Drama Accredited
Full Time Courses
“The National Theatre gave me the skills and the confidence to work professionally. I am eternally grateful to the school and its teachers for setting my course, and gently ushering me into what has been a wonderfully rewarding career.” Richard Cawthorne Graduate 1999
Advanced Diploma of Acting
Course Information
The Advanced Diploma of Acting (course code 10073NAT) is a nationally-accredited, full-time, vocational-training course which aims to prepare students for professional careers as actors and performance-makers in theatre, film, television and new media.
The course runs over three years and eligible students may be able to get VET student Loans, capped at $10,000 per student and Austudy assistance to support them in their studies.
Working closely with a range of experienced Industry professionals students undertake a rigorous and highly-integrated program of skills training while also working autonomously to further nurture and develop their talent. Students are expected to continuously maintain and refine their professional goals, demonstrate a strong commitment to themselves and their chosen art-form and work with passion and engagement to realise their full potential.
The First Year of the course focuses primarily on the physical and vocal development of the performer; regular voice classes and an introduction to a variety of movement techniques form the basis of the initial studies. The first Semester also includes an introduction to aspects of the performing arts landscape and features of the current live theatre, film and television industries.
In the Second Semester students begin a concentrated study of text work which also forms the basis of the work in the first half of the Second Year. Also in this Second Year the skills and techniques of devising original work are introduced and students are given regular opportunities to experiment with a range of content and styles as one way of informing acting choices and promoting original problem-solving skills. Acting for screen, rehearsal techniques for stage and the demand s of public performance are also introduced in this period.
The focus in the Third Year of the course is on preparation for entering the Industry. Advanced Screen acting and audition techniques, refinement of live performance skills and the development of performance-creation and presentation methods are all directed towards career building following graduation. The presentation of an Acting Showcase (for live performance) and a Show-reel (for the screen performances) ensures that the work in the course is seen locally and nationally by a wide range of agents and Industry figures.
2019 Details
3 years full-time
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm
(Some evening performance work may be required)
The course is programmed into two Semesters per year. Each Semester is made up of two Terms, each of 8 weeks.
Term 1: Monday 4th February – Friday 5th April
Term 2: Tuesday 23rd April – Friday 21st June
Term 3: Monday 22nd July – Friday 13th September
Term 4: Monday 30th September – Friday 22nd November
Cost
First Year: $10,000
Second Year: $10,000
Third Year: $10,000
Total: $30,000
View Course Prospectus (PDF link)
Australian & NZ Students
International Students
USI: For information regarding your Unique Student Identification number, please visit our Student Information Page or the Australian Government’s USI website.
Fees are payable by the census date of each unit in advance. Students who are eligible for VET Student Loans may be able to obtain an Australian Government student loan to a maximum of $10,000 of their tuition fees in this course. (see VET student Loans)
The Course is also approved for Austudy, ABSTUDY and the Pensioner Education Supplement. For more information on undertaking accredited acting courses with the National Theatre Drama School, please contact us at drama@nationaltheatre.org.au
For a full breakdown of unit costs, and census dates please download the following document NTDS census dates 2018