CircoArts students are in limbo after the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) cancelled next year's programme.

Faculty of creative industries dean Jane Gregg said earthquake damage to the specialist facilities had forced it to cancel the CircoArts programme – the Bachelor of Performing Arts – for 2012.

The programme had not been available on the Christchurch campus since the February quake.

Nine students were accepted into the National Institute of Circus Arts programme in Melbourne in April to complete their second year of study.

Study for the first and third-year students was deferred this year.

"This is, hopefully, just an interim measure," Gregg said.

"We will be working hard on a plan to ensure that CircoArts has a home at CPIT, and that we can continue to provide the rich training ground that CircoArts has proven to be."

It was hoped the programme would return in 2013, she said.

CircoArts graduates had worked with international companies like Cirque du Soleil and Circus Oz, Gregg said.

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