Combining circus arts and general education, our higher education program is aimed at individuals who aspire to a career as a professional circus artist. It is a three-year, full-time program offered in French that leads to a Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS).
At the NCS, we rely on a teaching philosophy and structure that places the student at the heart of the learning process. This allows us to offer fully personalized training tailored to the needs and interests of the individual. This also allows each student to develop his or her full technical, physical and artistic potential. Our goal is to train highly qualified and versatile circus artists.
The student can choose between two profiles, depending on the number and families of disciplines mastered.
Specialist profile: specialization in one main discipline and training in a complementary discipline from the second year.
Generalist profile: training in two main disciplines and in a third complementary discipline from the second year.
| Programs | Who can register? | Particularities |
| Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS) in circus arts | Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS) in circus arts | This program is accredited by the Ministère de l’Éducation and the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec.
It provides a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). It can lead to permanent residency under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEW), subject to legal change. |
| Diploma of Studies from the School (DSS) in circus arts | International Students | The DEE is not sanctioned by the Ministère de l’Éducation and the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec.
This program offers the same course grid as the DCS program, apart from philosophy and language classes. It is possible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), although the DSS does not guarantee one. |
The schedule includes approximately 38 hours of theoretical and practical classes per week.
| Session | Dates |
| Fall | August 25 t0 December 22, 2023 |
| Winter | January 11 to June 9, 2024 |
The school calendar is subject to change.
Some weekend activities, such as performances, require the presence of students.
In addition to the fall and winter sessions, first-year and DCS immersion students must attend the welcome session and the summer session on the dates indicated below.
| Welcome Session | August 7 to 18, 2023 |
| Summer Session | July 2024 |
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Physical Activity and Efficiency* | Floor Acrobatics 3 | Anatomy 1 and 2 |
| Health and Physical Activity* | Physical Activity and Autonomy* | French as a Second Language 1 and 2 |
| Aerial Acrobatics | Circus Arts Context and Influences | Devising and Producing an Act 2 and 3 (Specialist profile) |
| Floor Acrobatics 1 and 2 | Devising and Producing an Act 1 (Specialist profile) | Dance 5 |
| Dance 1 and 2 | Dance 3 and 4 | Career Management |
| Balancing 1 and 2 | Flexibility 3 and 4** | Performing an Act 2 and 3 |
| Flexibility 1 and 2** | English 3: Literary themes* | Acting 5 |
| English 1: Introduction to college English* | English 4: English and Circus Arts* | Music and Rhythm 1 and 2 |
| English 2: Literary genres* | Performing an Act 1 | Psychological Preparation |
| Introduction to Circus Arts | Acting 3 and 4 | Physical Conditioning 5 |
| Acting 1 and 2 | Research Methodology | Show Creation |
| Juggling and Manipulation | Philosophy and Ethics* | Show Production |
| Philosophy and Rationality* | Physical Conditioning 3 and 4 | Specialized and Complementary Techniques 3 and 4 (Specialist profile) |
| Philosophy: the Human Being* | Specialized and Complementary Techniques 1 and 2 (Specialist profile) | Principal and Complementary Techniques 5 and 6 (Generalist profile) |
| Physical Conditioning 1 and 2 | Principal and Complementary Techniques 3 and 4 (Generalist profile) | Staging |
| Health and Security | Voice | |
| Specialized Techniques 1 and 2 (Specialist profile) | ||
| Principal and Complementary Techniques 1 and 2 (Generalist profile) | ||
| Trampoline** |
* This course is offered exclusively to students in the DCS program.
** This course is offered exclusively to students in the DSS program.
Please refer to the DCS and DSS programs’ presentation table to find out which one you are eligible for.
