At National Circus School in Montréal, Canada, Diploma in Circus Arts (DEC) is offered as a diploma in Circus programme. The programme runs for 3 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 16,115 per year (CAD 5,200 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Circus
Duration: 3 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 5,200 / year
International tuition: CAD 16,115 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Circus Arts program is a three-year, full-time course of study at the National Circus School's Montreal campus, leading to a Diploma of Collegial Studies or School Attestation and offered in French and English. Training runs roughly 38 hours a week across fall and winter sessions, combining professional circus training with general education coursework in acting, dance, physical preparation, philosophy, and language. Students follow one of two profiles: a generalist path combining two primary disciplines with a complementary discipline from the second year onward, or a specialist path combining one primary discipline with a complementary discipline over the same period. Disciplines are drawn from five categories: floor acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, balancing, juggling and manipulation, and the art of clowning, each covering a range of specific techniques such as trapeze, aerial silks, tightwire, and diabolo. The program is aimed at individuals pursuing a career as a professional circus artist who already have sustained practice in circus arts, dance, or another relevant acrobatic, athletic, or artistic discipline before applying.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants must have completed and passed secondary studies equivalent to the Quebec Secondary School Diploma (DES); the School provides a credential-equivalency comparison for candidates schooled outside Quebec. Beyond the academic diploma, admission is decided through the School's audition process, and applicants are expected to show sustained practice in circus arts, dance, or another relevant acrobatic, athletic or artistic discipline. French proficiency is assessed during the application process; accepted candidates who need it must sit a formal French test (CA$125, EUR85 or US$100), which determines which French courses they must take, though teaching is offered in both French and English. Application documents include a birth certificate, secondary diploma or transcript, and citizenship or health-card documentation, with certified translation required for documents not in French or English; international applicants must separately obtain a CAQ and study permit.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall
Application Deadline:Fall 2027 entry: stage 1 video pre-audition open 28 September-6 November 2026 ($50 file-opening fee); shortlist notified week of 14 December 2026; audition format confirmed by 4 January 2027; in-person or video auditions in Montreal 9-12 February 2027; final decisions in March 2027. Same deadlines apply to domestic and international applicants.
