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How to Apply
Applications for admission in September 2025 are now open. Please keep reading for information on what we require for auditions and how the process works. Remember that we are a Conservatoire, not a University, and so our application and funding processes are different. Make sure you carefully read the information below and the Funding and Fees page before applying to our courses, and watch our guide to applying video. For ease, we have summarised some common FAQs in the tabs below.
Open Days and Events for the academic year 2024/2025 are underway. Check here for details on how you can visit the school and find out more about life at OSD!
I am an international student. Can I apply? No, not to our full-time courses. Unfortunately, unless you have pre-settled/settled status/leave to remain, we are unable to process your application for our full-time courses. This is not our decision, it is a result of government changes to international student visas.
Irish citizens are eligible to apply for any of our courses and do not require a visa to study or work in the UK or pre-settled/settled status.
We are able to accept international students into our Foundation courses as long as you meet the criteria stated here.
I don’t live in the UK. Can I do an online recall? No. All of our Recalls must take place in person (with the exception of the Musical Theatre Second Recall). We want to meet you! Please take this into consideration before applying. You will need to be able to commit to travelling to the UK should you be successful.
Do you offer free auditions? Yes! We do this on a means-tested basis. Check Step 2 of the Application process below to see if you qualify.
When do applications close? The application deadline is midnight on the 22nd of May 2025. We do not accept applications submitted after this time.
When should I submit my application? As soon as you can. This is especially important if you have exams in May or June. The later in the season you apply, the fewer audition dates we will have to meet your availability.
You must provide us with any dates you are unavailable on the application form. This will help our applications team to offer you audition dates we know you’ll be able to attend.
What happens after my self-tape is submitted? We will be in touch within 4 weeks of receiving your application. If successful, we will invite you to an in-person recall audition. We ask that you confirm your attendance within two days of receiving your recall date.
Note that we will offer you audition dates based on the availability you give us on your application form. If you know you will be travelling or in exams, you must let us know on the application form.
What happens at Recall? We have two in-person recall stages. We currently hold a first recall audition on a Friday and a second recall on a Wednesday, though this is subject to change. At both the first and second recall, you will take part in a group workshop, as well as perform your monologues. Second Recalls for the Musical Theatre Foundation Course will take place online with our singing tutor.
What speeches do I need? For all courses you will be required to prepare two contrasting speeches:
- One contemporary monologue no more than 2 minutes in length
- One Classical monologue no more than 2 minutes in length
For your self-tape, you have the choice to present any of the following instead of the classical monologue:
- A second contemporary monologue no more than 2 minutes in length
- A self-written monologue no more than 2 minutes in length
- A poem no more than 2 minutes in length
For the Foundation Course in Acting with Musical Theatre you will be required to prepare the following in addition to your two speeches:
- A Song (2 minutes total) – The style of song is up to you, but it should be either musical theatre, pop or a traditional folk song. If you choose a pop or musical theatre song it should be accompanied and if you chose a folk song, it is up to you whether it is accompanied or not.
For full details, please see the ‘First Round Self Tape’ and ‘First Recall’ tabs under ‘The Audition Process.’ below
Do you have Open Days? Yes! We hold 2 Open Days per academic year, one in the Autumn term and one in the Spring Term. You can find out more, and get the latest updates on this years Open Days here.
We also hold webinar events, which are remote, online open events that allow you to hear a little more about our training ethos and ask members of staff and students questions about life at OSD. Dates and further information can be found here.
Before You Apply
Entry is by Audition only.
It is possible to apply for a maximum of three courses on one application form. During the audition process, the audition panel will decide which course you are best suited for.
There are no academic requirements for our courses, nor do we have an upper age limit for application.
To apply, you must be:
- 18 years old by 29th September 2025
- 21 years old by 29th September 2025 for our One Year Course
- A UK national
- If you are not a UK national, you must have indefinite leave to remain/settled status, be an Irish citizen, or be part of the Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme.
- Eligible for a 6-month short-term study visa for our Foundation Courses if you are an international student. To confirm your eligibility, please consult the government website here.