Candidates with strong potential, but whose skills do not quite meet the eligibility criteria for higher education, may be offered our DCS Immersion program following the auditions. This one-year program offers refresher courses in basic techniques and the various circus disciplines. After conditional admission, the student will have to redo the auditions for higher education.
| Floor Acrobatics | Aerial Acrobatics | Balancing | Juggling and Manipulation | Clowning Art |
| Russian Bar | Aerial Rings | Rolling Globe | Antipodism | Clowning Art |
| Chinese Hoops | Russian Swing | Ladder | Flowerstick | |
| Acrobatic Chair | Aerial Cradle | Balancing | Cigar Boxes | |
| Contortion | Russian Cradle | Tight Wire | Diabolo | |
| Icarian Games | Aerial Hoop | Slack Wire | Juggling | |
| Hand to Hand | Swinging Hoop | Unicycle | ||
| Chinese Pole | Corde lisse | German Wheel | ||
| Korean Board | Cloud Swing | Cyr Wheel | ||
| Teeterboard | Trapeze Duo | Acrobatic bike | ||
| Floor Acrobatics Research | Aerial Straps | |||
| Trampoline | Aerial Silks | |||
| Trampo-pole | Swinging Trapeze | |||
| Dance Trapeze | ||||
| Double Trapeze | ||||
| Static Trapeze | ||||
| Washington Trapeze | ||||
| Pendulum Mast | ||||
| Aerial Acrobatics Research |
If the discipline you are interested in is not listed in this table, you can still register for the program.
To be eligible for the program, the individual must:
All documents submitted in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation.
| Statut | Required documents |
| Canadian student or permanent resident |
|
| International student |
|
Study permits for international students
International students who have received proof of acceptance to one of our Circus Arts Programs, for a duration of more than 6 months, will need to apply for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) as well as a study permit. Since these procedures involve several steps and can take up to six months to be completed, we recommend that you start them early.
The following websites will be of great help to students in this process:
Registration will open in October.
A $50 non-refundable fee is payable at the time of application for admission.
| File opening fees | $50 |
| Annual registration fees | $200 |
| Annual related fees* | $345 |
| Annual tuition fees* for Canadian students, permanent residents and French citizens | $4,725 |
| Annual tuition fees* for international students (except French citizens) | $8,900 |
| Annual insurance fees for international students (except French citizens) | $960 |
* Payable in two instalments.
Fees are in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.
These trainings give access to health services, to our cafeteria, to our specialized Library as well as to various cultural activities.
To learn more about our services, visit the Student Services page.
Individuals enrolled in one of our full-time programs and who are Canadian citizens may apply for financial assistance from their respective provincial ministry.
We also offer scholarships to students who do not have sufficient financial resources to follow our professional training, regardless of their status. Find out more about the National Circus School Foundation’s scholarship program, thanks to which we support the next generation of circus artists.
The schedule includes approximately 38 hours of theoretical and practical classes per week.
| Session | Dates |
| Fall | August 25 t0 December 22, 2023 |
| Winter | January 11 to June 9, 2024 |
The school calendar is subject to change.
Some weekend activities, such as performances, require the presence of students.
In addition to the fall and winter sessions, first-year and DCS immersion students must attend the welcome session and the summer session on the dates indicated below.
| Welcome Session | August 7 to 18, 2023 |
| Summer Session | July 2024 |
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Physical Activity and Efficiency* | Floor Acrobatics 3 | Anatomy 1 and 2 |
| Health and Physical Activity* | Physical Activity and Autonomy* | French as a Second Language 1 and 2 |
| Aerial Acrobatics | Circus Arts Context and Influences | Devising and Producing an Act 2 and 3 (Specialist profile) |
| Floor Acrobatics 1 and 2 | Devising and Producing an Act 1 (Specialist profile) | Dance 5 |
| Dance 1 and 2 | Dance 3 and 4 | Career Management |
| Balancing 1 and 2 | Flexibility 3 and 4** | Performing an Act 2 and 3 |
| Flexibility 1 and 2** | English 3: Literary themes* | Acting 5 |
| English 1: Introduction to college English* | English 4: English and Circus Arts* | Music and Rhythm 1 and 2 |
| English 2: Literary genres* | Performing an Act 1 | Psychological Preparation |
| Introduction to Circus Arts | Acting 3 and 4 | Physical Conditioning 5 |
| Acting 1 and 2 | Research Methodology | Show Creation |
| Juggling and Manipulation | Philosophy and Ethics* | Show Production |
| Philosophy and Rationality* | Physical Conditioning 3 and 4 | Specialized and Complementary Techniques 3 and 4 (Specialist profile) |
| Philosophy: the Human Being* | Specialized and Complementary Techniques 1 and 2 (Specialist profile) | Principal and Complementary Techniques 5 and 6 (Generalist profile) |
| Physical Conditioning 1 and 2 | Principal and Complementary Techniques 3 and 4 (Generalist profile) | Staging |
| Health and Security | Voice | |
| Specialized Techniques 1 and 2 (Specialist profile) | ||
| Principal and Complementary Techniques 1 and 2 (Generalist profile) | ||
| Trampoline** |
* This course is offered exclusively to students in the DCS program.
