Master the credible in incredible.
NICA is the recognised National Centre of Excellence in circus studies, exclusively offering the country’s only Bachelor of Circus Arts, and Certificate IV in Circus Arts.
Our graduates are global citizens, employed in over 45 countries world-wide. We take pride in fortifying Australia’s role and reputation within the local, and international contemporary circus sphere.
All our courses are delivered by world-class trainers, in our award-winning, custom-built training facilities. NICA’s advanced training methods, and specialised university education, prepares students to meet the demands of a highly competitive industry.
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.
Our VET programs will continue to be delivered in partnership with Swinburne University in 2025, before transitioning to Collarts in 2026.
To find out more about our individual courses, and which one is right for you, explore our options below.
Current Courses
How to study at NICA
Auditions & preparation
Auditions for NICA’s higher ed programs are held once yearly in-person at NICA, or via online video submission.
Auditions are typically held in September. 2026 audition dates will be announced soon.
Successful applicants must be physically able to undertake NICA’s rigorous training requirements. Our students train physically between four and six hours a day in circus skills, fitness, dance and movement.
If you are ready to embark on your NICA audition journey, we have tools in place to help you prepare, including Audition Masterclasses (2026 dates TBA shortly), an audition pack, and audition skills guide.
To be the first to know about key dates and receive exclusive access to other tips and tricks - sign up to Inside Track (scroll on down).
More about audition process Audition Masterclass
Sign up to Inside Track
Sign up to receive the occasional email that keeps you in the know about significant dates and deadlines, exciting announcements, and updates on student life at the National Institute of Circus Arts. You’ll get valuable insight and audition advice, so you are equipped to kickstart start your professional circus career!
Where can studying at NICA lead you?
Training at the National Institute of Circus Arts can lead to professional work in contemporary circus, traditional circus, social circus, stunt work, corporate entertainment, festivals, teaching, and other sectors of the arts industry.
Since 2001, NICA graduates have gained respect worldwide for their skills, discipline, creativity, and ingenuity.
NICA alumni have worked across the globe with companies like Cirque du Soleil, Circa, Circus Oz, Cavalia, Dragone, Carnival Australia, Gravity & Other Myths, NOFIT State Circus and more.
Many graduates have gone on to establish their own successful circus / physical theatre companies, produce their own shows, and tour the worlds festival circuit.
NICA also has its own circus talent agency for graduates, NICA Represents. Representation with the agency gives you the opportunity to work with high-level clients, while the agent sources work, manages administration, client communication, fee negotiation and more.
What opportunities are there during study at NICA?
NICA frequently organises workshops and training opportunities with members of industry. Recently, students have had the opportunity to train alongside Cirque du Soleil, Circa, and Gravity & Other Myths.
Performance is an integral part of NICA’s curriculum. We produce several commercial-scale and in-house productions each year across the Bachelor of Circus Arts and Certificate IV in Circus Arts programs. Production seasons typically come with opportunities for students to engage with media, participate in campaign photoshoots, video shoots, and more. Browse our show archives here.
In the third year of the Bachelor program, students often travel to the Adelaide Fringe Festival to complete their Circus Studies Industry Project. In partnership with Gluttony and the Adelaide Fringe Festival, students are placed with a company or department to undertake an internship in their area of interest. This project allows students to immerse in industry culture, gain work experience, perform their WIP acts, see as many shows as possible and soak up what the world’s second-largest arts festival has to offer!
In previous years, second-year Bachelor of Circus Arts students have travelled on international exchanges to Montreal, Russia, France, China, and USA. NICA is working towards reinitiating this program.
Networking is integrated into life at NICA through opportunities like Artist in Conversation sessions, venue tours, excursions and incursions, the Australian Circus Summit, and Circus Director’s Masterclasses.
What opportunities are there post-grad?
NICA's Artist Residency Program offers free training space to independent circus artists and groups for the development of new act and/or show creation. Applications are now open for the 2026 Residency program.
Our facilities are also open for Alumni Training and Open Training, offering a safe space for graduates and professional circus artists to practice.
Our Alumni
Where are they now?
Across NICA’s 20+ years, our graduates have travelled around the globe with big companies and their own genius shows. Here are some of their stories:
Still have questions?
From the training room floor
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