Primary instrument/specialism
- Drama Performance
Course summary
Individuality is at the core of this postgraduate programme. We work with artists who use their social, moral, and ethical values to animate their practice. This is a course where you will have agency over your own work and be responsible for driving your learning and creativity forward. It is this agency which makes the programme different from undergraduate study. With support from the staff team, you will write your own learning outcomes, determine your trajectory and ultimately, we hope, you will flourish as both a learner and a creative practitioner. It’s an intense programme where actors and directors work together, creating a dynamic community rooted in creative collaboration. Highlights include developing original digital work for the On the Verge festival, performing or directing contemporary performance working in proto-professional ensembles and completing a month’s residency at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London. At the end of this residency, after undertaking classes with the educational team at the Globe, you will perform or direct sharings on the mainstage of Shakespeare’s Globe, a unique and iconic playing space. If this narrative excites or inspires you, please get in touch to discuss how you can begin your artistic journey with us. Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate programmes starting in 2025, these courses are currently designated 'subject to validation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered. Important Audition Information If you choose recording as your audition location - a video submission needs to be uploaded via our Acceptd account, you will be called for an online interview at a later date. Please see the website for details on how to record your submission. If you choose RCS or London as your audition location - all elements of the audition (including the interview) will be completed in person, you will not need to upload any recorded material on Acceptd, but you must still upload your headshot and complete the applicant questionnaire to be considered for the programme. Our international auditions are still being confirmed. Information will be updated when available, please also check the website for details.
Course details
Principal study options
During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:
Main specialism
Only one specialism is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.
Instrument/specialisms
For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.
Modules
Please see our website for more information about course content.
Assessment method
Please see our website for more information about course content.
How to apply
*If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 701F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 60 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire.
Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to hold an appropriate undergraduate degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.
Additional entry requirements
Audition
All applicants will be asked to direct one of the following three extracts from Chekhov’s plays: *Seagull – Masha and Medvedenko *Seagull – Masha and Trigorin *The Cherry Orchard – Varia and Lopakhin Recorded Submission: Applicants should prepare a 30 minute, uncut video of candidates directing two actors, and applicants must source these actors themselves. Candidates should be aware that, out of fairness to all candidates, the panel will stop watching videos after 30 minutes have elapsed. Candidates should work as they would in a real rehearsal process – they should not try to show a condensed version of a longer rehearsal approach they might take. In-Person/Online Live Audition: Should you choose an in-person or online live audition, RCS will provide two actors with whom you will work in your audition for 30 minutes on one of the Chekhov extracts noted above. Candidates should work as they would in a real rehearsal process – they should not try to show a condensed version of a longer rehearsal approach they might take. Please refer to our webpage under the 'how to apply' section for more information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ma-mfa-acting-directing-classical-and-contemporary-text/
Interview
An interview will form part of the audition process.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7.5 | Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 7.5 in each component (with no component below 7.5) is required. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 102 | Overall score of 102, with minimum scores of: Reading -18, Listening -17, Speaking -27, Writing -17 |
| PTE Academic | Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 76 in speaking and 59 in all other components (reading, listening, writing) |
More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink.
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Assessment locations
In the event of a successful assessment, applicants may be invited for a further interview prior to being made an offer.
Remote assessment recordings may be accepted in the event that you cannot attend an assessment in person.
Single specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | £55 | £55 |
| New York | £55 | £55 |
| Recording | £55 | £55 |
| City of London | £55 | £55 |
| Philadelphia | £55 | £55 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | Not available at this location | |
| New York | Not available at this location | |
| Recording | No fee charged | |
| City of London | Not available at this location | |
| Philadelphia | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process. We will continue to offer recording submissions via our Acceptd platform, to those who are unable to attend in-person auditions due to exceptional circumstances. For the best audition experience, we would encourage all applicants to attend in person where possible. For more information on what to prepare for audition, please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ma-mfa-acting-directing-classical-and-contemporary-text/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £17688* | Whole course |
| England | £17688* | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £17688* | Whole course |
| Scotland | £17688* | Whole course |
| Wales | £17688* | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £17688* | Whole course |
| EU | £28038* | Whole course |
| International | £28038* | Whole course |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Please note, all new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies. For more information on this please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/
Sponsorship information
The School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film scholarships are awarded for a mixture of financial need and merit. Scholarships within the School of DDPF are applied for and awarded on an annual basis. If you are offered a place at the Conservatoire for drama, dance, production or film (DDPF), you will be forwarded the link to Apply for a DDPF Scholarship. - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/.
Provider information
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB