme is full, a waiting list will be created to provide an opportunity for applicants to fill the places of those who did not register on time. Applicants will be informed of their status per an official letter from the Office of the Registrar. Alternatively, they can check their application status on the TUT website, www.tut.ac.za.

ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

You should please note that selection for programmes presented at the Faculty of Arts & Design will only be possible after the successful completion of the relevant evaluation process. Please apply well in advance. The closing date for applications is 31 July. Limited space available. First come, first served.

INTAKE FOR THE QUALIFICATION

January only.

PRESENTATION

Day classes.

MINIMUM DURATION

Three years.

CAREER PROFILE

You should have an interest in and an understanding of the wider performing arts industry. You will select a
discipline stream and further choose electives towards developing a personal language and your own processes,
ideas, content and creative, technical and critical skills. The course enables the development of an authentic,
personal approach to performing arts-making, relevant to inter-artistic creative practice and discourse in
preparation for a chosen career in the performing arts industry.

FACILITIES

QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINABLE

CONTACT DETAILS

Specialised studios.

Higher Certificate in Music

Diploma in Performing Arts

Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts

Postgraduate Diploma in Performing Arts

Master of Performing Arts Doctor of Performing Arts.

The Departmental Administrator

Johan Innocent Mahungela
+27 12 382 6018
MahungelaJI@tut.ac.za

  • 2025 Academic Plan - Semester 1
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  • Diploma
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  • Advanced Diploma
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  • Doctoral Degree
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