BA Acting

The three year BA Acting Programme at RCS is one of the best professional actor training programmes in the UK. We accept 24 students with outstanding potential and commitment who are dedicated to a performing career from over 1,800 applicants each year. Graduates of the programme have progressed to work extensively in the industry and alumni includes household names such as Amy Conachan, Laura Donnelly, Sam Heughan, Katie Leung, Richard Madden and James McAvoy.

Specialist education
Over the three-year programme you will work intensively with our expert teaching staff on developing your skills in acting, voice and movement to equip you for a career in film, television and theatre.

Our movement specialists are trained in Lecoq technique, and will help you acquire some of the best movement for actors in UK actor training, facilitating everything from stagecraft to understanding techniques used in CGI and green screen. You will be working with the Centre for Voice in Performance (the national centre of excellence for teaching, practice, and research) using techniques developed by voice expert Nadine George.

We are the only UK conservatoire that offers training in all performance disciplines and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers, formally and informally, in dance, music, production, and film. As an acting student you will have the opportunity to collaborate on film projects with students from the Film department.

Industry partnerships
Our unrivalled professional connections result in numerous work opportunities for our students. Collaborative professional partnerships include the BBC, the National Theatre of Scotland, and the Citizens Theatre.

In your final year you are actively encouraged to seek professional work. As well as aiming to give you a full practical training, our goal is to prepare you for a long and successful career. We focus on developing you as a creative artist, giving you a sound grounding to continue that development throughout your working life. You will undertake professional development modules, ensuring that you graduate as a truly entrepreneurial industry-ready actor, with all the contacts you need, and a great deal of professional experience.

As a student you will also be invited to participate in several national competitions including the Spotlight Showcase, The Sam Wanamaker Festival, The BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Drama Award, Sir John Gielgud Bursary, and The Laurence Olivier Bursary, all of which have been awarded to BA Acting students.

International opportunities
You will have the opportunity to participate in our European and International activities. Recently these have included performances at the European Young Theatre at the Festival Dei Due Mondi, Spoleto (Italy), the International Festival of Theatre Schools SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER in Brno (Czech Republic) and the World Theatre Games in St Petersburg (Russia). You can take advantage of our participation in the Erasmus scheme and our exchange agreements with Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania (USA) and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). In addition we are a member of the European Union of Theatre Schools and Academies (E:UTSA) which provides numerous possibilities for student-led work to be shared with our European partners.

Our BA Acting Showcase, held in both Glasgow and London is very highly regarded in the industry, and attended by agents, casting directors and potential employers. Additionally, North American students are offered an industry week in New York.

Interested?

You can also follow the BA Acting course on Twitter.

Year one

You will be introduced to the three disciplines of Acting, Voice and Movement. In Acting you will explore inner life, observed behaviour, relationships and text. In Voice, you will be introduced to Nadine George voice work, and explore accents, dialects and your singing voice. In Movement, you will develop your physical technique through Lecoq-based classes, dance and acrobatics. You will also have classes in Shakespeare, screen and radio technique.

Year two

You will explore Shakespeare further through public performance and by delivering workshops in schools. You will continue to develop your screen and radio technique, and explore new approaches to theatre-making and new writing. Second year students are given the opportunity to collaborate with peers to explore new and devised work in the On the Verge festival. A series of workshops will allow you to extend your movement skills in physical theatre, and introduce you to verbatim theatre and new writing. You will also take part in professional practice classes to develop the essential skills required for the acting industry.

Year three

You will perform to public audiences in a variety of genres including modern adaptations of classic plays, contemporary texts and family shows, as well as participating in radio and screen projects. You will have the opportunity to perform in industry showcases to an audience of employers, casting directors and agents. Through the course of your final year, you will develop your employability and entrepreneurial skills, equipping you to manage your career as a professional actor.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is in the World Top 10 for performing arts education 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 (QS World Rankings) 

