Choosing a Course

To begin with, you need to consider your skills, both academically and in terms of performing arts, to make that choice between a performance-based degree and wider theatre or cinematic studies. If you mainly want to act, the other elements of a degree-based drama course will only frustrate you.

It's generally best to think of drama in terms of a vocational degree and investigate accordingly: Does the institution have the expertise and equipment to help you in your specific area of interest? If it's TV, is the technical equipment there? If it's theatre design, does the place put on a number of plays to give you the practice? Are there links with full-time drama courses to provide the cannon fodder (actors) for your experiments?

You might want to specialise in directing, the history of theatre, textual analysis or arts management, so check the structure and choices available on the course.

And what are the contacts like with the real world? Does the institution offer work placements with professional companies to help you gain that vital experience and contacts book that's going to help you find a job on graduation? Some places, on the other hand, bar students from working outside of the course during the duration, reasoning that they're working hard enough already. Financially this could he an issue, but it could also save you from running yourself into the ground.

And don't forget that in the job hunt later, reputation counts for a lot - much more than for most degrees. It can he a remarkably small world out there and people will know whether somewhere excels in particular areas, so bear that in mind when making your choice.