Shakespeare Company

Application deadline: 5pm, Monday 4 August 2025

Entry for this course is by audition only, via video submissions. Deadline for application is 5pm, Monday 4 August 2025, however applications will be approved as they are received – so we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please see Entry Requirements tab for further information about the supporting materials which are required for application.

Payment of the balance of the tuition fee is payable once applicants have been notified that they have been successful in their application to the course and completed their booking.

Entry to this course is by audition only.

This course is aimed at people with significant acting experience who are looking to further develop their training. It is suitable for people who have attended our Acting 2, Performance Company, Exploring Shakespeare or Company Rehearsal: Shakespeare Play or have equivalent experience.

Applicants should prepare 2 video recordings to upload when applying:

• one Shakespeare monologue around 2 minutes in length*
• a introduction video telling us why you would like to do this course (no more than 1 minute)

Please make sure you fully complete the Reason and Experience sections in the application form to outline why you want to join the course. You may be contacted if we need further information.

We expect you to undertake a certain amount of self-directed study and preparation out with class times. Students should be open, honest, generous, respectful, hard-working and willing to work as part of a team.

• Plan and prepare to attend all classes.
• Dress comfortably in clothes which are suitable for the activity you are taking part in.
• Bring a notepad and pen/pencil in case you wish to make notes.
• Please bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during your class.

Credit-rated short courses are designed in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

This course is credit-rated at SCQF Level 7, 20 credits.*

By studying a credit-rated short course, students can benchmark their learning against national standards, and credits may be used towards further education programmes at many institutions throughout the world.

There is an additional fee of £110 to take part in the credit-rated portion of the course. Please ensure you have already signed up to the course via the Book Now button on the webpage. Once you have completed that, please sign up for the credit-rated option, by completing this booking form:

Credit-Rated Booking Form
Students applying for two-tier courses (those that require your application to be evaluated) should wait until they have accepted an offer onto their course and made payment before completing the credit-rated booking form.

By studying a credit-rated course, you will need to be matriculated to RCS*, we require some additional information from credit-rated students for this reason. Please read through the section below thoroughly before you submit. If you have any questions about what is required, please email credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk and we can help you.

* Please note although Credit-Rated Short Courses students require matriculation to get their accreditation, you will not be a full time matriculated student of RCS. Credit-Rated Short Courses do not qualify for student visas due to the short term nature of the course. You will also not qualify for a student email address or student card.

Please read the following eligible evidence dependant on your nationality and immigration status:

Scottish/Welsh/English/Northern Irish (Please provide 1 of the following)
– Passport 
– UK Driving Licence
– Other Photo ID

Irish (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport

Europeans with Settled or Pre-Settled Status (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Online Immigration Status (via Sharecode)

Europeans (post-Brexit) (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Proof of Entry to the UK
– Online Immigration Status (via Sharecode)

Non-Europeans who can use the e-gates (Nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan) (Please provide all of the following)
– Passport
– Proof of Entry to the UK
– Vignette
– Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Online Credit Rated courses:
– if studying an online credit-rated course from your own country (outside of UK) you are only required to submit your passport.
– if studying an online credit-rated course within the UK, but do not hold a UK passport, please follow the guidance from above.

The Credit Rated or Admissions team may require further information or proof from individuals, and may be in contact with you to provide further evidence. 

Providing a ShareCode
If you are providing a ShareCode as part of your evidence please visit https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and follow the instructions to access your code, and provide it in the Experience section of the Booking Form.

*Subject to validation

The course fees for the full year (32 weeks) are £1543 which can be paid in full or instalments throughout the year.

The termly fee breakdown for this course is:

• Term 1 (10 weeks) = £441
• Term 2 (12 weeks) = £530
• Term 3 (10 weeks) = £572

This course will run weekly on Tuesday evenings. Please find the term dates below:

• Term 1: 7 October – 9 December 2025
• Term 2: 13 January – 31 March 2026
• Term 3: 14 April – 16 June 2026

There will be a short sharing towards the end of Term 1 for invited friends and family and an outdoor performance in June. Dates and times will be confirmed nearer the time. You should make yourself available for additional rehearsal time that final week.  Dates and times will be confirmed nearer the time.