Campus of Performing Arts (Pty) Ltd

The Campus of Performing Arts (COPA) is a private music institution founded in 2003, with campuses in Midrand, Pretoria and Durban. It teaches contemporary music through full-time courses in Music Performance (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard), Music Production (including sound engineering and sound technology) and Music Business, delivered in English in full-time contact mode by facilitators who are working industry professionals.

The higher education qualification is a three-year, 360-credit Diploma in Music at NQF level 6 (SAQA ID 96373). One-year certificates are also offered: a Bridging Course in Music Performance, the COPA Certificate in Music Performance and the COPA Certificate in Music Production, along with short courses and part-time lessons. Students also take professional development modules such as stage presence and music business.

Every campus has fit-for-purpose music facilities: professional recording studios, a technology centre, on-site performance venues and practice rooms, as well as resource centres with computers and Wi-Fi and bookable rehearsal and demo rooms. Each campus has a Student Representative Council that runs projects and a charity initiative. COPA Creative is a blog radio station on which students broadcast, and Taste of the Talent compiles student music for record companies. Regular industry events and masterclasses are held. COPA does not offer accommodation, but campuses can suggest leads.

COPA is provisionally registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (certificate No. 2011/HE07/004, valid until 31 December 2028) and is converting to permanent registration. Its higher education programmes are accredited by the Council on Higher Education, and its further education and training programmes are accredited by CATHSSETA.