Application Opens:
4th November 2025
Application Deadline:
Summer 2026
Course Start Date:
September 2026
Length of Course:
Six Months
Age Requirement:
18+ at the start of the course
Foundation Course in Acting
This intensive Foundation Course in Acting is designed to prepare you for rigorous degree-level training. Tailored for passionate emerging artists aged 18 and above, this course builds the essential tools of the actor: voice, movement, imagination, and presence.
The course fosters creativity, discipline, and collaboration, ensuring you are fully equipped to meet the demands of professional training and beyond.
The Foundation Course in Acting at OSD has been running for over 25 years, with the majority of graduates are now pursuing successful careers on the stage and screen.
The course lasts two terms. Entry is by audition only.
Foundation Course in Acting
This intensive Foundation Course in Acting is designed to prepare you for rigorous degree-level training. Tailored for passionate emerging artists aged 18 and above, this course builds the essential tools of the actor: voice, movement, imagination, and presence.
The course fosters creativity, discipline, and collaboration, ensuring you are fully equipped to meet the demands of professional training and beyond.
The Foundation Course in Acting at OSD has been running for over 25 years, with the majority of graduates are now pursuing successful careers on the stage and screen.
The course lasts two terms. Entry is by audition only.
Why Train at OSD?
Build Your Toolkit
Tutors and Staff
Onward Destinations
Small School
Course Structure
The training at OSD draws from the approaches and techniques of Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, Michael Chekhov, Kristin Linklater, Laban and Lecoq, among others. Below you will get a feel for how we support you in building your creative self.
The first term will introduce you to acting methods such as naturalism with Uta Hagen and Stanislavski, as well as Meisner Technique. Alongside your acting classes, you will begin exploring the disciplines of Movement, Voice, Improvisation, Singing, and Film.
Through audition technique classes, you will discuss the range of Drama Schools in the U.K. and beyond, perform to your peers, and explore audition speech repertoire. You will also have one-to-one tutorials to support and guide your audition journey.
At the end of the first term, you will perform for the school in a special Christmas presentation.
In this term, you will begin to explore the rehearsal process as well as character development. Classes in Scene Study, Acting, Voice, and Movement will all support this exploration of character and rehearsal.
The Spring Term brings the chance to perform in central Oxford in an Improv style gig for an paying public audience. This is designed to explore the challenges of gig theatre and how to create your own work.
Alongside rehearsals and performances, you will also devise and film your own short films.
At the end of the Spring Term, you will begin auditioning and applying for onward destinations such as Drama Schools and Universities (if you choose to!).
At the end of the Spring Term, you will perform with your cohort in an abridged production with full costume, set, and lighting. The audience will be your peers within OSD, as well as your invited friends and family.
This is a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself to put into practice the skills you have learnt over the six months.
Fees and Funding
Understanding Your Choices
Students enrolled on the Foundation Course in Acting are not eligible for government funding in the form of the Dance and Drama Award or the Advanced Learner Loan.
In place of larger government-back funding, we offer The Oxford School of Drama Foundation Bursaries to students in need of financial assistance.
These Bursaries are means-tested and not available to everyone – please read the drop down boxes below for more information on the Fees and Bursaries available on the Foundation Course in Acting.
Fees - Academic Year 2026/2027
Fees for the Foundation Course in Acting for the academic year 2026/2027 are:
£9,200
Bursaries
We know that the lack of Government funding for the Foundation Course in Acting is a huge barrier for some students seeking to begin their training journey with us. To address this, we offer a limited number of OSD Bursaries to students who are most in need.
Each year, we offer three £3,500 bursaries to incoming students. To be eligible for the OSD Bursaries, you must:
- Come from a household with an annual income of under £35,000 per year
The application for these bursaries is means-tested, meaning that we award students based on greatest financial need.
Please find more information on the bursaries here.
Audition Process
Application Fee: £15
Recall Fee: £30
We offer Free Auditions for those who qualify. For more information, see the tab labelled “Free Audition”
To apply for the Foundation Course, you will first need to complete our application form.
On the application form you will be asked:
- To confirm your eligibility for the course
- To provide your contact details
- 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
- 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.
You won’t be able to submit your application form until you have added a self-tape video link.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic email confirmation.
We offer free auditions to those who meet our eligibility criteria. To apply for a free audition, you must do so before making any payment on the application portal. We are unable to refund your audition fee once it has been paid.
If you meet the eligibility criteria stated here, you will be able to apply for your free audition below. The free audition form will only become available once applications for this course are open.
Eligibility
- You are a resident in the UK
- Your household income is one of the following:
- You are supported by two guardians with a combined gross annual income of below £40,000
- You live with a single guardian with a gross annual income of below £30,000
- You live independently (with no support from family or guardian) with a gross annual income of below £23,000
Please note – you will need to provide us with proof of your household income. You can attach more than one document, and proof can be in the following formats:
- Tax Credit Award Notice
- P60 or P60U for the previous tax year
- P11D
- SA302 Tax Calculation form
- Benefits Income Details form stamped by the benefits office
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. If your self-tape is more than 7 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
- Which course(s) you are applying for
- Why you wish to train at the Oxford School of Drama
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 spoken word poem
We have a list of suggested classical pieces if you are unsure of what to choose, please click here to view the list.
Note: You can start and stop the camera between each section and edit them together after filming. All we require is for all the above components to be accessible in one video link.
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 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.
- NOTE: If you chose not to do a classical speech in your self-tape, 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. Be ready to confirm your 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 recall audition, please watch our In-person Recall Audition Tips.
If you are successful at your Recall Audition, we will offer you a place on the Foundation Course.
If you aren’t successful, you will be given information on when it is best to call to get feedback on your audition.