The Oxford School of Drama (OSD) is a small, independent school situated in a unique, rural location on the outskirts of Woodstock, near Oxford. The School has an outstanding record for the delivery of high-quality, vocational training for talented students who are committed to forging careers as actors.
Our Three Year Course in Acting is validated by Trinity College London as degree equivalent, Level 6 in the Government’s National Qualification Framework. With one of the lowest intakes of any accredited school, we accept a maximum of only 19 students on the course. The training is therefore very much student-centred, giving time for individual attention.
The School has a small team of committed and specialist tutors who combine teaching with their own professional work. They are rigorous and exacting and are dedicated to enabling you to achieve success. Our teaching is driven by the needs of the industry and the emphasis is entirely on essential, practical work, with 35 hours of contact time per week.
The Three Year Course is a demanding course based on the traditional values of classical acting, adapted to suit the needs of contemporary media. It aims to develop your skills in acting, voice and movement to equip you for a career in film, television and theatre and provide you with the techniques and expertise you need to become a dynamic and courageous actor.
The course concludes with a season in London. Although the location of the School in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside allows you to fully focus on your training and develop your craft without the noise and distractions of a big city, it is best to start your career in the capital. The final term in London enables you to become fully involved in the profession, whilst still having the support of the School. Rehearsals for public productions, masterclasses, individual auditions and special projects are organised to help you grasp the exciting possibilities on offer.
We work hard to ensure that applicants who are offered a place on the Three Year Course can access financial support to enable them to train at the School. The School is part of the Government’s Dance and Drama Award Scheme which provides grants for exceptionally talented people who wish to pursue a career as an actor; over 70% of our students receive government funding.
The School has a consistently excellent graduate employment record; 95% of our graduates are in employment in the industry within 6 months of completing the course.
95% of our graduates are in employment in the industry within 6 months of graduating.
Entry is by audition only; there are no academic requirements.
Graduates of the Three Year Course include:
Cassie Bradley - Natalie in ITV's Coronation Street
Sophie Cookson – lead in feature film Red Joan, Roxy in Kingsman: The Secret Service
Nell Hudson - Nancy Skerrett in ITV’s Victoria and Charlotte Humphreys in the BBC’s Informer
Dipo Ola – Kellerman in Channel 4’s Baghdad Central
Charity Wakefield - Leah Walker in Sky’s Bounty Hunters