UK Schools

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I was just curious if anyone knew which of European schools with an MT or Theatre program typically come to do auditions overseas? Does anyone remember any being at unifieds?</p>

2

<p>UNITED KINGDOM</p>

<p>Guildford School of Acting (BA)
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (BA)
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (BA)</p>

<p>These all hold or have held auditions in the USA. These are posted on the “Big List” link at the top of the forum page (post #168):</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You can find a list of UK theatre schools here (UK Conference of Drama Schools):</p>

<p>[Welcome</a> to the Conference of Drama Schools](<a href=“stocksphere.com”>stocksphere.com)</p>

<p>Some general information that might be of interest can be found here (UK National Council for Drama Training):</p>

<p>[National</a> Council for Drama Training](<a href=“http://www.ncdt.co.uk/]National”>http://www.ncdt.co.uk/)</p>

<p>Here are four threads on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/527686-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/527686-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1086778-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1086778-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/432868-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/432868-royal-scottish-academy-music-drama.html?highlight=royal&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/87285-royal-academy-dramatic-arts.html?highlight=royal[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/87285-royal-academy-dramatic-arts.html?highlight=royal&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There is a book on MT in the UK:</p>

<p>“So you want to tread the boards…” by Jennifer Reischel which is available on Amazon</p>

3

<p>Liverpool was in Los Angeles.</p>

4

<p>Just got back from England auditioned for Guildhall they do 1 musical a year but, they are very much a straight acting program they do look for types also,went to Liverpool to Lipa I was accepted there and even though I heard negative things about Liverpool itself I rather liked it.Lipa was great but,was a little disappointed in the overall show I saw. I am going to audition next year to Laine, Guilford, Mountview and Central they are all within a half hour of London which is were you really want to be! Most of these schools really stress strong dancing skills and producing triple threats. While I was there I saw Sweeny Todd and Matilda amazing most of the ensemble came from either Laine or Rose Bird I believe.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think Mountview comes to Unifieds anymore, but last year, they did accept DVD auditions from US students.</p>

6

<p>As always thank you guys for the help! Thanks to EmsDad for Conference of Drama Schools website!</p>

7

<p>@TheatreG14</p>

<p>I auditioned for RCS (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Chicago (Unifieds) for Acting and MT. This year they came to NYC Unifieds and Chicago, so if you have questions about auditioning for this conservatory PM me (I was accepted for MT - attending in fall.)</p>

<p>My sister was just accepted last week to LIPA for Popular Music and Music Technology, but her Music audition involved Soundcloud and an application explaining her music. I am sure Acting or MT’s would need an audition DVD or an in-person audition, but you could look at the website to find the details, if this school is of interest.</p>

<p>I am excited my sister and I will both be studying in the UK together and will only be about 3.5 hours apart :slight_smile: There are several great schools in the UK so definitely check out the lists EmsDad provided. Good luck!</p>

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<p>@luvzthe8r, please try and remember to come back to this thread and post about your experiences! It will be so helpful for those of us with students applying to places in the UK this fall. Best of luck to you, and congratulations on getting in to such a great program!</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1321116-mt-boston-england-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1321116-mt-boston-england-help.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There are some issues surrounding attending school in the UK in that discussion that any prospective students should be aware of before applying.</p>

10

<p>@luvzthe8r I’ll definitely be pm’ing you around application,audition time thanks! and good luck in the fall!</p>

11

<p>@monkey13: Thanks so much! Can’t wait for September to roll around…excited to start at RCS. Will try to update when I can. </p>

<p>@TheatreG14: Happy to help.</p>

12

<p>RCS is awesome. The thing that impresses me the most is the stunning amount of self-evaluation the faculty is doing. </p>

<p>They are on the cutting edge of everything.</p>

13

<p>@Croner</p>

<p>Agreed! Cutting edge with an amazing list of alums so you can tell there is a strong base from which to expand. They used to be involved (Semester Abroad?) with Carnegie Mellon which also has a strong Acting/MT program but now they are separate.</p>

<p>I also like the fact that at RCS the MT’s have to learn to play an instrument besides the core classes. I saw John Doyle’s version of “Merrily We Roll Along” in Cincinnati this past March and was blown away. There was no pit orchestra but the actors themselves played the accompanying instruments. It definitely will play into an actor’s marketability factor in the future. I am a huge fan of Ben Sollee and because of that, hope to learn cello while I am at RCS. Another plus is the collaboration between disciplines like the Film Majors/MT’s and other departments. (Here is a link to the promo for a movie musical collaboration between both the Film & MT Dept. with help from the BBC. It will be a full length feature at some point in the future: </p>

<p>[Musicville</a> - YouTube](<a href=“Musicville - YouTube”>Musicville - YouTube)) </p>

<p>RCS strives to broaden the artist and skill set beyond what I observed in some U.S. and U.K. programs. There are many excellent programs out there, though, so research your options. I do believe, however, this is one to consider if you want to study Acting/MT in the United Kingdom. </p>

