Start building today!
Experience the Find the courses and unlock the true potential
The Bachelor of Performance (Honours) — also known as a Bachelor of Creative and Performing Arts (Honours) — is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8 honours degree that elevates undergraduate performing arts training into advanced artistic research and professional practice. Designed as either a one-year appended honours year following a three-year performance or performing arts degree, or as an integrated final-year component, it challenges high-achieving students to pursue a substantial, self-directed creative research project under academic supervision. Students investigate performance theory, dramaturgical concepts, devised theatre, interdisciplinary practice, or applied research methodologies through a combination of coursework and a major practical and written research output. The degree bridges the gap between undergraduate study and postgraduate or professional industry entry, situating performance practice as a legitimate mode of scholarly inquiry.
This qualification is designed for students who have demonstrated strong academic and artistic performance in undergraduate studies and wish to specialise deeply in a chosen area of performance research. Graduates are prepared for roles in theatre companies, screen and television production houses, community arts organisations, arts administration bodies, cultural institutions, higher education, and independent artistic practice. Employers typically include state-funded theatre and opera companies, national performing arts centres, film and television studios, schools and universities, festival organisations, arts councils such as Creative Australia, and community arts and cultural development organisations across the country.
Australia's creative industries sector is a significant and growing contributor to the national economy, with the arts, entertainment and recreation sector employing tens of thousands of Australians and generating consistent demand for skilled, versatile graduates who can combine artistic excellence with research capacity and critical thinking. Completing an honours degree in performance distinguishes graduates in a competitive employment landscape, signalling a depth of scholarly and practical expertise that a standard undergraduate degree cannot convey. The honours qualification also opens pathways to postgraduate research — including Master of Research and PhD programs — enabling graduates to contribute to the academic and artistic knowledge base through original creative work.
As Australia's screen, live performance, and community arts sectors continue to expand — driven by streaming platforms, growing festival culture, and increased public arts funding — there is a meaningful skills gap in performers, directors, dramaturgs, and arts leaders who can think critically, conduct research-led practice, and manage complex creative projects. A Bachelor of Performance (Honours) addresses this directly, equipping graduates not just with stage or screen skills but with the intellectual and professional tools to lead, adapt, and innovate across a range of creative and cultural industries.
Entry into a Bachelor of Performance (Honours) in Australia typically requires the completion of a relevant three-year bachelor's degree in performing arts, theatre, drama, dance, music, or a cognate creative arts discipline from a recognised Australian university or equivalent international institution. Most institutions require a credit to distinction average (WAM of approximately 65–75%) across the final year or within the major discipline area, with some universities requiring written endorsement or approval from an identified academic supervisor before an application is accepted. Students must demonstrate a clear, viable research proposal and artistic focus for their honours project, and may be required to submit a portfolio of creative work, a research prospectus, or attend an interview as part of the selection process.
For international students, standard English language proficiency requirements apply, typically requiring an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 to 7.0 (or equivalent in TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English), with no individual band below 6.0. Where a student completed their undergraduate degree in English and in an English-speaking country, these requirements may be waived. Some institutions also consider applications from graduates of cognate disciplines such as creative writing, film, or music, on a case-by-case basis, provided the proposed research project aligns with the school's supervisory capacity. Entry is competitive and subject to available supervision and resources within the department.
This course may be offered in different study modes depending on the university, campus location, course structure and student type. Students should check the available delivery mode before applying, as not every study option is available at every institution.
On-campus study is the traditional mode of delivery where students attend classes, lectures, tutorials, workshops or seminars at the university campus. This option may suit students who prefer face-to-face learning, access to campus facilities, networking with classmates, practical workshops, group projects and direct engagement with academic staff.
Some universities may offer programs fully online or with online subject options. Online study can be attractive for students who need flexibility due to work, family, location or other commitments. Online study may suit domestic students, working professionals or students who want to study from outside Australia.
Hybrid or blended study usually combines online learning with some on-campus classes, workshops, intensive sessions or practical components. This mode may suit students who want flexibility but still want some face-to-face interaction. The exact structure varies between institutions.
Programs in Australia may have different intake structures depending on the university. The most common intake systems are semester, trimester and block mode.
