What would our world be without drama? Won’t that be dull?
If you dream of seeing yourself on the screen or in theater, check out this article to know about the best schools to help you train in drama. Becoming a drama actor may take some emotional investment and intensive training, but learning about the proper techniques and processes from these institutions may help you achieve excellence in your craft. In this article, we will be looking at the best schools for drama in the world!
Top Drama Schools in the World
1. The Juilliard School
The Juilliard School is a name by itself. This institution is highly regarded in the performing arts, especially music, drama, and dance. Established in New York City, admission is highly selective, and many aspiring performers dream of stepping into its halls.
Juilliard is a top school for drama in the world that offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drama. This four-year program trains students in movement, voice, and techniques for them to improve and apply such knowledge. Under this course, students take up acting studies, drama studies, liberal arts studies, and performance subjects.
Juilliard also provides a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Drama. Like the undergraduate course, students undergo intensive training to better their craft. The MFA program is also set for four years. They also undertake different courses in drama, acting, etc.
2. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland started as a part of the Glasgow Athenaeum. It is now among the world’s leading institutions for drama, in the performing arts, producing notable alumni such as Katie Leung and David Tennant.
Under the Royal Conservatoire’s School of drama, four undergraduate programs are offered – BA Acting, BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice, BA Musical Theater, and BA Performance in British Sign Language and English. The BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance practice is a four-year program, while the others are only three years.
Aside from the undergraduate courses, they also offer five postgraduate programs – MA/MFA Acting/Directing Classical and Contemporary Text, MA Musical Theater: Performance, MA Musical Theater: Choreography, MA Musical Theater: Musical Directing, and Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Directing. There are also short courses in drama and acting for children and adults.
3. New York University
A private institution in the Big Apple, New York University is known for its prestige and is recognized as an excellent institution for drama across the globe. Thousands of students seek its high-quality education every year, but only those who surpass its highly selective standards are welcomed into its schools, one of which is the Tisch School of Arts.
Under the Tisch School of Arts is its Institute of Performing Arts, composed of many departments, including drama, theatrical production, and acting. A BFA in Theater program is offered through the Drama department for drama students, wherein they get to experience conservatory training in many aspects of the field. Training is professional and studio-held, with students learning about theater studies, humanities, and even the sciences.
Besides the Department of Drama, you may also be interested in exploring the Departments of Collaborative Arts, Design For Stage & Film, Open Arts, Performance Studies, Graduate Acting, and Graduate Musical Theater Writing.
4. University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is one of the largest and top performing arts institutions in the world. It was established in 1817 and has gone through several names before being known as it is now.
This university offers many different programs, most of which are in music. But its Max Reinhardt Seminar offers two diploma programs for drama – acting and drama directing. For both majors, students go through training for eight semesters. They are honed not just to succeed in the field but also to further it.
5. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is a top school for drama in the world that was established in 1984. It can be found on Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and offers programs in Chinese opera, dance, drama, and other fields of performing arts.
This institution offers three programs through its School of Drama – BFA (Honors) in Drama, MFA in Drama, and Diploma in Drama Foundations. Their undergraduate program started in 2012 to produce skilled professionals with Western and Asian theater knowledge. There are different majors, including Acting for Drama, Acting for Musical Theater, Applied Theater, Directing, and Dramaturgy.
Meanwhile, its MFA in Drama program, which can be full-time or part-time, has the following majors: Directing, Playwriting, Drama & Theater Education, and Dramaturgy. Collaboration is highly encouraged among MFA students.
6. Mozarteum University Salzburg
The Mozarteum University Salzburg is a leading drama school in the world and is dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the world’s most famous classical musicians and composers. It is also affiliated with other “Mozarteum” universities. This institution was established in 1841 and can be found in Austria.
Drama and production are one of the university’s fields of study, and for it, they offer a diploma program in drama and production. Students are trained to harness their abilities and potential in the field. This eight-semester course is divided into a basic study and the main study. They also learn about proper analysis.
Besides the drama and production course, they also offer an applied theater course. It is a two-year master’s degree program.
7. Oxford University
Oxford University is a world-renowned institution across the globe in various fields including drama. It has spent nearly a century welcoming students from all around the world and producing top-caliber alumni within its walls. Its School of Drama also lives up to the reputation, with its graduates becoming successful writers, directors, filmmakers, and actors.
Instead of actual degrees, Oxford’s School of Drama has opted for certified diploma courses instead. This is because they want to train students for the industry instead of a degree. Nevertheless, these courses are not subpar by are even certified based on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.
The School of Drama offers three-year, one-year, foundation, and short courses. The three-year acting course equips students with various techniques and is based on the values of classical acting but adapted for the contemporary world. There will be group classes and one-on-one classes. Students also get the chance to work with leading practitioners from relevant fields. Through this course, they can transition easier into the field.
We hope that this article on Best Drama Schools in the World was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to know more about topics like this!
