Drama Directing MA

University of the West of England (UWE)

Students who complete the course successfully will receive a degree from the University of the West of England (UWE). The agreement between the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the University of the West of England is reviewed every five years for developmental purposes and was last renewed in 2016.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School – Operating on two specialist teaching sites (Downside Road, main site and Christchurch Studios).

Normally, successful candidates will have a first degree and it is essential that they have proven professional experience in one or more capacities within the entertainment industry; this could be in directing fringe productions, working as a performer or in stage management.

They should have a good command of the English language, a clear understanding of theatre and individual creative ambitions.

Applicants will be interviewed by two members of staff, including the Head of Course.

There are no interview fees.

This module map provides a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits: All modules are compulsory, enabling you to cover key subject knowledge while developing your own interests.

Summer and Autumn Terms

• Module Number: UATPG3-40-M Module Name: Assistant Director – Theatre
• Module Number: UATPH7-40-M Module Name: Director/Designer Projects
• Module Number: UATPG4-40-M Module Name: Assistant Director – Radio/Television

Optional Modules: There are no optional modules for this stage of this award.

Interim Award: There are no interim awards under this award scheme.

Spring and Summer Terms

• Module Number: UATPH8-20-M Module Name: Introduction for Employment for Directors
• Module Number: UATPG5-40-M Module Name: Directing a Production

Award: MA Drama Directing

Credit requirements: MA – 180 credits

Each module takes between 7 and 11 weeks each to complete.

The programme is practical and career focused.

The course is taught through classes, workshops, projects and placements.

It is integrated with the school’s other programmes through classes, during productions, as well as within the professional environment, as some performances take place in local professional theatres.

The programme features small-group teaching by specialist professionals and work is realised to professional standard performances.

It is expected that students are able to work independently and develop leadership skills through the course as well being taught through structured classes and workshops.

There are four students accepted to this course per academic year.

Workload including number of contact hours with School staff and expected self-study:

Students are expected to be engaged on the course for a minimum of 35 hours a week over 44 weeks; this is four terms of 11 weeks each.

Contact hours will vary depending upon the module.

As part of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD), the School is committed to selecting, training and supporting students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or religion.

Applicants to CDD schools are chosen solely on the basis of their talent and potential to develop the skills required for their chosen profession. The School does, however, judge applicants on their suitability for a course and their potential to successfully complete the training, as the work is rigorous and requires high levels of energy and commitment.

Student Support on the programmes at the School covers a variety of areas such as support for disabled students, academic support, student finance and health and welfare.

Julia Heeley, Student Support Manager, is able to answer queries about support available for disabled applicants/students. Her email address is [email protected] and she can also be reached by telephone on 0117 980 9247.

Our Academic and Student Support services team provides help in the following areas:

Support for students with disabilities including specific learning difficulties In our admissions process, we are committed to supporting students with disabilities.

Disabled students are encouraged to disclose their support requirements so that we can endeavour to meet them during the audition process and subsequent training.

The School welcomes all students regardless of disability. It is our aim to provide appropriate support so that all students are able to achieve their full potential.

Students with a disability will be provided with advice and support from the Student Support Manager. If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty we recommend you contact her either prior to starting your course or during your first few weeks at the School to discuss any support requirements you may have.

This may include support resulting from disabilities such as sensory impairment, learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia or mental health difficulties.

We recognise that everyone is an individual and we will work with students to identify potential barriers to training and do what we can to remove those barriers. We will also make any necessary reasonable adjustments, to ensure that disabled students can train at the School.

Quickscan screening

At the School we put a great deal of emphasis on supporting students during their time with us.

We are aware that nationally there is a very high proportion of students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) e.g. dyslexia or dyspraxia, in institutions which specialise in art, design or the performing arts.

During your first week, the School encourages all students to take a short questionnaire known as QuickScan which has proved to be a useful piece of screening software for students and staff across the CDD Schools. It takes the form of an on-line, easy to navigate, questionnaire which will help to identify your learning style and specific areas of learning strengths and weaknesses. It is used in conjunction with other indicators, including student disclosure (as part of the interview and registration process), tutor feedback on practical and written work, and students expressing their concerns and any support requirements which may become apparent during their studies.

Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)

UK students with disabilities (including Specific Learning Difficulties and long-term Mental Health conditions) can apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview.

DSA usually provides support for students with the specialist equipment and tools necessary to support you with your studies, including software, hardware and study skills support. Unlike a student loan, DSA does not have to be repaid. However, it is rarely awarded in the form of financial support.

Applications are made through, Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW), or Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

In order to apply for DSA, Student Finance will require evidence of any impairment or disability. This may take the form of a doctor’s or specialist’s letter or, more often, a report from an Educational Psychologist (Diagnostic Assessment Report).

