Most drama schools and universities open applications in October and close the following January which – if you’re a sensible person – gives you ample time to save up. If, like us, you’re not sensible and live life on the edge by spending most of your money on DVDs & make up (Heather) or gig tickets in London & biscuits (Bold Yin) then you best be prepared to wave cheerio to all your dosh in one fell swoop. It may even mean sacrificing any Christmas money you received (which Heather did, save for £20 which went on a TGIs).
To put it frankly, applying to drama school is not cheap. Many think it’s ridiculous you even have to pay in the first place as outlined here in this article from The Stage. However, you can protest, cry and Sellotape your purse to your heart screaming “DON’T LEAVE ME!” all you want but if you want to study acting at a big fancy school then you’re going to have to part with, on average, £50 per institution. And don’t get tricked into thinking applying through UCAS/CUKAS means only having to pay the £20 odd fee and that’s you done and dusted because it’s not. You’ll soon get an email asking you to send them a wee £50 audition fee on top of the already paid UCAS fee.
So, we’ve decided to be kind souls and help you out with the drama school money woes (which sounds like a fantastic name for a song from an old Broadway show). Not – before you get ahead of yourselves – by actually giving you money; we’re not a charity case and, even if we wanted to, we couldn’t afford to be, but by giving you this handy list of accredited schools and SOME of their fees. Pin this up on your wall and think of it next time you get sucked into spending £60 on 3 for a tenner DVDs in HMV and need to wait 2 weeks to send off that Guildhall application. *Heather hangs head in shame*
ALRA- The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts
Arts University College Bournemouth
ArtsEd – Arts Educational Schools, London (£35)
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (£50)
BSA- Birmingham School of Acting (£46)
Cygnet Training Theatre (£35)
Drama Centre London (£45)
Drama Studio London (£55 inc. VAT)
East 15 Acting School (£44)
GSA-Guildford School of Acting
Guildhall School of Music and Drama (£60)
Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts (£35)
LAMDA- London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (£44)
LIPA- The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
Liverpool John Moores University
MMU- Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre (£45)
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (£35)
RADA- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (£57-£59 depending on payment method)
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (£45)
RWCMD- Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (£45)
Stagecoach
The Oxford School of Drama (£35)
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (£44)
University Campus Oldham
University of the West of Scotland
Courses are either applied to directly by mail/online application, through UCAS or CUKAS. On top of audition fees UCAS charge a fee of £11 if applying to one course, and £22 thereafter. There is a maximum of five choices. CUKAS charge a fee of £16* with a maximum of 6 choices.
*Course fees relevant to term 2013/14 and may differ for Non-UK/EU students.
All courses are accredited by DRAMAUK. The website provides information from the courses available to how to find work as a professional.
This raises the question ‘Where to study?’ From our very eventful … ahem, hungover day at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland we suggest doing your research! Open Days are a great way to meet potential tutors, gain course information and get an overall feel for the place. However, not every school is happy to open their doors to the general public. Most institutions require advance bookings if they offer an open day at all, but there is plenty of information on the school websites. Decide if the course content is what you expected. Are you able to demonstrate what they look for in auditionees? What type of theatre do they produce? Consider what you want from drama school and what they want from you! Believe us, the latter is just as important!
Good luck!
Heather and Bold Yin.
Maybe buying the DVDs is the ‘Big Director In The Sky’ telling you to swap your love for them to drama school instead? XD Good luck, girls!
Well at least if we need to move away we’ll have something decent to watch! Ta very much!
Not a bad thing! Your mates will know who to go to for movie nights! No probs x