- Available to travel to Oxford for an in-person recall audition
- Passionate about the craft of Acting
Free auditions
We offer free auditions to people whose financial circumstances may prevent them from applying to us. To be eligible for the free audition, you must meet all of the criteria listed below:
• You are a resident in the UK
• You live in a household with a gross annual income of below £35,000
Please download the free audition Application Form and email the completed form and income evidence to auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk before applying to the School.
Please see the audition fee information below for those who are not eligible for an audition fee waiver.
- The First Round audition is by self-tape and an audition fee of £15 is paid on application.
- The Recall audition is held at the School, and a final audition fee of £30 is paid when confirming your place.
Please note that audition fees are non-refundable. Applications submitted without an audition fee will not be considered.
The Recall audition fee must be paid by the deadline in your invitation email.
Self-Tape
Before completing your application form, you will need to film and submit your self-tape.
You are required to provide us with a link to one video, which includes a brief introduction, one contemporary speech, and a second contrasting speech which can be either:
- Contemporary
- Classical
- Poetry
- Self-written
The speeches are of your choosing, but if you would like to take one of our suggestions for classical speeches, please click here to view the list.
For those unsure or unconfident about your second piece, we encourage you to take one of our suggestions.
Please take a moment to watch our Self-Tape tips video before continuing with your application.
If you are applying for the Foundation in Acting with Musical Theatre, you must provide a link to a second video containing your song. The style of song is up to you, but it should be either musical theatre, pop or a traditional folk song. If you choose a pop or musical theatre song it should be accompanied and if you chose a folk song, it is up to you whether it is accompanied or not.
Further details on the self-tape can be found below in ‘The Audition Process’.
Press the APPLY button at the bottom of the page
On the application form you will be asked:
- To confirm your eligibility (see step 1)
- To provide your contact details
- To pick your courses (you can apply for a maximum of 3)
- To list any dates you are unavailable to travel to the school for auditions – this is incredibly important; please be specific if you know you have limited availability
- To list your education history (remember, we don’t require academic qualifications; this helps the panel to get a fuller picture of your background)
- To write Something About You. Speak from your heart. We want to get a feel for who you are. Please don’t feel compelled to use AI to make your writing style differ from your natural voice.
- To name the character and play for each of your audition speeches
- To provide one link to your self-tape audition for Acting Courses and two links to your audition and song for the Acting with Musical Theatre course
- Please make sure there is no expiry date for viewing the link because we may want to access your audition at recall and waiting list stages. The link should be in this format: https://vimeo.com/000000000
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic email confirmation.
Within 4 weeks of receiving your application, we will contact you to let you know the outcome of your first-round self-tape audition.
We will contact you via e-mail with an attached pdf, so please make sure that you also check your Spam folder for any communication from the School. Please contact Admissions if you haven’t heard from us within 4 weeks: auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk.
The Audition Process
Filming Your First Round Self-Tape
Before completing your application form, you will need to film and submit your self-tape.
Your self-tape should be between 6-7 minutes long for Acting courses and 8-9 minutes long for our Acting with Musical Theatre Foundation Course. If your self-tape is more than 7 or 9 minutes long the panel will not watch to the end of the tape.
You are required to provide us with a link to one video which contains the following:
1. Introduction (2 minutes total): Film a close up of your face and tell us
- Your name
- Which pieces you will be performing
- Why you have chosen these pieces – what have you emotionally connected with, do you relate to the character in some way?
- Which course(s) you are applying for
- Why you wish to train at the Oxford School of Drama
Note: There is no right or wrong way to do your introduction. Speak from the heart, give us the chance to see who you are before you show us your work.
Change position by moving back from camera to a waist up shot and deliver the two pieces. Your eyeline should be to the side of the camera, not looking directly into the camera.
2. A contemporary speech (2 minutes total): From a 20th or 21st century play.
3. A contrasting second speech (2 minutes total): Contrasting means the character experiences a completely different journey, has different attitudes and/or expresses themselves differently. This contrasting speech can be any of the following
- A second contemporary speech
- A classical speech from the 16th or 17th century. This can be Shakespeare or any other writer from that period; for example, John Ford, Ben Jonson, Mary Pix, Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn.
- A poem or song lyrics where the language evokes an imaginative awareness of experience or an emotional response through language.
- A speech you have written yourself
We have a list of suggested classical pieces if you are unsure of what to choose, please click here to view the list.