If you require a Diagnostic Assessment from an Educational Psychologist, the Student Support Manager can arrange this for you and can guide you through the process.

Personal Academic Support

Various staff members at the School can help in different ways if you need academic support. If you need help with the content of classes or assessment work, you can ask the relevant head of course, tutor or your pastoral care tutor for an appointment or you can ask the Student Support Manager to arrange a tutorial with the relevant member of staff on your behalf. If you make an appointment, you can prepare for the meeting and discuss your concerns away from class. Heads of courses, modules leaders and individual tutors can all help you with understanding aspects of your training and can offer overall guidance or advice about your programme of study.

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)

Study skills support is usually arranged for students who have been awarded support through Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). However, the Student Support Manager will be happy to arrange one to one study skills support for you if deemed appropriate and necessary.

Mental Health And Wellbeing

Schools within the CDD recognise the challenges faced by students entering higher education and that training in a conservatoire institution can place great demands on a student both physically and emotionally. The CDD has published a leaflet aimed to help students identify signs of mental distress and where to go for support: click this text to go to the CDD website in a new tab

Counselling

The School has a student therapy and counselling service,¬¬ which is organised and staffed by accredited, registered psychotherapists and counsellors and is there to help with any more deep-seated personal problems on which pastoral tutors are not qualified to advise. If students wish to have an initial assessment with a therapist or counsellor, they should contact the School’s Student Support Manager. A strict professional code of confidentiality is always maintained.

Student welfare and pastoral care

We actively encourage students to develop a pro-active and positive approach to their own ‘wellness’. We are preparing professionals to enter physically and mentally challenging professions and we work to enable students to sustain a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

Every student is assigned a pastoral tutor who monitors they progress throughout the year in addition to having access to the Student Support Manager. All students have tutorials with their head of course, head of year or allocated pastoral care tutor in which non-teaching issues can be discussed. A confidential tutorial can be requested of any member of the full-time teaching staff on your course.

In addition, BOVTS students have access to UWE’s Student Wellbeing Service, details of which can be found at:

click this text to go to the UWE Wellbeing website in a new tab UWE Wellbeing Service, 3F Reception, UWE, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY Tel: +44 (0)117 32 86268 E-mail: [email protected]

For further information on support which the School offers, please see the Guide to Student Support which can be found at: click this text to go to the guide in a new tab

You can also find additional information for disabled applicants and students at all Conservatoire for Dance and Drama affiliated Schools here: click this text to go to the CDD website in a new tab

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

The team includes Artistic Director (Jenny Stephens) and visiting specialist professional directors.

You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles Here

Assessment is through practical assignments, presentations, reports from directors, self-reflection and some written work.

Students are assessed on their professional practice on a pass or fail basis.

Judgements about students’ performance are made against the relevant professional standards.

The UWE qualifications are awarded as non-classified/nondifferentiated.

MA Drama Directing

Duration: 4 Terms – 44 weeks (full-time)

Fees:

UK/EU Tuition fees for the Four Term MA Drama Directing Course starting in April 2020 will be £13,175 for the whole course. All four terms.

International students (non UK/EU) tuition fees for the Four Term MA Drama Directing course starting in April 2020 will be £27,559 for the whole of the course. All four terms.

US Federal Loans

For US students ONLY. Please click the link to consult the BOVTS US Federal Loans FAQs

(Full-time route only)

It is not possible to confirm fees for future academic years, as these are dependent on Teaching Excellence Framework outcomes, but the maximum increase in each year will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

Accommodation and living costs not included in the fees

Industry work placement – accommodation and travel expenses will be covered.

Sources of financial support

Details on funding options can be obtained from our Student Fees home page available here Please see the BOVTS fees page.

Bursaries, scholarships and prizes

The University also provides a number of scholarships and prizes for undergraduate students, which you may be eligible to apply for. Some of these are available to students on any course (such as Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD) scholarships, Hardship Fund and bursaries offered by charitable trusts)

For students to be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, they must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is the new independent regulator for higher education in England and all higher education providers need to register with the OfS for their students to be eligible for student support in the 2019-20 academic year. The OfS will start publishing providers on its Register from July 2018. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. The Conservatoire has made an application to register and expect a decision by September 2018. No provider will be able to confirm whether student support is available until it has a decision from the OfS. Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk

Please note: all applications for this course are made direct through the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and NOT through UCAS

Offline Applications;

Please contact:The Admissions Office, 1-2 Downside Road, Bristol BS8 2XF.

Tel: 0117 973 3535.

Email: [email protected].

• We will only accept one application per applicant, per year.
• We will not accept applications if you have previously applied in four or more consecutive years.