FAQS
Click the questions below to reveal the answers.
Are there any academic requirements for your courses?
There are no academic requirements for any of our courses.
Can I join as an exchange student or as part of a semester abroad program?
We do not offer any exchange or semester abroad programs. All students enrolled at the school are enrolled for the full duration of their chosen course (Six Months, One Year, Three Years).
Can I apply to multiple courses?
Can I apply to both the Three Year and One Year Course? In most cases, we recommend applying for the course that best suits you at this stage of your development.
The Three Year Course and One Year Course are quite different, and so we encourage you to really study each course page and consider which course is the best fit for you. This is why we have decided to separate the Three Year and One Year Course application forms.
If you would like to discuss your options before applying, please email auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk.
Keep in mind that if the audition panel feels you may be better suited to a different course than the one you have applied for, they will let you know and invite you to apply for that course instead.
Can I apply for both the Foundation and Three Year Course? Yes, absolutely. It’s very common for people seeking to study on the Three Year Course to also apply to the Foundation Course. You can do this by selecting both boxes on our application form.
How big are the classes?
We have 19 students in each year of the Three Year Course, 19 students on the One Year Course and no more than 18 in each class of the Foundation Course.
When do you accept applications for the full time courses?
Applications open at a slightly different time each year and can be different for each course.
Generally speaking, applications for our Foundation and Three Year Courses will open between September and December
Once applications are open, we urge applicants to submit their applications as early as possible so that we can allocate recall auditions.
All our recall auditions are held in person at the school, so submitting your application earlier in the season allows more opportunity to allocate you a recall date within your available dates.
As the season closes, we can only run a limited number of recall days.
For instructions on how to apply, please go to the apply page.
Do you offer any free auditions?
Yes. We aim to ensure fairer access by offering a free audition place to eligible applicants who aspire to train at drama school. We are able to offer 100 free auditions to people whose financial circumstances may prevent them from applying to us.
For instructions on how to apply for a free audition please go to the apply page.
I am an international student, can I apply for your Three or One Year courses?
No. The Oxford School of Drama does not hold the licences to issue the documentation required by international students to support their visa applications. Therefore, we are not able to accept international students on the Three Year Course or One Year Course unless they have the right to remain in the UK/settled status.
Students can, however, enter the country for a period of 6-months to study as part of the Standard Entry Visa. This means that international students can apply for our Foundation Courses.
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.
For more information about whether you are eligible for our full time courses visit the apply page.
We also run short acting courses which are open to international students. Please visit the Short Course page for more information.
Can I audition remotely?
All successful applicants will be invited to an in-person recall at the school. We are unable to facilitate remote recall auditions for individuals who may be living abroad or are unable to travel.
Recall dates are pre-set and advertised on our Apply Now page, which we hope allows you to plan ahead and let us know which dates would work best for you.
What are the fees for the courses?
The majority of our Three Year and One Year Course students receive funding and so do not pay the published fee rate. For students who pay the full fees because they are not eligible to receive government funding (e.g. they are aged 24+ or their household income is more than £90,000 per year), the course fees are as below for the academic year 26/27:
Three Year Course in Acting: £19,500 per year for students who do not receive government funding
One Year Course in Acting: £21,000 per year for students who do not receive government funding
Acting Foundation Course (Sept – March):
£9,200 for the whole course
Acting with Musical Theatre Foundation Course (Sept – March):
£9,200 for the whole course
Please note that, unfortunately, there is no public funding available for the Foundation Course.
How can I fund my course?
Most students are able to fund their training with us through the mixture of government funding available to them – be that the Dance and Drama Award, Advanced Learner Loan, or another form of government funding. You can read all about the funding options available to you on our Funding and Fees page.
I am from Ukraine, can I apply for your courses?
Ukrainian students and their family members supported through the Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme are eligible to apply for any of our courses. They are then immediately eligible to apply for Dance and Drama Awards funding for tuition fees and living costs and are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement as per the current Dance and Drama Awards scheme guide (2022/23).
Do you provide accommodation for students?
No. Students on the One/Three Year courses house share, usually North of Oxford (just 8 miles from the School) or in towns and villages surrounding the School (Kidlington, Woodstock etc).
We don’t arrange accommodation for you; students arrange this amongst themselves. However, we will occasionally share listings from known landlords/property companies on the student portal. You can access the student portal once you have accepted an offer to train with us.
As the Foundation Courses are only six months long, the majority of students on the course stay with local host families. We provide a list of local families known to the School, and then students arrange to meet families and view properties themselves. Many of the families on our host family list have been hosting students for many years, and understand the differences between drama school training and traditional university courses. Some families are even parents of former students, or former students themselves!
Do you have any evening, weekend, or part-time courses?
Yes, we offer online and in-person short courses. Please visit our Short Courses page for more information.
Can I come and have a look around the school?
It is only possible to visit the School during our Open Events. Details about future Open Events will be announced in our newsletter and on our Open Events page. We hold one in the Autumn Term and one in the Spring Term.
We aren’t able to give personal one-on-one tours, and we would discourage you from popping by in the hopes you’ll be shown around. If you are unable to attend a traditional Open Event for a medical reason, then please get in touch with us at auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk
Can I order a hard copy of the prospectus?
Yes, absolutely. Please email us at info@oxforddrama.ac.uk with the subject ‘Prospectus Request’ and provide us with your full name and postal address. You can view the online copy here.
Tanya Reynolds, Graduate of the One Year Acting Course, 2015
Alexander Marks, Graduate of the One Year Acting Course, 2022