Why Bachelor of Creative Arts?
Performance art has the power to inspire, educate and ignite change. This is your stepping stone to entering and succeeding in the competitive entertainment industry.
Pursue your creative talents. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Take your performance skills to the professional level. Show the world your unique artistic vision and contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape.
Meet a community of likeminded peers to support and inspire you. Open doors to careers in acting, directing, programming, producing, stage management and arts administration.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Creative Arts prepares you for a successful creative career, building entrepreneurial and leadership skills. You’ll gain valuable industry connections and network with South Australian artists.
Get practical experience through real-world projects. Build adaptability and communication skills. Ready yourself for creative and leadership roles in the cultural economy.
In the Performance Art major, you’ll learn theory – and apply it by creating your own plays, scripts and compositions.
See how creative works are put together in the world of performing arts. Explore how directors, actors and audiences all shape a show. Advance your creative vision, teamwork and technical expertise.
You’ll graduate ready to inspire and entertain, whether in community theatres, on movie sets or in concert halls.
Key features
Choose performing arts topics from cabaret to stage performance, music theatre and performance making. - Get experience onstage – and backstage.
- Learn from working creatives and industry leaders.
- Create performance texts across genres, from plays to songs and multi-media performances.
- Gain versatile arts and cultural skills for careers in the creative industries.
What you'll learn
In our Bachelor of Creative Arts, you’ll learn to harness your creativity in an entrepreneurial way. You’ll explore a range of electives in your first year, finding the best fit for you before focusing in on your specialisation.
Learn about the creative industries from leading South Australian creatives. Respond to real client challenges in collaborative projects. Complete an internship or research assignment.
Develop transferable skills in arts administration and event management. Build knowledge in cultural inclusion and sustainability. Explore the creative arts as a vehicle for social cohesion – not just a career path. Discover how you can use your practice to contribute to public good.
In the Performing Arts major, you’ll choose courses covering aspects of performance – from music and stage performance, to cabaret, performance production and world music theatre. You’ll explore composition techniques across a range of genres such as songs, plays and scripts.
Take on both the role of observer and participant in a range of creative contexts. Produce your own creative and analytical performance texts – both individually and in teams. Get comfortable giving and receiving feedback.
Engage critically with theatre studies theory. Examine the interplay between content creators, producers, performers and audiences. Undertake creative practice research.
Our curriculum is designed not just to develop technical skills but also to prepare you for the realities of the industry, including audition techniques and portfolio development.
Majors
The Bachelor of Creative Arts is also available with majors in the following:
- Comicbook Creation
- Creative Industries
- Creative Writing
- Digital Media and Web Design
- Festivals
- Games Design and Production
- Immersive Media
- Screen Production.
You can also tailor your learning with other courses from the Bachelor of Creative Arts, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Media and Communications. This means you can pair your major in Performance Arts with anything from Screen Production to Strategic Communication.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 30 units for Core courses, and
- 96 units for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for Electives
Complete 30 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 12 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete exactly 48 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units comprising:
- 12 units for all University-wide electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete one Major from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Festivals
|
Course code
FESTBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Comicbook Creation
|
Course code
COMIBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Industries
|
Course code
CREIBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Writing
|
Course code
CREWBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Digital Media and Web Design
|
Course code
DIGMBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Games Design and Production
|
Course code
GAMEBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Immersive Media
|
Course code
IMEDBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Screen Production
|
Course code
SCRPBCRAR
|
Units
48
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Worlds: Industries, Identities and Opportunities
|
Course code
CREA1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Stage Performance
|
Course code
PERF1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Music Performance
|
Course code
MUSI1037
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Cabaret: Context and Practice
|
Course code
PERF2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
State Theatre Master Class
|
Course code
PERF2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Solutions: Reimagining Projects
|
Course code
CREA2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Dramatic Texts Across the Eras
|
Course code
EDUC2027
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Live Performance Production
|
Course code
PERF3004
|
Units
12
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Creative Arts Professional Experience
|
Course code
CREA3901
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television Performance
|
Course code
PERF3003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Studying at Adelaide University will sharpen your creative skills – and your vision for your future career. You could found and run a theatre company that showcases and amplifies marginalised voices. You might create your own performance piece, or direct a brand new production. Perhaps you’ll program an arts festival – or compose music or design sound for a film, TV program or live performance.
You could also be a:
- Creative producer
- Cabaret performer
- Workshop facilitator
- Arts administrator
- Television presenter/writer
- Stage manager
- Production coordinator
- Tour manager.
Industry trends
While things like opera and ballet can feel like niche activities, in reality, 97% of Australians engage with the creative arts (Creative Australia, 2023). We read. We listen to music. We watch TV and movies. We go to festivals and art galleries. Our creative industries add billions to the economy and employ hundreds of thousands of people.
However, the performing arts are notoriously competitive industries, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why this degree focuses heavily on career planning. It builds versatile, transferable skills that can be applied across the creative sector and beyond – from business and digital literacy to resilience and adaptability.
There are so many ways to be a creative professional. We’ll help you find a path that marries your passion with a stable income.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
