Undergraduate Foundation Module

  • Programme summary
  • Programme breakdown
  • Entry requirements
  • Programme fees
  • Student voices
  • Duration
     300 study hours
  • Apply by
     28 November 2025
  • Location:
     Distance learning
  • Application
     Via Registry, RAD
  • Start
     January 2026
  • Language
     English
  • Level/Credits

Nurture your passion for dance with our flexible Undergraduate Foundation Module

Are you an enthusiastic dancer wishing to study dance at higher education? If so, the Undergraduate Foundation Module is the perfect option for you!

Designed for all dancers, this part-time, distance learning module offers you an introduction to the world of dance in higher education.

The flexible options of study will allow you to fit in your studies around your other education or work commitments and will give you the perfect launch pad to progress to one of the following Faculty of Education programmes:

  • Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet)
  • BA (Hons) Dance Education
  • BA (Hons) Ballet Education 

What will I study in the module?

You will explore the art of performance and choreography, build a solid foundation in safe practice, and deepen your understanding through dance analysis, interpretation, and critical writing. You’ll be supported every step of the way by an RAD expert tutor, with regular online sessions and practical coaching via video conferencing.

The Undergraduate Foundation module will be completed in 300 study hours.

The module content includes:  

  • Analysis of professional dance works  
  • Safe practice principles 
  • Basic anatomical and physiological understanding of the skeleton, joints and muscles in relation to dance 
  • Principles of correct posture, alignment and core stability in dance 
  • Development of dance technique and artistry  
  • Exploration of choreographic principles 
  • A task-based approach to the rehearsal process 
  • Principles of reflective practice and on-going evaluation of work in progress 
  • Dance-specific writing skills 

While you study remotely, you’ll need access to a suitable dance space to complete creative and performance tasks and to enrich your learning, you’ll also have access to a vast online library, including recordings of many professional dance works.

Whether you’re working, studying, or pursuing other commitments, this module fits around your life, empowering you to grow creatively and academically at your own pace.

Entry Requirements

A secondary education qualification or equivalent (e.g. GCSE, Junior Certificate, High School diploma or international equivalent in dance/performing arts), along with practical dance experience assessed by video application. Applicants will need to record and submit a 2-minute video of themselves dancing in their preferred dance style, showcasing both physical and expressive skills.

Language of Delivery

The module is offered in English and participants should have verbal and written command of the English language at secondary school level.

Validated by:

  • Duration
     300 study hours
  • Apply By
     28 November 2025
  • Location:
     Distance learning
  • Application
     Via Registry, RAD
  • Start
     January 2026
  • Language
     English
  • Level/Credits

Fees for 2026/27

Please contact Registry for the latest Module fee for 2026.

Fees for 2025/26 are published on our Fees and Funding page.

Faculty of Education graduates who go on to study for a postgraduate award delivered by the RAD or further study of an RAD award can benefit from a discount in tuition fees. Tuition fees are invoiced in instalments for each programme as appropriate.

Awards, bursaries and hardship funds

We are committed to providing support to students who wish to develop their skills and knowledge through study and we offer a limited number of awards, bursaries and hardship funds for specific purposes. The application forms and submission deadlines can be found under ‘Apply now’.

For information on planning your budget and typical programme costs, such as dancewear, equipment, accommodation and travel, please see our fees and funding page.

 

 

We are very proud of our students and graduates here at the RAD.

Read about their different student experiences and where they are now through our Student Voices.

 

Phuong Doan Thi Thao

  • Coming from Vietnam, I will always feel thankful for the Royal Academy of Dance’s Foundation Module which I studied in early 2024. Not only did the module help me fulfil the A-level entry requirements for the BA (Hons) Ballet Education that we do not have in Vietnam, but it also paved the way for a great start on the Ballet Education degree.

    Throughout the module, I received detailed comments on my dance-specific writing and my choreography tasks, which supported my transition to higher education in dance studies. Additionally, I had weekly tutoring time through Zoom, where I could ask questions and receive verbal feedback from my knowledgeable, patient, and supportive tutor. Listening to her advice and explanation enhanced my understanding of what I was studying, and also helped me a great deal in getting acquainted with the English language and gain confidence when coming to London in September 2024.

    I also appreciate that this distance learning module is well-designed to give learners time for independent study and task completion. Therefore, alongside studying, I was able to balance my ballet practising schedule as well as my soft-skills to best prepare myself for student life away from home.

Next Steps

  • Apply now