The ideal candidate wishes to forge a career as a circus artist and, towards that end, is fully prepared to pursue artistic and technical training.

The candidate:

• has completed primary school and may have already begun secondary studies and is in good academic standing

• must have previousily engaged in preparatory training in circus arts or dance or practiced an acrobatic discipline with artistic character, such as artistic or rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, diving, figure skating, etc, or a martial art, over a prolonged period of time.

• has developed physical and psychomotor skills such as coordination, spatial orientation, flexibility and body awareness

• exhibits autonomy, determination, discipline and creativity.

Although French is the language of instruction for both academic subjects and circus art training, the School's French immersion program helps integrate Canadian students who have not previously attended a French-language School. A student who is entitled to instruction in the English-language in Quebec may chose to take English as a first language course.

* Fees in Canadian dollars, subject to change
** Payable in two payments

Fees include free access to the sports therapy clinic if needed.

The National Circus School Foundation offers assistance to students who lack sufficient financial resources through its bursary program.

Admission requirements
 

• Excellent health (medical certificate may be required)

• Successful completion of entrance examination

• Completion of primary studies and successful completion of all levels preceding that to which the candidate wishes entry

• Good academic standing

PLEASE NOTE : to register online, you must have all the following documents, scanned :

- One passport-sized photograph (JPEG) 
- A legible copy of the birth certificate* (PDF)
- A legible copy of any certificates or transcripts confirming participation in an artistic or sports-related pursuit, relevant to School requirements* (PDF)
- A legible copy of the transcripts of the last two school years completed, and most recent from current year (copies bearing the seal of the issuing institution)* (PDF)

If the candidate wishes to apply for admission via video, the PDF Participation to the Entrance Exam Application via video with the URL link to the video.  

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For more information on the admissions policy, see this document. (in French only)

N.B. An incomplete request will be returned to the candidate who consequently will not be admitted to the entrance exam.

* Only legible copies of all documents are to be provided with the application. Candidates officially accepted into one of the programs must provide certified copies or originals of each document (originals will be returned to candidates via post).

For further information about the admission and the registration for the entrance examination, please contact us : 

Tel : 514 982-0859 / Toll free in Canada : 1 800 267-0859
Fax : 514 982-6025
Email : [email protected] 

Entrance exams are held in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Paris. The purpose of the test is to evaluate a candidate's potential and talent, and his or her capacity to acquire the skills at the level required by the program within the prescribed time.

For a full description of the Entrance Examination requirements and steps, please consult the document: Entrance Examination Description Sheet CES

Completed forms must be saved on the School's online registration system before the deadline date.

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Application for admission and participation in Entrance examination 
 

Candidates who have made their application for admission and received a written invitation from the School are allowed to take the Entrance exam. 

Candidates must be available for the full duration of the Entrance exam.

Participation to the Entrance Exam via video
 

A candidate who has a valid reason (distance, health, family reasons, school refused permission, confidentiality concerns, etc.) may be exempted from being physically present at the Entrance Examination. In such a case, the application must be saved before January 15 and accompanied by a video in DVD format with content that meets the exam requirements.
The applicant must explain his or her absence. Each application and the information therein will be treated as strictly confidential. For more information, applicants should refer to the Participation to the Entrance Exam via video document.

In the fall, the École nationale de cirque (National Circus School) will embark on a pre-selection tour in a cross-Canada quest for talented young people between the ages of 9 and 17. There will be stops in close to 12 cities coast-to-coast.The pre-selection tour is an opportunity for young people to have their potential evaluated and to meet the School's teachers, while also learning more about the programs and the life of a circus artist. The preselected candidate will either be invited to the official entrance exam in February or for the camp, to complete the admission process. More information