Many Australian universities follow a two-semester academic calendar. The main intakes are commonly Semester 1 (around February or March) and Semester 2 (around July). Semester-based study usually allows students to complete a set number of subjects over approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
Some universities use a trimester system, which generally provides three study periods a year — around February/March, June/July and October/November. Trimester study may provide more flexibility and may help some students complete their course faster.
Some institutions may offer selected subjects or programs in block mode, where students focus on one subject at a time over a shorter, more intensive teaching period. Block mode may suit students who prefer concentrated learning or working professionals managing study around employment.
Some online or professionally focused programs may offer more frequent start dates or flexible entry points throughout the year. Students should not assume that every course has monthly or multiple intakes — availability depends on the institution, course structure and student type.
Graduates of a Bachelor of Performance (Honours) are well-positioned to pursue a diverse range of careers across Australia's live performance, screen, education, cultural administration, and community arts sectors. The honours qualification signals advanced creative and research capacity, making graduates attractive to employers including state theatre companies, national performing arts centres, screen and television production studios, arts councils, festivals, higher education institutions, and community arts organisations. Many graduates also establish independent practices as performers, directors, devisers, or theatre-makers, supplementing performance work with teaching, arts administration, or freelance creative projects. The research skills developed during honours also provide a direct pathway into postgraduate study at Master's or doctoral level.
Entry Level
Graduate Performer / Assistant
Graduate Actor, Ensemble Performer, Arts Administration Assistant, Community Arts Assistant, Drama Tutor, Theatre Technician Assistant
Early Career
Practitioner / Coordinator
Emerging Theatre Maker, Programs Coordinator, Workshop Facilitator, Casting Assistant, Youth Theatre Director, Cultural Programs Officer
Mid-Level
Specialist / Senior Practitioner
Theatre Director, Dramaturg, Performing Arts Teacher, Arts Program Manager, Festival Producer, Movement or Voice Coach, Story Consultant
Senior Level
Senior Manager / Company Leader
Senior Arts Administrator, Head of Performance Programs, Associate Artistic Director, Senior Producer, Creative Director, Performing Arts Lecturer
Leadership
Director / Head / Principal
Artistic Director, CEO of Arts Organisation, Head of School (Performing Arts), Executive Producer, Director of Cultural Programs, Principal of Performing Arts Academy
Salaries for performing arts graduates in Australia vary significantly by role, experience, sector, and employment type, with many working across a portfolio of performing, teaching, and administrative roles.
Melbourne
Melbourne is Australia's undisputed capital of live performance, home to some of the country's most prestigious theatre companies, opera, dance organisations, and independent performance collectives, as well as world-class training institutions and an exceptionally vibrant arts festival scene. The city offers honours students unparalleled access to professional networks, industry mentors, and performance opportunities across genres from classical drama to cutting-edge contemporary performance.
Sydney
Sydney offers a dynamic and commercially driven performing arts ecosystem anchored by major national institutions, a thriving screen and television industry, and significant festivals and performance venues that provide rich professional pathways for honours graduates. The city's proximity to Australia's film and broadcast sector makes it especially attractive to performers with screen ambitions alongside stage careers.
Brisbane
Brisbane's growing arts infrastructure — including its world-class performing arts centres, an increasingly ambitious festival calendar, and strong university training programs — makes it an exciting city for performance honours students, with a supportive and close-knit arts community that offers genuine opportunities to build professional connections and contribute to an expanding Queensland cultural sector.
Perth
Perth has a distinctive and vibrant performing arts scene supported by state government arts funding, major cultural institutions, and a strong tradition of experimental and Indigenous performance, making it a compelling location for honours students who want to develop their practice within a community-connected and geographically unique creative context.
Adelaide
Adelaide's identity as a festival city — anchored by the Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe, and OzAsia Festival among others — makes it one of Australia's most dynamic cities for performance training and professional development, with honours students benefiting from an internationally connected arts scene, affordable living, and direct access to festival industry networks.
Canberra
As Australia's national capital, Canberra is home to major cultural institutions including national performing arts companies, galleries, and government arts bodies, offering honours students unique access to cultural policy, arts administration pathways, and a collaborative arts community supported by a highly educated audience base and strong public sector arts investment.
Before choosing a course, students should compare:
International students who want to study in Australia should also consider additional requirements before applying.
Join successful graduates
Students Helped
Application Processed
Listed Universities
Listed Courses
