Foundation Course Rose Bruford College

Foundation Acting provides rigorous and intensive vocational training that will give you vital skills, techniques and confidence essential for higher education (degree or MA/MFA) or a career in the performing arts.

Students enrolled in this course benefit from a dedicated full-time professional preparation week. This week offers an opportunity to review CVs and engage in mock auditions guided by experienced professionals and casting directors.

The course is designed to rigorously and professionally support your development as an actor through training, auditioning, and future practice.

In 2020, 100% of our students expressed that they were ‘satisfied’ with the course, with many noting that it exceeded their expectations.

Rose Bruford College

Why choose this course?

London location

You’ll be studying near one of the world’s great international cities, based at our campus, in Sidcup.

6 month course

An intense 22 week course that includes 26+ hours of teaching and learning per week.

Teaching and industry connections

Delivered by experienced professional actors, tutors and directors with many guest leading experts.

Student support

Each student has a personal tutor and is expected to keep a Personal Development Journal that is reviewed in 1-1 tutorials each term. You will also be given support and advice regarding applications for further study and entering the world of professional work.

Course breakdown

The Foundation Course is designed to develop you physically, vocally and imaginatively whilst encouraging an independent and in-depth approach to your work. We arrange a number of workshops as well as audition panels with outside theatre and casting directors. Students get help to build their actor’s portfolios of songs and speeches.

  • Foundation Acting is a 22 week course and includes 26+ hours of teaching and learning per week. Classes are delivered between the hours of 9am and 9pm
  • Delivered by experienced acting staff and visiting directors
  • Masterclasses include; Building your audition portfolio, Grotowski, physical theatre, audition technique, Augusto Boal, acting through song, Uta Hagen, acting for camera, clowning, stage fighting and unarmed combat, Alexander Technique, musicality (all masterclasses are subject to change)
  • Classes include; acting (studying Stanislavski and Meisner), performance/audition technique, movement, ensemble, voice, text study, sight-reading, Shakespeare, singing, acting for TV/film
  • There are two full-time rehearsal projects during the course; Term 1 contemporary scene study and Term 2 Shakespeare, as well as weekly masterclasses with outside professional directors and theatre companies.

Split into two terms:

  • TERM 1: The Actor and Foundation Skills (March entry: March to May. September entry: September to December)
  • TERM 2: The Actor and the Audience (March entry: June to August. September entry: January to March)

Your future career

At the end of our programme, you will be prepared to study on either BA/MA/MFA courses. Graduates of the Foundation Course have also successfully found professional employment and agent representation in the UK, EU and USA.

Students from our course have been offered places on both our BA and MA courses, whilst others have been offered places or had final round auditions at; Central, East 15, RADA, Drama Centre, Italia Conti, LAMDA, Royal Welsh, Mountview, Guildford, Drama Studio, Guildhall, The American Academy of Dramatic Art and Stanford University.

You will receive guidance in CV writing, professional headshots and show reels, self-taping and practice mock auditions with casting directors. There will also be workshop Q&A’s with actors and directors,  so you understand about the industry as well as a toolkit to manage your well-being and build resilience and discipline.

Edward McGurn

Course Coordinator for Foundation Actor Training

Read their profile

How to join

Applications are now open for March 2025 and September 2025 enrolment.

Entry Requirements

Applications are welcome for anyone over 18 years old at time of enrolment. There are no academic qualifications entry requirements.

Applications remain open until the course is full. We understand the unique circumstances of international applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK. To allow enough time for the visa application, international students’ applications must be received no later than 7 February for the March intake and 15 August for the September intake.

Application Guidance

Application and Self-tape

When you submit your online application you will be asked to submit an application form with digital self-tapes, no more than two minutes each, performed in English:

  • A Contemporary speech from a play (1960 onwards).
  • A Classical speech from either a Shakespeare or Jacobean play.

As part of the application, you will be asked to provide a detailed personal statement expressing why you are interested in studying on the course. Your personal statement should include a summary of your academic, professional and/or life experiences. You should conclude by explaining what your aspirations are once you have completed the programme.

Online Interview

If the self-tape submission is successful, you will be invited to attend an online interview

Useful Information

Please note that these courses are not eligible for Student Finance England (SFE) funding, so you will need to have the funds in place if you are made an offer.  All students who are offered a place are required to provide the name of a guarantor before commencing the course.

International students can take part in the course under a standard 6-month visitor visa; a student route visa is not required.

Institution code: Not applicable

Course code: Not applicable

Course Summary

Duration

6 months

Mode of study

Full time

Start date

March 2025 and September 2025

Course Type

Foundation Course

Acting Foundation Course Tuition Fee for UK & International students

£9750