Find your perfect dance programs abroad
Find dance programs you love that match your needs and aspirations, where you stand a high chance of acceptance.
Dance degrees abroad
Dance programs allow students to study their passion and hone their craft. It’s a great course for students looking to break into the field of performing arts.
Most dance programs are designed to improve your technique and performance. They’ll also encourage you to get creative with teaching and choreography and help you understand the science and theory behind movement. You’ll explore a range of dance styles and consider how they’ve been influenced by historical and cultural forces.
Dance is a global art form and most countries and cultures have their own traditions. By studying abroad, you’ll adopt elements of style and technique and become a more versatile, creative, and original dancer and choreographer. You’ll meet international professionals, explore the world, and make lifelong friends.
Dance program structure
You can gain your dance education at both universities and specialist performing arts schools. Dance students will have a choice of various programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
A certificate of higher education is a one or two year course that will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of dance studies. The next level up is a two-year diploma of higher education where you’ll broaden your knowledge and research skills.
At the bachelor’s level, you can elect to study either a BA or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) over three or four years. A BFA will require you to invest more hours and credit points into dance-specific modules compared to a regular BA.
Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s, you might consider undertaking either a research-focused MA, or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), which is centered more around teaching. An MFA is the highest practical degree offered in dance. There are options to study a PhD in dance over four to seven years, but these are research projects with no practical element.
Most undergraduate dance programs are taught predominantly through practical classes, but you’ll also have some lectures, workshops, and seminars. Assessment will take the form of practical exams and portfolios, essays, presentations, and reports.
Core and elective dance modules vary widely between institutions, but here are some common areas of study:
- Dance technique
- Dance performance
- Dance management
- Principles of dance teaching and practice
- Fundamentals of choreography
- Dance in the community
- Dance history
- Cultural trends in dance

Best countries to study dance
Dance study abroad programs
What are the top dance undergraduate programs abroad?
Adelphi UniversityDance - BFA
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- New York City, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 47,270USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Alma CollegeDance - BA/BSc
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Alma, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 49,282USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
American UniversityDance - BA
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Washington DC, USA
- Next available start date
- September 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 57,952USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Arizona State University (in partnership with Kaplan International)Dance (Tempe Campus) - BFA
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Phoenix, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 35,430USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Bath Spa UniversityDance - BA (Hons)
- 3 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Bath, UK
- Next available start date
- September 2025
- Annual tuition fee
- 17,670GBP
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
See all undergraduate degrees in dance abroad
What are the top dance postgraduate programs abroad?
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Phoenix, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 38,526USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Bath Spa UniversityDance - MA
- 1 year
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Bath, UK
- Next available start date
- September 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 17,835GBP
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
California State University, Long BeachDance - MFA
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Long Beach , USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 17,350USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Arizona State University (in partnership with Kaplan International)Dance - MFA
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Phoenix, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025
- Annual tuition fee
- 38,526USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
California State University, Long BeachDance - MA
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Dance
- Location
- Long Beach , USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 17,350USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
See all postgraduate degrees in dance abroad
Future dance careers
A dance degree is a stepping stone that will help you make your mark in the field of performing arts. Your knowledge of dance genres, history, and choreography will be invaluable if you choose to pursue any of the following careers:
- Dancer
- Choreographer
- Dance teacher
- Community arts worker
- Theater director
- Actor
- Talent agent
- Dance movement psychotherapist
The field of performing arts is famously competitive. It’s a good idea to join your university’s dance society and undertake work experience with companies so that you’ll be a stand-out applicant.
