No, but having a degree gives you industry knowledge and higher employability. If you ever get injured or decide to step into another role within the industry, you can lean on your circus degree to help you reach new goals

Yes, NICA offers an after-hours ‘Open Training’ program where students and professionals can train side by side.

Students work closely with trainers and medical team to choose their specialities and acts, ensuring they achieve employment and longevity in their career.

NICA offers all types of circus and specialty training!

The Bachelor of Circus Arts requires students to maintain a level of foundations and fitness skills, however, focuses on specialty skills and artistic development through accumulative training. Our students graduate with two specialty acts and one group/ensemble act

The Bachelor of Circus arts is very physically demanding. NICA students are required to train circus skills for a minimum of 20 hours per week, while also attending Performance and Movement classes and one academic class per week.

The business and theory subjects are designed to give you the skills needed to build and sustain a career as a circus artist.

You will learn practical skills in areas such as marketing, business planning, networking and professional development, helping you understand how to create opportunities and navigate the industry. By the time you graduate, you will have developed a marketing package and a business plan tailored to your own goals, whether that is joining a company, selling an act, creating your own work, or establishing a new company.

Yes! NICA accepts international students for our Bachelor of Circus Arts and there is no limit to how many we accept.

The Certificate IV in Circus Arts is a full-time course. NICA students can expect to train circus skills, while also attending Performance and Movement classes and a minimum one academic class per week over approx. 36 weeks.

NICA's Certificate IV program focuses on core foundation skills such as body awareness and fitness preparation, and traditions and trends of circus. Whilst also offering an introduction to Circus Specialisation, which is developed through individual and group work.

This course is currently in transition from Swinburne University of Technology to the Australian Collage of the Arts. We are unable to accept international students for our Certificate IV in Circus Arts for 2026.

No, it is not a guaranteed pathway. All Bachelor applicants are required to audition and meet the entry requirements for the next years' intake.

Yes, NICA offers an after-hours ‘Open Training’ program where students and professionals can train side by side.

Students work closely with trainers and medical team to choose their specialities and acts, ensuring they achieve employment and longevity in their career.

Training and classes are scheduled Monday to Friday, between 8:30am and 5:30pm. Students have a dedicated lunch break as well as shorter breaks throughout the day.

Yes. Much of the theory is directly connected to your practical circus training and how you apply your skills as an artist. For example, you might develop a fitness plan and then put it into practice, or learn about areas such as technical production, lighting, business and marketing to better understand the elements that support what happens on stage.

The courses explore both the performance and the many behind-the-scenes components that contribute to creating and sustaining a professional circus practice.

Students are constantly creating and experimenting with new work. Some creative tasks are designed to build confidence, encourage collaboration and help students become comfortable with experimentation, while others develop into assessed performance pieces.

Students will create at least one performance piece in their first semester and often develop multiple works throughout their training.

The courses are structured across two 19-week semesters, following a school-term style calendar rather than a typical university timetable. Students train for approximately 9–10 weeks continuously each term, which supports the development and maintenance of physical skills and fitness throughout the course.

There are 2–3 week breaks between training periods, where rest and recovery are encouraged. Students also have access to open training opportunities during these breaks if they wish to continue developing their skills.

This information can be found on the Australian Collage of the Arts (Collarts) website.  

Bachelor of Circus Arts: https://www.collarts.edu.au/bachelor-of-circus-arts/?type=degree 

Certificate IV in Circus Arts: https://www.collarts.edu.au/courses/film-theatre/circus-arts/certificate-iv-in-circus-arts/

Eligible students may be able to access financial assistance options including FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP.

Certificate IV students may be able to access Skills First funding, which can significantly reduce the cost of the course.

Visit the  Australian Collage of the Arts (Collarts) website.

Bachelor of Circus Arts: https://www.collarts.edu.au/bachelor-of-circus-arts/?type=degree

Certificate IV in Circus Arts: https://www.collarts.edu.au/courses/film-theatre/circus-arts/certificate-iv-in-circus-arts/

Yes, a VISA is required to attend NICA. For more information, talk to the international admissions team at auditions@nica.com.au

Students work closely with trainers and the medical team to choose their specialities and acts, ensuring they achieve employment and longevity in their career.

Yes, NICA provide medical assistance to our students. We provide access to a full medical team of Physiotherapists, Sports Doctors and Psychologists.

As part of the training, students are given the opportunity to perform in at least one major production each year. After graduating, alumni can join NICA Represents, NICA’s very own agency for professional circus performers and bespoke event entertainment.

Yes, NICA offers an after-hours ‘Open Training’ program where students and professionals can train side by side.

NICA encourages collaboration between students across different courses and year levels. Throughout the year, students participate in whole-school activities such as Circus Olympics and WetPaint, as well as informal opportunities such as student-led jam sessions.

Students also have opportunities to support and learn from each other by attending assessment showings and sharing their work with different year groups.

Many students work in flexible roles that complement the demands of full-time training. Common jobs include hospitality roles, coaching at NICA’s recreation programs or local gymnastics and aerial studios, retail work, and front-of-house roles at theatres, including ushering and box office positions.

Yes. NICA students have access to Collarts resources and services.

NICA offers all types of circus and specialty training!

NICA graduates go on to work across a diverse range of industries, including contemporary and traditional circus, social circus, stunt work, corporate entertainment, festivals, teaching and the broader arts sector.

Since 2001, NICA alumni have built careers around the world with leading companies and have gone on to create their own companies, produce shows and tour nationally and internationally.

Graduates have worked with notable companies like Cirque du Soleil, Circa, Circus Oz, Cavalia, Dragone, Carnival Australia, Gravity & Other Myths, NOFIT State Circus and more.

For more inpiration on careers in circus arts, view our post.

NICA has entered into a new educational partnership with Collarts (Australian College of the Arts), which is accredited by TEQSA to offer the Bachelor of Circus Arts program and provides overarching academic and quality guidance and regulation.

No, but having a qualification gives you industry knowledge and higher employability. If you ever get injured or decide to step into another role within the industry, you can lean on your circus degree to help you reach new goals