How to Choose a Drama School in the UK

If you live in the UK and you are thinking of going to drama school, you are about to make a massive life decision.

The first thing is to do your research. Everyone will have their opinions, so you need to develop yours.

ONE: Check out the Federation of Drama Schools, which is comprised of institutions that provide conservatoire vocational training for those who want to be professional performers, theatre makers and technical theatre practitioners. The courses they offer are for the most part for students of 18 years and over, who have completed their school level education. Have a look around the different courses, their ethos, principles and philosophy, and their location.

TWO: Check out where the institution comes in the National Student Survey. That’ll give you an idea of what their own students think of them.

THREE: Make sure that you really know what kind of course that you want to go on. Lots of young people don’t really know the difference between college, university and drama vocational training.

FOUR: You can’t really tell what the courses are like until you go to visit. Go to Open Days if you can afford it. If not, make sure that you audition each institution as much as they are going to audition you.

FIVE: Be careful whose advice you take. I’ve recently seen an article online that puts RADA and Yale in the same league as one of the least attractive schools in the UK.

SIX: Work out which level you want to train at: Foundation – Pre-degree, no guarantee of getting into the full time course, but most people really get the most out of those courses. Undergraduate (degree level) the cream of the institutions’ students. Postgraduate (usually MA or PGDip at least), usually after you have a degree already.

In the end, the choice is down to you, but all of the main courses are the recognised route into the profession, and you must attempt to find the courses that you would most thrive at, and then do your best to get into those courses, which is easier said than done.

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An Uncomfortable Truth