I have recently completed an acting foundation course at Birmingham School of Acting and I can honestly say going there was one of the best decisions of not only my acting journey, but also my life! I would definitely advise anyone hoping to train at a drama school to at least consider them if they aren't successful in their first year of applying. They can be expensive, so it's important to know exactly what you're getting for your money, as the vast majority of them do seem to be self-funded (although at BSA there was a bursary available to students who needed some financial help) and it is a huge commitment.
So, if you are someone who's considering a foundation course, or just you just want a bit more information on what other options there might be for your gap-yah dahling, read on!
The other big cost of Foundation courses is actually being able to live. Some of the people on my course were local to Birmingham so were able to live at home, but for the most part, we were living in student accommodation. The school should give you guidance and advice on where to find the cheapest and best housing. Living in Birmingham was fairly cheap and I was only a short bus journey away from the city centre, and from the school itself. Obviously if you're studying somewhere more expensive, like London or Guildford, it might be worth looking at housing a bit further out and travelling in. I would definitely recommend getting your accommodation sorted ASAP; it's just one less thing to worry about at the end of the day and you really don't want to leave it until the last minute and wind up in some grotty student digs miles away from anyone, living with people you really don't want to! It's also worth checking out what shops you have nearby; worst thing in the world is when your only grocery shopping option is a bloody Waitrose when you're a student! All I can say is thank God I had a Lidl near me while I was away because that place is an absolute dream for students!
In a word, no. But then there never is a guarantee when it comes to drama schools, or indeed acting in general. The audition preparation you receive as part of your course is invaluable though; I'm in a much better place when it comes to auditioning for drama schools than I was a year ago and I know when I DO eventually get onto a BA course (because by God it is going to happen) I will be better prepared for that too, thanks to the incredible things I learnt during my time at BSA.
So do I think that Foundation courses are worth it? If you want a guarantee and a certain outcome, then no, but you'll be looking for a long time if that's what you want. If you're someone who wants to see what training at a drama school is really like, or who wants to develop their technique as an actor, or even just get a bit more confident when it comes to auditions (because, let's face it, they don't get any less terrifying!) then absolutely!
I hope you found this article helpful, and if you've got any more questions that haven't been answered then please ask away and I'll pretend to be an expert on the subject for a bit more. My only other comment on this is that it is very much down to individual experiences and needs when it comes to auditions and Foundation courses; while I completely don't regret the money, tears and sweat that went into the past six months, I know others on my course still weren't 100% happy when they finished and maybe didn't find the answers they were looking for. As long as you go into your Foundation with an open mind, the knowledge that nothing is 100% guaranteed and just the willingness to have a bit of a laugh with some awesome, like-minded people, then you will have the time of your life. Go get 'em!
So, if you are someone who's considering a foundation course, or just you just want a bit more information on what other options there might be for your gap-yah dahling, read on!
What exactly is a foundation course?
A Foundation course is basically designed to give you a foundation (who would have guessed hey?) for if/when you start your formal training at a drama school. They typically last for six months, although some may last for an entire academic year. Each school is different, but for the most part you will learn similar techniques and practises that you would be taught in your first year at a drama school, while also receiving a lot of support and guidance for your audition pieces too. At BSA, we had a similar timetable to the first year BA Acting students, with classes including body-conditioning, voice, movement, stage combat, ensemble and solo singing, which focused on any songs we needed for our auditions, and even social dance! (Nothing prepares you for the hilarity and awkwardness of 24 people attempting to learn how to tango for the first time).
My foundation course was also split into four, five-week projects, which we worked on around our other lessons:
- Devising
- Musical Theatre
- Shakespeare
- Contemporary Scenes (this is the project we were also graded on for our Trinity Award)
Again, this is specific for BSA but I know from my research before I chose this course that other schools worked differently and had other lessons on their course. For example, LAMDA's course also includes play-writing and set design and Guildford School of Acting also offers a separate Musical Theatre Foundation.
Our timetable was very full-on, our days starting at 9am and often not ending until 6pm. The lessons were both mentally and physically challenging and although there was no set written work, we were expected to do our own research and character developments in our own time, especially when it came to our audition pieces and for our contemporary scenes.
They are all audition-based; most schools will give you the option to be considered for their Foundation course when you audition for the BA and the entry requirements/audition requirements are often similar to what you will need to get onto a degree-level course. Some schools may offer Foundation if you're unsuccessful in your original audition. I managed to get a recall for Birmingham and they offered me their Foundation off the back of that. It is also possible to just audition for a Foundation, rather than a BA if you feel that's a better option for you.
They are all audition-based; most schools will give you the option to be considered for their Foundation course when you audition for the BA and the entry requirements/audition requirements are often similar to what you will need to get onto a degree-level course. Some schools may offer Foundation if you're unsuccessful in your original audition. I managed to get a recall for Birmingham and they offered me their Foundation off the back of that. It is also possible to just audition for a Foundation, rather than a BA if you feel that's a better option for you.
How much do they cost?
