Erasmus+ Programme

The Academy welcomes students from partner institutions within the three-year Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Circus Artist (Class L-03). Mobility depends on the study plan of the sending institution, the availability of courses, and the evaluation of the Pedagogical Direction.
The 1st mobility period runs from September to January, while the 2nd period runs from February to July.
Incoming Erasmus+ students may be placed, according to the Learning Agreement, teaching availability, and the evaluation of the Pedagogical Direction, in the courses of the L-03 degree programme with recognition of the corresponding ECTS/CFU credits.

The available training activities include the following areas:

• Theoretical, historical, and critical disciplines: History of Theatre, History of Dance, History of Circus, Critical Analysis of Works, Sociology of Equal Opportunities, Psychology of Sport and Performance, Organisation and Economics of Performing Arts, …
• Artistic and performance disciplines: Classical Dance, Contemporary Dance, Theatre and Performance, Dramaturgy and Research Elements, Direction, Choreography and Elements of Creation and Composition, …
• Technical and scientific disciplines: Performing Arts Technology (lighting, sound, stage design), Computer Science, Hygiene, safety in the workplace and rigging, Principles of anatomy, biomechanics and dietetics, …
• General circus techniques and circus specialisation techniques: Acrobatics, Acrodance, Hand Balancing, Hand-to-Hand, Trampoline, Specific Physical Preparation, Flexibility, …

Among the circus specialisation options available in the Course Catalogue are:
Roue Cyr, Tight Wire, Slack Line, Chinese Pole, Washington Trapeze, Free Ladder, Hand Balancing, Juggling, Aerial Straps, Acrodance, Aerial Silks, Aerial Rope, Aerial Hoop, Trapeze Dance, Static Trapeze, Double Aerial Rope, Multiple Aerial Rope, Aerial Hammock, Duo Trapeze, Duo Silks.
Admission to individual courses or modules depends on consistency with the student’s study path, the required technical level, the number of available places, and compatibility with the Academy’s academic calendar.

To facilitate the completion of the Learning Agreement, the Academy provides the updated Course Catalogue for the L-03 degree programme, with the list of courses, disciplinary areas, educational contents, and corresponding CFU/ECTS credits distributed over the three years of study, for a total of 180 credits.

open/download course catalogue

The study plan includes basic activities, characterising activities, related activities, elective activities, circus specialisation techniques, ground circus techniques, traineeship, and final examination.
Exam grades are expressed out of thirty. For international conversion, the Academy provides a correspondence table with the ECTS system, included in the Transcript of Records.

Incoming Application Procedure

• Institutional nomination by e-mail from the Erasmus Coordinator of the sending institution
• Submission of the dossier (CV, motivation letter, identity document, artistic portfolio with video)
• Evaluation by the Pedagogical Direction
• Communication of the outcome and start of procedures

Incoming Application Deadlines
Applications must be sent to erasmus@cirkovertigo.com:

• 1st Period (September – January): by 1 May 2027
• 2nd Period (February – August): by 1 October 2026

Teaching, Logistics and Safety
Learning Agreement before departure, final Transcript of Records. Main language: Italian (B1 recommended). Support for finding accommodation. Medical sports certificate required and compliance with safety regulations.

Students may undertake mobility:

• For Studies at partner institutions
• For Traineeship at companies, festivals, theatres, and production centres

Mobility is possible starting from the second academic year.

Online Language Support (OLS)
It is mandatory to complete the language test on the OLS platform before departure and, where applicable, to follow the online courses provided.

Outgoing Application Procedure

• Consultation of the internal call
• Choice of destination
• Application (CV, letter, portfolio, project)
• Selection
• Application to the host institution
• Signing of the Learning Agreement and financial agreement

Outgoing Application Deadlines
Applications must be sent to erasmus@cirkovertigo.com
Mobility for academic year 2026/2027

• 31 October 2026: mobility for the 2nd semester

Mobility for academic year 2027/2028

• 28 February 2027: mobility For Studies (6–12 months)
• 30 April 2027: mobility For Traineeship (15–90 days) (1st Period)
• 31 August 2027: mobility For Traineeship (2nd Period)

Cirko Vertigo Academy promotes learning mobility for students and staff as a strategic instrument for quality enhancement and internationalisation.

The institution will:

• Support student mobility for studies, enabling participation in academic activities such as coursework, examinations and thesis research;
• Facilitate student mobility for traineeships, through structured agreements with artistic companies, theatres and cultural organisations operating in the field of live performance and social circus;
• Promote staff mobility for teaching, encouraging the exchange of pedagogical methodologies and artistic practices within European higher education institutions;
• Support staff mobility for training, fostering continuous professional development and the acquisition of innovative competencies;
• Implement Blended Intensive Programmes, combining short-term physical mobility with virtual collaboration.

Particular attention is given to cooperation within European professional networks such as FEDEC (International Network for Professional Circus Education) and other recognised cultural and higher education institutions.