We’re delighted to share some big news for actors, makers, and creative artists thinking about taking the next step in their training: our One Year Acting Course at The Oxford School of Drama will be validated into a full One Year MA in Acting with our new academic partner, the University of West London.
This marks an exciting new chapter, but it’s one rooted in everything that made our celebrated One Year Course special in the first place.
What’s Actually Changed?
The heart and soul of the training remains exactly the same. The course still runs over four intensive, immersive terms, moving from deep creative and technical work through to professional performance experiences, including a London season in front of industry audiences.
What’s new is that this training now leads to a Master of Arts (MA) in Acting, validated and awarded by the University of West London, giving you a recognised postgraduate qualification on completion.
Same Training, Same Values
If you’ve been inspired by OSD’s collaboration, creativity, and craft, you’ll find nothing has been lost in this transition. The course still:
prioritises individual artistic development alongside ensemble work, with a maximum cohort size that keeps the training personal and supportive;
is rooted in practical, industry-informed training drawing on approaches from Stanislavski to Lecoq and beyond;
culminates in productions and showcases designed to connect you with directors, agents and casting professionals.
This isn’t a course that has been “academic-ified”, it’s the same hands-on, bold training, now recognised with a postgraduate degree.
No Change to Entry Requirements
One of the things that makes OSD so special is our openness to talent and potential, no matter your formal educational background. You do not need an undergraduate degree to apply. We have always looked for applicants who demonstrate talent and the ability to reach their creative potential within a year, and this hasn’t changed.
This makes the One Year MA in Acting an exciting and accessible option for people coming from all kinds of backgrounds; whether you’re shifting careers, returning to performance later in life, or progressing from other training pathways. This course is a chance to challenge yourself in a creatively fulfilling environment surrounded by like-minded creatives.
What It Means for You
There are changes to the funding options available to you. Applying for a course that is degree level means you are able to apply for a Postgraduate Student Loan, as you would at any other University.
These loans broaden the reach of people who are able to receive funding to support their studies, as they are not means-tested and they are not age-capped.
The MA has also brought about a few changes to our audition process, so make sure that you double-check the audition process section of the One Year MA in Acting course page before you begin your application.
We’re really excited about our partnership with the University of West London, and we hope you are too. Applications for the One Year MA in Acting are now open, and we can’t wait to begin receiving your self-tapes!
If you have any questions about the course please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Admissions Team at auditions@oxforddrama.ac.uk