• 85% of graduates secured agent representation within one month of graduation in 2019
• Industry showcases in Glasgow and London
• New York Industry Week for North American students
• Excellent staff-student ratio
• Small class sizes with 12 students per class
• Specialist voice training based on the work of Nadine George
• Specialist movement training based on the work of Jacques Lecoq
• Recent masterclasses include Mercy Ojelade, Giles Havergal CBE, Paola Rizza, Anne Bérélowitch, Finn den Hertog and Vicky Manderson
• International exchange opportunities include programmes with the Paris Conservatoire, Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
• International performing opportunities; students have recently performed in festivals in Spoleto (Italy), Rome, Paris, St Petersburg and Brno (Czech Republic)
• Opportunity to participate in the Sam Wannamaker Festival at the Globe Theatre, the BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio competition and Royal Shakespeare Company workshops

Joyce Deans
Head of BA Acting

Ali de Souza
Associate Head of Acting and Lecturer (Acting)

• Katya Kamotskaia Lecturer (Acting)
• Lucien MacDougall Lecturer (Movement)
• Benedicte Seierup Lecturer (Movement)
• Vanessa Coffey Lecturer (Professional Practice)
• Jean Sangster Head of Voice
• Hilary Jones Lecturer (Voice)
• Bill Wright Lecturer (Voice)
• Melanie Drake Lecturer (Voice)

Visiting Staff

Regular visiting lecturers and industry professionals include:

Mark Stevenson (Acting)
John Kazek (Acting)
Lucianne McEvoy (Acting)
Kerry McLellan (Dance)
Andrew MacGregor (Shakespeare for Schools)
David Hayman Jr (Screen Acting)
Kenny Glenaan (Screen Acting)
Laura Donnelly (Professional Practice)
Simone Pereira Hind (Professional Practice)
Sophie Holden (Professional Practice)
Raymond Short (Stage Combat)

Visiting directors include

Sara Brodie
Peter Collins
Debbie Hannan
Finn den Hertog
Guy Hollands
Matthew Lenton
Becky Hope Palmer
Mark Thomson
Meghan Tyler

Masterclasses and International Workshops include

Paola Rizza (Lecoq School)
Nadine George (Voice Centre International)
Giles Havergal (Shakespeare)
Dominic Hill (Shakespeare)
Mercy Ojelade (Shakespeare and New Writing)

BA Acting students will rehearse and perform in our well-equipped rehearsal spaces, the New Athenaeum Theatre (main stage), the Chandler Studio Theatre, and our recording studios.

You will also have the opportunity to rehearse in our modern spaces at The Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks.

Other facilities include first-class IT provision and the Whittaker Library, where you’ll find endless scripts, DVDs, books, and recordings; it’s one of the most comprehensive collections of performance materials in the world.

Our graduates work in all aspects of the performance industry, primarily as professional actors in theatre, film, television and radio. Many household names have studied with us including James McAvoy, Sam Heughan, Katie Leung,  Alexandra Silber,  Kevin Guthrie, Mark Bonnar, Emun Elliott, Laura Donnelly, John Hannah, Richard Madden, Colin Morgan, Pearl Appleby, Daniela Nardini, Crystal Clark, Jack Lowden, Amy Conachan, Robert Carlyle, Michelle Gomez, Billy Boyd and Ncuti Gatwa.

You can see our graduates and alumni perform at The Royal National Theatre London, National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe, London West End, Broadway, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Tron Theatre Glasgow, Òran Mór Glasgow, Arches Theatre Glasgow, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, Birds of Paradise Theatre Co., Vanishing Point Theatre Company, Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, Headlong Theatre Company, The Almeida London, The Gate London, The Royal Court London, Arcola Theatre Company London, The Young Vic London.

BBC (Radio and Screen), Netflix, Channel 4, ITV, STV, and film production companies are also regular employers of our graduates.

Acting graduates are also found in a range of other influential roles in the industry, working as agents, directors, casting directors, writers, producers and educators.

The Comedy Of Errors

Hamlet

Attempts on Her Life

Tuition fees for academic year 2020-21

• Scottish/EU Students – £1,820
• Rest of UK (RUK) Students – £9,250
• International (Non EU) – £17,685

Scottish/EU students

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish-based and other non-UK undergraduate EU students, who are studying in Scotland at degree level for the first time. Students should apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees even if they are not applying for any other means of support. Eligible students can also apply for student loans through SAAS . For further advice and to check eligibility contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505 or visit their website.

