Bachelor of Dramatic Art

Associate Degree of Dramatic Art included

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Bachelor of Dramatic Art

Duration: 3 years full-time/6 years part-time
Credit Points: 144 credit points
Delivery: On campus
Available to: Domestic (FEE-HELP available)/International
English: IELTS 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0)
CRICOS Code: 054987E
Tuition Fee: International students: $11,130 semester/$66,782 total tuition fee
AQF: Level 7

Associate Degree of Dramatic Art

Duration: 2 years full-time/4 years part-time
Credit Points: 96 credit points
Delivery: On campus
Available to: Domestic (FEE-HELP available)/International
English: IELTS 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0)
CRICOS Code: 081416E
Tuition Fee: International students: $11,130 semester/$44,521 total tuition fee
AQF: Level 6

The Bachelor of Dramatic Art is predicated on the understanding that the professional will commonly engage in ‘portfolio’ careers requiring versatile, flexible and adaptable skills, including: performing, stage managing, operations, producing, directing, teaching and researching. Using these skills (and, in some cases, with further study) our current graduates have secured, and future graduates are expected to secure, employment at entry level as:

  • • Actor
  • • Director
  • • Stage manager
  • • Production manager
  • • Theatre technician
  • • Writer
  • • Producer
  • • Dramaturg
  • • Festival director
  • • Voice over artist
  • • Production assistant (TV and film)
  • • Art department assistant (TV and film)
  • • Production assistant (TV and film)
  • • Drama teacher with further postgraduate qualifications in teaching and researcher

 

Three Strands

The Bachelor of Dramatic Art is a specialist degree with a holistic approach to theatre training. We seek to integrate higher education with professional development and spiritual formation in a supportive and caring environment. It provides an extensive introduction to all the major aspects of theatre.

The course is offered with three major strands of specialisation, and five minor pathways that students can choose depending on their passion and interests: Performance, Production and Theatre Practice.

Performance Practice

Prepares actors to compete in a highly rigorous industry. Students will get to explore both theoretical and practical perspectives of acting. Throughout their studies, students will be exposed to acting, voice in movement skills as they participate in collaborative shows with their peers, as well as monologues and Shakespeare productions. 

Production Practice

Provides the opportunities to supplement students’ passion with the skills, experiences and expertise for a career in theatre, film and television! Our students have collaborated with Michaela Bartonova, renowned international video artist and theatre-maker for a modern retelling of Macbeth.

Theatre Practice

Offers a mixture of performance and production units in one program, enabling the development of well-rounded theatrical skills useful for work in small theatre companies, particularly in the area of theatre producing and directing. Paired with our Master of Teaching, it also satisfies the requirements for secondary Drama teaching.

Potential Students

The course is particularly suited to:

• Those looking for a acting career and the degree to take you there

• Students who want an exposure to a variety of pathways e.g. Acting, Production & Theatre Practice

Dramatic Art Excelsia College

What do our students say?

‘Studying drama at Excelsia means I am able to pursue all my passions to learn both the acting side of theatre, as well as the backstage side. We learn how to create a piece of theatre, be a director or a stage manager, or even be the designer, whether it be in costume, set or props. There is a chance for anyone who loves theatre to do what they are interested in. Coming into this course I thought I knew what I wanted to do, however now I really want to try everything and I have learned so much in only a year. The lecturers care so much and truly want to help in any way they can. There is also free counselling on site (with a therapy dog). Excelsia is truly a very special place to study, and I’m very excited for the years to come.’

 

Jessica Looyen

Drama student

Jessica Looyen | Drma student | Excelsia College

Year 1 Program units
Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 1

Acting I

Voice I

Movement I

Story I

Design I

Producing I

Operations I

Formation I (Creative Arts)

Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 2

Acting II

Voice II

Movement II

Story II

Design II

Video Production

Formation II (Creative Arts)

Year 2 Program units
Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 1

Acting III

Voice III

Movement III

Short Plays

Combined Show I

Theatre History I: Reclaiming the Past in the Present

Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 2

Acting IV / Shakespeare Tour

Voice IV

Movement IV

Formation III (Creative Arts)

Theatre History II: Exploring What Performance can mean

Year 3 Program units
Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y3 Semester 1

