Foundation Course in Acting (non-HE)
Is this course for me?
Are you considering whether actor training at degree level will suit you? This course is invaluable for participants who want to gain an insight into life at drama school or if you are considering a career that demands communication and presentation skills at the highest level.
Course overview
Our two-term Foundation Course in Acting is taught by RADA tutors and directors, and provides a rigorous training in the foundations of acting.
This course is not accredited and is therefore non-award bearing. In addition, please note that there is no student finance available for this course.
The curriculum offers skills classes in:
- acting technique (focusing on Stanislavski and Meisner)
- movement
- voice
- singing (group and solo)
- text analysis
Specialist classes in:
- acting for screen
- introduction to playwriting
- introduction to filmmaking
Rehearsal projects:
- contemporary playwrights
- Realist movement
- Shakespeare
During the course you will have the opportunity to explore careers in theatre and related industries, and will be introduced to practitioners who can discuss the range of career options available.
Timetable
The Foundation Course in Acting consists of two terms of 12 teaching weeks.
The programme is intensive and can involve evening and Saturday work.
Entry requirements
- Applicants must be 18 or over by the start of the course
- Candidates must have complete fluency in English
Library
An important resource with a large collection of rare and out-of-print plays in the English language. This is access to the following digital resources: Drama Online, Cambridge Journals, Theatre in Video, Digital Theatre Plus and RADA Accents Archive.
Wellbeing and counselling
We have a drop-in and appointment-based service for advice, a chat or a more formal assessment. Counselling support is available throughout the training and with any personal problems. There are also talks on sexual health, nutrition, drugs and alcohol.
Healthcare, injury prevention and response
We have a relationship with a GP practice, access to specialist medical support and osteopathy.
Disability support
We ensure Learning Agreements are in place, as well as access to dyslexia, dyspraxia and other learning support needs, and access to specific support for participants with other impairments.
This is a non-accredited course which does not attract government funding. All participants offered places on the Foundation Course are required to fund both the annual fee and all living costs privately. Note the approximate living cost for living in London while studying is £1300 per month.
Application fee
There is an application fee of £39 for the Foundation Course. The application fee covers the cost of processing and progressing each individual application. Application fees are not refundable.
Auditions
The audition process follows the same principles as for the BA (Hons) in Acting, but with a three-stage process. You may indicate that you wish to apply for the Foundation Course in Acting alone or for both BA (Hons) in Acting and Foundation in Acting at the same time. Prospective participants for both courses are seen at the first and second rounds through our online audition process, and then those for whom the Foundation Course is a better option in the view of the panel will be directed towards a workshop day (which will take place in-person at RADA). Those who have applied for the Foundation Course in Acting may be redirected to the Foundation Course audition process at any of the recall stages of the auditions for the BA (Hons) in Acting.
The Foundation Course in Acting audition is a three-stage process:
Preliminary audition
Preliminary auditions open in November 2023 and your video will be seen in the preliminary round by two members of the audition panel. The preliminary audition will consist of three audition speeches and a song. Each speech should last a maximum of two minutes. You are also required to sing an unaccompanied song (verse and chorus only).
Piece A - Classical
The classical piece should be from Shakespeare or an Elizabethan/Jacobean playwright (Jonson, Marlowe, Webster, etc.). It should be originally written in English - so do not choose a piece from a Greek tragedy or a Molière comedy, for example.
Piece B - Alternative Classical
You must have an alternative classical piece prepared (same rules as Piece A).
Piece C - Contemporary
The contemporary piece should provide a clear contrast to the classical piece and be written after 1960. Do not use Chekhov or Shaw for this piece.
Song
The song should be unaccompanied and consist of a verse and chorus only.
RADA cannot provide advice on the suitability of your speech choices before you submit your video audition.
Recall audition
Video submissions of successful candidates from the preliminary stage will be passed to a recall panel.
Group Workshop
The group workshop is designed to give you a sense of the training that you would experience were you to be offered a place on the course. This is the final stage and you will need to be ready to perform and workshop the 3 speeches you submitted on your self-tape. The workshop involves movement, group dynamic work, text analysis and an interview with the course director.
Find out more about our admissions process, information for disabled participants, appeals and complaints:
Admission procedure
If applying for the Foundation Course in Acting:
- Applicants submit an audition tape as part for the initial audition.
- If successful, your tape will be considered at a second round.
- If successful, second-round applicants are invited to a third-round workshop. This may be in-person or held online depending on Government health advice.
- Successful applicants to Foundation Course in Acting are selected from the workshop.
Find more details about what to prepare for each stage of the audition process in our admission procedure guide.
Information for disabled applicants
We welcome applications from disabled applicants and encourage them to disclose relevant information regarding any disability when completing their application form, to enable us to provide additional support during the interview process.
There is no government funding (Disabled Students’ Allowance) available for this programme but we will discuss any specific learning needs with the individual, prior to their joining. We can assist with the arrangement of specialist support (for example study skills support for participants with dyslexia or dyspraxia) but this must be privately funded by the participant. If you are a disabled candidate and would like further advice or guidance, please contact the admissions team directly on admissions@rada.ac.uk.
Information for International applicants
Please note that this course does not meet the requirements for a Standard Visitor Visa or a Student Visa. Please contact admissions@rada.ac.uk for more information.
Admissions policy, appeals and complaints
If you would like to know more about RADA’s Admissions Policy for our courses, please download and read our Admissions Policy.
For information about RADA’s Admissions, Appeals and Complaints for higher education courses, please download and read our Admissions Appeals and Complaints document. Please note that this process covers RADA’s Foundation Course in Acting and Higher Education courses only.
Candidates must be at least 18 by the start of course to apply for the Foundation Course in Acting.
Application is by audition only; no academic qualifications are required.
The application procedure is the same, using the application form on our website. You can apply for the Foundation Course in Acting at the same time as the BA (Hons) in Acting.
Yes, please just select the relevant option on the application form.
RADA accepts 28 participants on the Foundation Course in Acting each year.
You will get an automated message to confirm we have received your application. We aim to send you a self-tape guidance within 2 weeks of sending your application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks, please contact Admissions by emailing admissions@rada.ac.uk.
The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
If you are ill on the day, please email foundation@rada.ac.uk in advance of your audition.
Where possible, we will try to provide an alternative date, but this may not be possible as it is dependent on where we are in the auditions process.
We are unable to provide audition feedback at all stages of the process due to the large number of applicants.
No. You should apply for a place in the year before the September you wish to begin your training.
No. Participants on the Foundation Course in Acting might choose to apply for the BA (Hons) in Acting programme, and if so will need to follow the same admissions process. However, they do skip the preliminary audition and go straight to the second stage of the BA (Hons) audition process.
RADA does not currently have its own accommodation, but we can assist participants in securing suitable housing prior to joining the course.