4. If you are applying for the Acting with Musical Theatre Foundation Course please also submit:
A Song (2 minutes total) – The style of song is up to you, but it should be either musical theatre, pop or a traditional folk song. If you choose a pop or musical theatre song it should be accompanied and if you chose a folk song, it is up to you whether it is accompanied or not.
Now you have your self-tape filmed, upload your video to Vimeo/YouTube making sure the link works for someone who isn’t logged in, that settings are set to either public or only set to private if people with the link can access it.
You will hear back from us within 4 weeks.
If your first round audition is not successful, we will email you to inform you. You will be able to call the School to obtain feedback on your audition from the Admissions Manager on the days/times stated in the email.
If you are successful in the First Round, you will be invited to a First Recall Audition.
Your First Recall Audition
You will need to present two speeches at Recall Auditions. They should be:
- A contemporary speech – if you did two contemporary speeches in your Self-Tape, you can choose which one to present to the panel.
- A contrasting classical speech – from the 16th or 17th century. This can be Shakespeare or any other writer from that period; for example, John Ford, Ben Jonson, Mary Pix, Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn. If you chose to do a classical speech in your Self-Tape you can bring the same speech, if you chose not to do a classical speech, we have a list of recommended speeches here.
This audition takes place in person at OSD. We cannot complete a recall audition online, so remember to be prepared to travel to Oxford at the time of application and let us know any dates that you are unavailable before you submit your self-tape.
We will email you an attached PDF document that details the time and date of your first recall.
Please be ready to confirm your First Recall audition by making the Recall payment by the date requested in your First Recall invitation. This is usually within two working days of us sending the email.
Please come in loose-fitting clothing, something you are comfortable and confident in, and be prepared to work barefoot.
On the day you can expect the following:
- You will be offered a place in a free taxi from Oxford to the School should you need transport
- You will be greeted on arrival by either a member of our admissions team or a friendly OSD graduate
- You will take part in a group workshop led by the audition panel
- You will present your two audition speeches to the audition panel
- The panel may workshop and re-direct your speeches a little, so be prepared to change how you usually perform them
- The panel will take some time to chat with you and ask you some questions
- There will be tea, coffee, and water provided at the school
To prepare for your first recall audition, please watch our In-person Recall Audition Tips.
If you are successful at your First Recall Audition, we will either invite you for a Second Recall (Three and One Year Course) or we may offer you a place (Foundation Courses).
If you are unsuccessful, you will be given information on when is best to call to receive feedback on your audition.
Your Second Recall
The second recall is a development on the First Recall.
We ask that you still wear loose-fitting clothing that you are comfortable and confident in and are ready to work barefoot.
On the day you can expect to:
- Work more closely with two members of the audition panel
- Take part in a group workshop
- Work from some text you haven’t seen before
- Workshop one of your speeches in detail
We want to see you working with others and connecting to the work through our central pillars of collaboration, creativity, and craft.
After a Second Recall, if you are successful, you will either be offered a place on a course or placed on our waiting list.
If you are unsuccessful, we will give you details of when to call the school for feedback from the panel member who worked with you during your Second Recall.
Guide To Applying
How To Apply
Technical Guide To Filming Your Self-Tape
Tips From OSD Students
How To Deal With Audition Nerves?
How To Choose Your Monologues?
Favourite Part Of The Auditions?
Quick Reference Self-Tape Tips
- Stand away from the background which should be plain and not distracting.
- Pick a quiet room with some space to move and no background noise.
- Be aware of your distance from the camera/mic and speak up (project) when further away.
- Make sure the room is bright and you can be seen clearly – lit from the front rather than above or behind.
- Do not place yourself in silhouette – be careful of the position of windows.
- Try and use a tripod – not handheld. If you don’t have a tripod, spend a bit of time experimenting to ensure that your smartphone is secure.
- Your eyeline should be to the side of the camera when you are performing your monologues, you may find it helpful having someone standing just to side of the camera, out of shot, for you to talk to.
- Avoid props and costume.
- Make sure you check the video for any audio issues etc before you upload the link to the application form.
- Double check that the settings are not set to “private” and that there is no expiration date on the video.