Rest of UK students

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland will be eligible for the same funding/loan package that they would benefit from if they attended an institution in their home country. For further advice please visit student finance England , student financeWales , or student finance Northern Ireland as appropriate.

International students

Students from outside the EU typically fund higher education by a variety of resources, depending on the home country. More specific information on funding options relevant to specific countries can be found on our International page.

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available here

Sources of external funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit here.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance requirements

• Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above)
• A Levels – 2 passes
• International Baccalaureate – minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 7.5 (with a score of 7.5 in speaking) is required.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Apply via UCAS conservatoires

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires website. The UCAS Conservatoires application system is separate from the main UCAS undergraduate application system. If you wish to apply to conservatoires and universities within UCAS, you will need to register for both services.

There is a UCAS application fee of £25 to register to use UCAS Conservatoires.

To begin a new UCAS Conservatoires application, you will need to register. You can read the UCAS Conservatoires’ advice on completing the UCAS Conservatoires application.

If you need assistance with your application, you can contact UCAS Conservatoires team by telephoning (Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 18.00). Phone 0371 468 0470 from within the UK or +44 330 3330 232 if you are calling from overseas.

Application deadline date

The closing date for all on time undergraduate applications from the UK and EU is 15 January 2020. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that you will be invited to audition.

The closing date for international applications (non EU) is 31 March 2020. If you do consider to submit a late application, please contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2021, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58.

You will also require the following programme code to apply:

BA Acting: W410 – Drama Performance

Application fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £25. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition fee. For RCS, the audition fee is £55 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition administration fee of £55 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information.

References

It is your responsibility to ask two separate referees to write references and ensure that these are sent to RCS.

The references must be written by two different people and we will not accept references from family, other relatives or close friends. You can submit your UCAS Conservatoires application form and send your references at a later date, but they must be received prior to your audition date.

UCAS Conservatoires provides reference forms for you to download and send to your referees for completion.

Entrance requirements

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance requirements

• Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above)
• A Levels – 2 passes
• International Baccalaureate – minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 7.5 (with a score of 7.5 in speaking) is required.

 

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Selection process

Applicants who apply on time (before 15 January) are invited by email, approximately three weeks before the audition date, to RCS to undertake an audition/interview. All auditions/interviews will take place at RCS in Glasgow unless you have chosen another location.

Please note that RCS is only obliged to offer one audition/interview date per application. Alternative dates will only be provided (subject to availability) in exceptional circumstances. If you are unable to make your allocated audition date, you should email us immediately stating the reason.

BA Acting auditions will take place from mid November to May.

 

Recorded audition

If you are auditioning via video recording, please read the following information before sending us your material. Prior to submitting a recorded audition, you must apply via UCAS Conservatoires. Recorded auditions can be easily submitted online using Acceptd.

You will need to create an account, but then you can easily upload the recordings you wish to be considered. Recordings will not be considered until a UCAS Conservatoires application has been submitted. Once you have completed the UCAS Conservatoires application, you should proceed to Acceptd to submit your video recording. We will only accept recordings submitted via Acceptd and will not accept any other format, i.e. DVDs. Recordings should arrive by the 15 January 2020 (EU applicants) and 31 March 2020 (International – non EU).

Prepare two speeches to perform in character.  You are asked to prepare two contrasting speeches. One of these can be from a play by William Shakespeare, preferably in verse, and the other a contrasting contemporary piece of your own choice, but you can also choose two contemporary speeches.Each speech should be no less than one minute and no more than three minutes. Please also include a personal statement at the beginning (straight to camera). This should include a brief overview of your background and why you are interested in studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Please also include a variety of close, medium and long shots in your audition.

Please note that following submitting an audition recording, you may have a Skype interview with the panel. If they wish to recall you to an audition workshop, you will be invited to attend a workshop audition recall at the Conservatoire. If you cannot attend this, a further Skype interview will be arranged with the Head of Acting and a lecturer of the programme.

Associate Head of Acting, Ali de Souza, gives his top tips on how to record your audition.