<p>September cannot get here soon enough!</p>

14

<p>If anyone is considering auditioning for MT at RCS, here is a link to information from the Head of Musical Theatre at RCS, Andrew Panton. He talks about their MT program as well as their audition process.</p>

<p>[Andrew</a> Panton -BA Musical Theatre.mov - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

15

<p>luvzthe8r, I want to second the request to keep us posted about your experience there, if you have time. </p>

<p>RCS would be my kids’ top choice, but I’m worried about two main things:</p>

<ol>
<li> Post graduation: How are the US connections post graduation for American students, since a Visa stay long term in England is unlikely? </li>
<li> THe bigger issue is money. I did look up loans and it seems you can get some federal loans, but there doesn’t seem to be the usual possibility of grants or scholarships for non-UK or non-European students. Do you have to be well off to afford going? (Taking out over $100,000 in loans is not an option.) Or are there any scholarships for Americans anyone knows about? Thanks.</li>
</ol>

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<p>

</p>

<p>connections, I posted the above in the other discussion about UK schools. Being able to work, let alone book theatre work, is a very real challenge upon graduation for those on a visa. Be sure to ask to be put in touch with American grads and to contact them for detailed information. It is rare to find an American with no ‘status’ actually working in the UK in theatre.</p>

17

<p>Thanks, alwaysamom–this is why my D didn’t even apply to UK schools, even though they would fit her exactly (if she got in). I’m really super glad for Americans who get in to schools such as RCS-- it’s awesome. They seem exactly what my children would want. But I keep hoping that someone knows more than I do about scholarships/grants & Visa issues; but it doesn’t seem so–it seems if you aren’t well off, it’s impossible to go a UK school, excellent as it is. And if you are well off and don’t have UK relatives, I guess you hope to gain connections internationally? I’m sure the Visa restrictions are formidable. But if you’re well off, maybe you could fly home during the summers and get internships here–then you’d gain connections that way… Oh well. Maybe a money tree will grow in our backyard! :-)</p>

18

<p>@connections: </p>

<p>RCS does offer scholarships to international students. I received a nice scholarship offer to offset my fees for the first year. I had no idea they awarded scholarships to American students and had a surprise e-mail from them in early May. I am also very fortunate to have earned three other local/regional scholarships to further offset my tuition fees next year. Another friend (male) was also one of the Americans accepted to RCS and has been offered a scholarship for all three years of the program, so it is possible for U.S. students to earn one. The down side is that not all U.S. Scholarships award to students studying overseas, so you do have to read the fine print when applying for scholarships. </p>

<p>The tuition fees at RCS are actually more reasonable than some U.S. MT programs (around $21,000 per year). Also on the plus side, the BA MT programs in the UK are only three year programs, so I have one less year of tuition than in the states. Housing is about $8,000 for next year. You do have to factor in travel expenses which can mean $1,000 or more for round-trip airline tickets (my Dad travels a lot so I can use some of his FF miles). It’s $450 for an international VISA to study in the U.K. I am allowed to work up to 20 hours a week while I am in Glasgow and can work full time during school vacations. I don’t plan on doing that my first year (during school), but it is an option. Next year I hope to become an RA at the dorms and get a reduction in housing fees. My Dad’s company is based near London, so I can see him from time to time when he is over in the U.K. on business (and I bet my Mom tags along, too). My sister will also be studying in the U.K. this fall, so I will be able to see my family from time to time.</p>

<p>I think students can qualify for Federal Student loans, but I am not sure about that. I am not using any loans right now, so I can’t comment on that topic.</p>

<p>After graduation, I can stay in the U.K. up to two years and if I book work, I can apply for one more year or I can return to the states and look for work in NYC. </p>

<p>alwaysamom is right…anyone looking into ANY U.K. program should find out/research the details to make a well informed decision. This is the right one for me, but it may not be right for everyone. In my college research I found many great programs. RCS was the only U.K. school I auditioned for and was definitely a “reach/dream” school. My goal was never just to study abroad, it was to find the right program for me. </p>

<p>monkey13 & connections: I will try to post an update at some point during the first semester.</p>

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<p>lovethe8r, First, again, congrats. It’s quite an accomplishment getting in and I bet you’re super excited! Can I ask how you earned the scholarship? Was this automatically awarded from RCS or did you apply for it? I"m taking it that it’s merit based? </p>

<p>As far as British schools in general being cheaper than most American colleges, while that’s true, it’s also true that American colleges can give need based grants; my older daughter goes to a top LAC for about half what we’d pay to go to our state university. Anyway, any specific info you or anyone can provide on UK scholarships to American students would be much appreciated! And keep us posted–</p>

20

<p>Thank you. The scholarship I received was talent based (auditions are filmed and reviewed in the U.K.). Everyone who auditions is eligible. You do not have to apply separately for it. Until I got the e-mail, I didn’t know international students were considered for RCS scholarships. Yes, very excited…I am counting the days until the semester begins…</p>