** This course is offered exclusively to students in the DSS program.
Please refer to the DCS and DSS programs’ presentation table to find out which one you are eligible for.
Candidates with strong potential, but whose skills do not quite meet the eligibility criteria for higher education, may be offered our DCS Immersion program following the auditions. This one-year program offers refresher courses in basic techniques and the various circus disciplines. After conditional admission, the student will have to redo the auditions for higher education.
| Floor Acrobatics | Aerial Acrobatics | Balancing | Juggling and Manipulation | Clowning Art |
| Russian Bar | Aerial Rings | Rolling Globe | Antipodism | Clowning Art |
| Chinese Hoops | Russian Swing | Ladder | Flowerstick | |
| Acrobatic Chair | Aerial Cradle | Balancing | Cigar Boxes | |
| Contortion | Russian Cradle | Tight Wire | Diabolo | |
| Icarian Games | Aerial Hoop | Slack Wire | Juggling | |
| Hand to Hand | Swinging Hoop | Unicycle | ||
| Chinese Pole | Corde lisse | German Wheel | ||
| Korean Board | Cloud Swing | Cyr Wheel | ||
| Teeterboard | Trapeze Duo | Acrobatic bike | ||
| Floor Acrobatics Research | Aerial Straps | |||
| Trampoline | Aerial Silks | |||
| Trampo-pole | Swinging Trapeze | |||
| Dance Trapeze | ||||
| Double Trapeze | ||||
| Static Trapeze | ||||
| Washington Trapeze | ||||
| Pendulum Mast | ||||
| Aerial Acrobatics Research |
If the discipline you are interested in is not listed in this table, you can still register for the program.
To be eligible for the program, the individual must:
All documents submitted in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation.
| Statut | Required documents |
| Canadian student or permanent resident |
|
| International student |
|
Study permits for international students
International students who have received proof of acceptance to one of our Circus Arts Programs, for a duration of more than 6 months, will need to apply for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) as well as a study permit. Since these procedures involve several steps and can take up to six months to be completed, we recommend that you start them early.
The following websites will be of great help to students in this process:
Registration will open in October.
A $50 non-refundable fee is payable at the time of application for admission.
| File opening fees | $50 |
| Annual registration fees | $200 |
| Annual related fees* | $345 |
| Annual tuition fees* for Canadian students, permanent residents and French citizens | $4,725 |
| Annual tuition fees* for international students (except French citizens) | $8,900 |
| Annual insurance fees for international students (except French citizens) | $960 |
* Payable in two instalments.
Fees are in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.
These trainings give access to health services, to our cafeteria, to our specialized Library as well as to various cultural activities.
To learn more about our services, visit the Student Services page.
Individuals enrolled in one of our full-time programs and who are Canadian citizens may apply for financial assistance from their respective provincial ministry.
We also offer scholarships to students who do not have sufficient financial resources to follow our professional training, regardless of their status. Find out more about the National Circus School Foundation’s scholarship program, thanks to which we support the next generation of circus artists.
Find out more about the unique experience, learning environment and training that the National Circus School has been renowned for over 40 years.
You can consult our FAQ or contact us by email at [email protected].