Audition

Acting Auditions

Auditions can be a daunting experience but we try to make it as enjoyable a process as possible. Watch our videos below that feature our expert staff talking you through the process.

Audition Process

1^st Round Audition

For the 1^st round audition, you will be asked to prepare two contrasting speeches. One of these can be from a play by William Shakespeare, preferably in verse, and the other a contrasting contemporary piece of your own choice, but you can also choose two contemporary speeches.

The 1^st round audition will start with a warm up, followed by your individual audition. A group question and answer session with the panel takes place at the end of the session.

1^st Recall Audition

Applicants who proceed past the 1^st round audition will be invited to attend a 1^st recall audition.
The morning will involve voice, movement and acting (improvisation) sessions.  You will be asked to prepare a piece of text for part of the voice session.  A selection of texts, for you to choose from and prepare, will be emailed to you in advance.  If you are recalled to the afternoon, you will be asked to perform one of your speeches. This will be followed by an interview.

Final Recall Audition

Applicants who proceed past the 1^st recall will be invited to attend a final recall audition.  The final recall audition consists of performing one of your speeches again, and a prepared scene.  You will be emailed a scene to prepare in advance.  The practical part of the audition will be followed by a final interview.

International Auditions

Whilst most auditions take place at the Conservatoire in Glasgow, we do hold auditions internationally. If you wish to audition overseas, please visit our International site here for further information on that particular application process as well as details about the venue and date(s): https://international.rcs.ac.uk. Should you plan on auditioning overseas, we kindly ask that you submit your application at least one month in advance of the audition date. If you apply less than a month in advance, we cannot guarantee to audition you in person, and we may ask you to submit a recording instead.

If you select ‘RCS’ as the Audition Location on on your application, your audition will take place in Glasgow. We welcome recorded auditions from non-UK applicants. If you wish to audition by recording, please select ‘recording’. If you require further information about auditioning internationally, please email hello@rcs.ac.uk.

UK Auditions

We will also be holding auditions in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Manchester for BA Acting from February to April (to be confirmed). To audition at these locations, you must apply via UCAS Conservatoires by 15 December 2019.  Audition spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that Belfast and Cardiff are now full and we no longer have any audition slots for this location. For more information on our UK auditions, please e-mail our Admissions team at admissions@rcs.ac.uk.

 

Following your audition

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition via UCAS Conservatoires Track,  (you will need your username and password). You will also receive notification from UCAS Conservatoires when decisions on all your choices are available.

Please see below for an explanation of UCAS Conservatoires codes:

Guaranteed Unconditional (GU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualification are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding.

Guaranteed Conditional (GC) RCS has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding if you accept the offer and meet the conditions. You must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2020, unless an earlier date is specified. If your conditions include obtaining IELTS (English Language test), you must meet this condition by 31 May 2020.

Reserve Unconditional (VU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and you have been offered a place on our reserve pool.

Reserve Conditional (VC) RCS has offered a place on its reserve pool subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track.

Unsuccessful (R) RCS does not wish to offer you any type of a place.

Replying to offers

As soon as a decision is made, UCAS Conservatoires will let you know. You must reply online via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Your reply date is displayed on Track. If you do not reply by the date given, your offers will be declined automatically. The reply date may be different to other applicants as it is based on when you receive your last decision.

Last decision by	Your reply date is
3 January 2020	31 January 2020
16 March 2020	14 April 2020
14 July 2020	30 July 2020
4 August 2020	8 September 2020
After 4 August 2020	22 September 2020

Please see the UCAS Conservatoires website for more information on replying to offers. If you make an application through UCAS Conservatoires, UCAS or UCAS Teacher Training, you cannot hold more than one confirmed place. A confirmed place in UCAS Conservatoires is a guaranteed unconditional offer as your first choice (GU1) and in UCAS and UCAS Teacher Training it is an unconditional firm (UF) place. If you receive more than one confirmed place, UCAS will ask you to accept one offer and withdraw from any others.

Policy

We have a number of policies and statements which you should read when applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire.

Please select the links below to read each policy.

• Feedback policy
• Equality and diversity
• Applicants with disabilities
• Guidance for applicants with criminal convictions
• Admissions policy