In the UK there is currently no government funding for Foundation courses. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, BSA students on the Foundation course did have access to the David Vann Foundation, which was a small bursary set up in memory of the man who first created the course at BSA for those who needed some extra financial help.
Each school charges a different amount for their course fees, so here's a few that I looked at to give you a rough idea of costs:
In terms of getting the funds needed for a foundation course (or any kind of drama school training) there are lots of different ways to go about it. Personally, I worked my butt off for a year in order to get the money together and luckily had some money in my savings as I'd been working full time since I left college. I'm also incredibly lucky to have really supportive parents who were able to help me out a LOT! I realise that's not always the situation for some people; many people I know have contacted businesses and councils and asked for sponsorship and have also relied on donations from crowd-funding websites. I was also fortunate enough to get a part-time job while I was up there, so had a little bit of extra income from working weekends and the odd extra shift during half terms and Christmas. If you are considering looking for jobs while you're studying, I would really, really, REALLY consider all your options first; as much as I enjoyed my job and appreciated the money, it was bloody knackering doing 10 hour days, 5 days a week and then often working both weekend days. So if you're someone who really doesn't mind giving up the vast majority of your spare time then yeah, great, go for it! My only regret with it is that I didn't get much chance to socialise outside of classes as I worked so much and then used my evenings to catch up on any work that needed doing.
Each school charges a different amount for their course fees, so here's a few that I looked at to give you a rough idea of costs:
- Birmingham School of Acting - £6,000 (20 week course)
- LAMDA (Foundation Diploma) - £12,260 (20 week course)
- Guildford School of Acting (both Acting and Musical Theatre) - £9,000 (3 terms)
- Rose Bruford College - £7,875 (20 weeks)
- Drama Centre - £13,374 (A 50% means-tested reduction is available to students with Home or EU fee status) (1 year)
- RADA - £12,250 (2 terms)
In terms of getting the funds needed for a foundation course (or any kind of drama school training) there are lots of different ways to go about it. Personally, I worked my butt off for a year in order to get the money together and luckily had some money in my savings as I'd been working full time since I left college. I'm also incredibly lucky to have really supportive parents who were able to help me out a LOT! I realise that's not always the situation for some people; many people I know have contacted businesses and councils and asked for sponsorship and have also relied on donations from crowd-funding websites. I was also fortunate enough to get a part-time job while I was up there, so had a little bit of extra income from working weekends and the odd extra shift during half terms and Christmas. If you are considering looking for jobs while you're studying, I would really, really, REALLY consider all your options first; as much as I enjoyed my job and appreciated the money, it was bloody knackering doing 10 hour days, 5 days a week and then often working both weekend days. So if you're someone who really doesn't mind giving up the vast majority of your spare time then yeah, great, go for it! My only regret with it is that I didn't get much chance to socialise outside of classes as I worked so much and then used my evenings to catch up on any work that needed doing.
The other big cost of Foundation courses is actually being able to live. Some of the people on my course were local to Birmingham so were able to live at home, but for the most part, we were living in student accommodation. The school should give you guidance and advice on where to find the cheapest and best housing. Living in Birmingham was fairly cheap and I was only a short bus journey away from the city centre, and from the school itself. Obviously if you're studying somewhere more expensive, like London or Guildford, it might be worth looking at housing a bit further out and travelling in. I would definitely recommend getting your accommodation sorted ASAP; it's just one less thing to worry about at the end of the day and you really don't want to leave it until the last minute and wind up in some grotty student digs miles away from anyone, living with people you really don't want to! It's also worth checking out what shops you have nearby; worst thing in the world is when your only grocery shopping option is a bloody Waitrose when you're a student! All I can say is thank God I had a Lidl near me while I was away because that place is an absolute dream for students!
Is there a guarantee of a place on a BA course once I've finished my Foundation?
In a word, no. But then there never is a guarantee when it comes to drama schools, or indeed acting in general. The audition preparation you receive as part of your course is invaluable though; I'm in a much better place when it comes to auditioning for drama schools than I was a year ago and I know when I DO eventually get onto a BA course (because by God it is going to happen) I will be better prepared for that too, thanks to the incredible things I learnt during my time at BSA.
So do I think that Foundation courses are worth it? If you want a guarantee and a certain outcome, then no, but you'll be looking for a long time if that's what you want. If you're someone who wants to see what training at a drama school is really like, or who wants to develop their technique as an actor, or even just get a bit more confident when it comes to auditions (because, let's face it, they don't get any less terrifying!) then absolutely!
I hope you found this article helpful, and if you've got any more questions that haven't been answered then please ask away and I'll pretend to be an expert on the subject for a bit more. My only other comment on this is that it is very much down to individual experiences and needs when it comes to auditions and Foundation courses; while I completely don't regret the money, tears and sweat that went into the past six months, I know others on my course still weren't 100% happy when they finished and maybe didn't find the answers they were looking for. As long as you go into your Foundation with an open mind, the knowledge that nothing is 100% guaranteed and just the willingness to have a bit of a laugh with some awesome, like-minded people, then you will have the time of your life. Go get 'em!
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