Information on UK Drama Schools
The Oxford School of Drama
Information Provided By: Oxford School of Drama
Location:
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Course Name:
Three Year Course in Acting
Qualification Awarded By:
The Course is validated by Trinity College London and regulated by Ofqual. It is Level 6 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. Equity membership is awarded to all students who complete this course.
Eligible For Student Finance Y/N:
No, Students are eligible to apply for a Dance and Drama Award and an Advanced Learner Loan for the Three Year Course in Acting. Details on funding available can be found HERE
Admission Requirements:
Entry to the School is by audition only; there are no academic requirements, and we do not ask for educational references or proof of qualifications. Applicants for the Three Year Course must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old by the time the academic year starts in September.
How to Apply:
You submit an online application. The First Round auditions are via self-tape and included in your application. If you are successful, the First Recall auditions and Second Recall auditions are held in person at the School.
Audition Fee:
£15 - First Round audition by Self Tape is paid on application.
£30 – Recall audition fee is paid when confirming your place at your First Recall Audition. All recall auditions are held in person at the School and include a workshop alongside an individual audition with the panel.
Audition Fee Waiver Y/N and Criteria:
Yes, we operate an Audition Fee Waiver Scheme, which aims to ensure fairer access by offering a free audition place to eligible applicants who aspire to train at drama school. We are able to offer 100 audition fee waivers to people whose financial circumstances may prevent them from applying to us.
The Scheme is open to anyone who is serious about becoming a professional actor through drama training. Full details and information on how to apply can be found on the apply page.
Audition Locations:
Auditions are held at the School in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Travel Bursary Offered Y/N and Criteria:
Not currently.
Audition Process:
The audition season runs from the end of September to middle of May each year. An application is made using our online application form via the apply page: https://oxforddrama.ac.uk/apply/ and instructions on how to create your self tapes will be on the apply page as soon as applications open. We ask applicants to apply as early on in the season as possible because recall places are generally more competitive approaching the end of the season.
The First Round audition is by Self Tape and links must be included on the application form. A £15 First Round audition fee is paid when submitting your application. If successful at First Round stage you will be invited to a First Recall audition at the School. A £30 Recall audition fee is paid when confirming your place at your First Recall Audition. All recall auditions are held in person at the School and include a workshop alongside an individual audition with the panel. You will not be asked to pay any additional audition fees if you progress to the final Second Recall stage.
Access information for:
-Applicants:
Please contact our Student Services Manager, Laura Murray-White for more information: l.murray-white@oxforddrama.ac.uk
-Students:
See above.
Any financial support/bursaries in place for students:
Students are eligible to apply for a Dance and Drama Award and an Advanced Learner Loan for the Three Year Course in Acting. Details on funding available can be found HERE
The School also has a number of bursaries and scholarships available to support course fees and living costs for students who need extra support or who are facing financial hardship. Please see the website for more information.
Information on Student Support Services:
Please contact our Student Services Manager, Laura Murray-White for more information: l.murray-white@oxforddrama.ac.uk
Partner Organisations:
Anyone who is currently part of the National Youth Theatre’s Playing Up training programme, is entitled to an audition fee waiver. Please e-mail auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk to let us know that you are from NYT – Playing Up and we will apply a voucher code to your application.
Is there any other application/audition information that you think it would be helpful for prospective applicants to know?:
This is a demanding three-year acting course based on the values of classical acting, adapted to suit the needs of the contemporary world. It is practical, not theoretical, and aims to equip you with all the skills and expertise you need to become a dynamic and courageous actor. The training is very much student-centred, giving time for individual attention.
The acting course is designed to help you reach your full potential through vocal, physical and imaginative techniques, and provide you with the ability to continue learning and developing beyond these three years and throughout your professional life.
You will be taught in group classes and through regular one-to one tutorials across all of the core disciplines. You will have many opportunities to work with leading practitioners from theatre, film and television as well as key industry casting directors and agents.
In your final year you will make your transition into the performing arts industries by spending your final term in London making work with directors and writers and performing at venues in London.
We are a relatively small school with only 19 students on the three-year course and student feedback tells us that they enjoy the individual attention that this allows and the community feel this creates.
Notable Alumni:
See HERE
Closing Date:
22nd May 2023