Entry to MA Directing is highly competitive. Selection to the course is determined by the quality of the application: this is indicated primarily in the quality of your interview and practical work.

Minimum entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have achieved, or be expected to achieve, the course entry requirements details below:

• A Foundation Diploma in Performance (level 3 or 4)
• A pass in 1 GCE A Level
• 3 Passes at GCSE (grade C or above)

OR

• Passes in 2 GCE A Levels
• 3 Passes at GCSE (grade C or above)

OR

• International Baccalaureate Diploma pass achieved at 28 points or above
• An equivalent high school qualification from an EU or non-EU institution

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered if the course team judges the application demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might be demonstrated by, for example: related academic or work experience; the quality of the personal statement; a strong academic or other professional reference; or a combination of these factors.

English language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability in order to apply for a visa, enrol, and start your course. The English language requirement for entry for this course is:

IELTS 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four skills (in one single paper).

For further information visit the English Language requirements page.

Applicants who will need a Tier 4 General Student Visa should check the Visa and Immigration page which provides important information about UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.

The course is open equally to recent school leavers (who may have spent a year or more working, preferably in a theatre/media context) and to mature entrants with life and work experience, preferably in a performance-related context. The course welcomes applications from mature candidates as well as those from ethnic and social groups currently under-represented in Higher Education in general and the directing profession in particular.

We are looking for potential student directors who are committed, imaginative, curious and resilient, with respect for actors and a passion for directing, and a serious approach to the art of directing in the classical tradition and for the screen. We are looking for people who are not afraid to take creative risks, who respond to stimuli and who are excited by the idea of being in an ensemble, working generously and openly with others.

Selection criteria

In assessing your suitability for MA Directing the admissions panels will give equal weight to your interview and your directing workshop taking into account the following criteria:

• Expressivity and the ability to communicate articulately
• Creative engagement with actors and the group;
• Ability to understand and analyse dramatic texts;
• Imagination –visual sense; sensuous engagement with the material;
• Story telling – understanding of narrative devises, character, visual means of expression, textual stresses, build up and resolution of tension;
• Spirit of enquiry – artistic and cultural curiosity and engagement; knowledge of the world of theatre and screen;
• Balance between emotional and intellectual engagement;
• Knowledge of theatre and/or screen;
• Knowledge and experience of the demands and realities of the profession.

Home/EU fee

£9,250 (2018/19). TBC

Tuition fees for undergraduate degree courses have been set at £9,250 per year for full-time study. This applies from the 2018/19 academic year, subject to changes in the law. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.

International fee

£19,350 (2018/19).

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

MA Directing focuses on directing for both the theatre and recorded media (film, television and radio). It provides an in-depth study of the art of the actor so that future directors will have an organic understanding of the acting process and a common language with performers. Initially the directing course is integrated with MA Acting at Drama Centre London, but subsequently students focus more specifically on subjects related to directing.

MA Directing offers you developing opportunities to work with actors:

• in the first place, by acting alongside them and observing actors at work
• at more advanced stages, through undertaking increasingly complex assistant director functions
• finally, by directing fellow students in a number of projects.

You'll also have the opportunity to collaborate with designers, musical directors and choreographers, fight directors, editors and sound engineers. In the latter stages of the course you have two opportunities for placements with a variety of theatre and television companies in London and beyond, during which you may observe not only artistic work, but also aspects of technical production, management, publicity, marketing and outreach.

In recent years placement opportunities (on BA Directing) were offered, amongst others, by:

• The Maly Theatre, St. Petersburg
• Jim Neason at the Irondale Theatre Company, New York
• Colin Chambers and the Royal Shakespeare Company on Tynan
• Declan Donnellan at the Royal National Theatre, the RSC and for Cheek by Jowl
• Peter Gill on The Voysey Inheritance at the Royal National Theatre
• Joanna Hogg on the film Unrelated in Italy
• Miklos Jancso on the film Dear Julia in Hungary
• Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale at Shared Experience
• Theatre Royal, Stratford East
• Di Trevis at Watford Theatre and for Quantum Theatre Company in Pittsburgh
• Betty TV
• Arcola Theatre, London
• Soho Theatre
• The Orange Tree Theatre
• Finborough Theatre
• Ivo Van Hove
• Katie Mitchell

Future careers

MA Directing aims to deepen your awareness of the profession in all its aspects, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the directing life. In addition to your education and training as an director, we offer education and training for life and work through our personal and professional development programmes.

Many ex-students of Drama Centre London have become successful actors and directors, or have become professionally involved in the wider creative worlds of theatre and the recorded media.

Graduates of the Directing Course at Drama Centre London include artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatres of Greece, Iran, Israel and Portugal, as well as distinguished freelance directors in theatre, film and television. More recently, graduates of the BA Directing course went on to work for leading companies soon after graduation, including:

• The Arcola Theatre, London and the Trafalgar Studios (West End)
• The National Theatre Studio
• The Burgtheater, Vienna
• Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company
• The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
• The Royal Shakespeare Company