Acting V

Movement V

Voice V

Independent Theatre Making

Combined Show II

Elective I

Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y3 Semester 2

Acting VI

Voice VI

Movement VI

Film Project

Formation IV: Designing My Creative Career

Elective II

Production | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 1

Acting I

Voice I

Movement I

Story I

Design I

Producing I

Operations I

Formation I (Creative Arts)

 

Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 2

Acting II

Voice II

Movement II

Story II

Design II

Video Production

Formation II (Creative Arts)

Production | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 1

Mechanical Design

Stage Management I

Short Plays

Combined Show I

Theatre History I: Reclaiming the Past in the Present

Elective I

Production | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 2

Stage Management II

Visual Design

Shakespeare Tour

Formation III (Creative Arts)

Elective II

Elective III

Production | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y3 Semester 1

Technical Design

Project I: Large Scale

Independent Theatre Making

Combined Show II

Theatre History II: Exploring What

Performance can mean

Production Drama Year2s2
Y3 Semester 2

Project II: Festival

Formation IV: Designing My Creative Career

Film Project

Theatre Project

Elective IV

Year 1 Program units
Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 1

Acting I

Voice I

Movement I

Story I

Design I

Producing I

Operations I

Formation I (Creative Arts)

Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y1 Semester 2

Acting II

Voice II

Movement II

Story II

Design II

Video Production

Formation II (Creative Arts)

Year 2 Program units
Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 1

Production Management

Short Plays

Combined Show I

Theatre History I: Reclaiming the

Past in the Present

Elective I

Elective II

Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y2 Semester 2

Theatre Company Management

Shakespeare Tour

Formation III (Creative Arts)

Elective III

Elective IV

Elective V

Year 3 Program units (for bachelor degree only)
Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y3 Semester 1

Independent Theatre Making

Combined Show II

Producing: Festival Pre-production

Theatre History II: Exploring What

Performance can mean

Elective VI

Theatre Practice | Bachelor of Dramatic art | Excelsia College
Y3 Semester 2

Film Project

Producing: Festival Production

Theatre Project

Formation IV: Designing My Creative

Career

Elective VII

For detailed descriptions of course units, please download the Dramatic Art brochure.

Academic staff for dramatic art

Entry requirements

• NSW Higher School Certificate or its interstate or overseas equivalent; or

• Attainment of tertiary qualification, or satisfactory completion of at least one year’s full-time load in a tertiary course.

Applicants are expected to have some drama performance experience in school, church, community theatre or extras work. Acceptance is by interview and audition. The interview gives applicants opportunity to discuss past performance and/or production experience. The audition determines current and potential acting ability. Assessment criteria for auditions are below.

Performance applicants should prepare to present two contrasting monologues and participate in an improvisation.

 

Theatre practice applicants should prepare to present one monologue and a portfolio demonstrating their area of speciality. For example, a design portfolio.

 

Production applicants should prepare to present a portfolio showcasing two separate areas of specialty. For example, a design portfolio and a director’s book.

 

An interview is conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous experience, personal motivation and aspirations.

 

Academic skills: In the audition students will be assessed on their literacy through a short test. This determines whether they must participate in a bridging course before the degree starts.

In addition to meeting the educational, artistic and academic prerequisites above, international applicants who have not completed an educational qualification in English have to provide proof of proficiency in English through internationally recognised tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, or through satisfactory completion of an approved course at one of the College’s partner language colleges.

Overseas students applying for admission to Excelsia College courses must have reached the age of 18 years by the commencement of their studies. Excelsia College will not admit overseas students who have not yet reached 18 years of age.

For more information visit the International Student page.

Applicants with work and life experience

Applicants must demonstrate that they have been involved in some form of high level performance or production making for at least 3 years. This could include professional, community and independent work.

Audition

  • Performance applicants should prepare to present two contrasting monologues, and participate in an improvisation and warm up exercise.
  • Theatre Practice Applicants should prepare to present one monologue and a portfolio demonstrating their area of speciality. For example, a design portfolio, directors book or a script.
  • Production applicants should prepare to present a portfolio showcasing two separate areas of specialty. For example, a design portfolio and a directors book.
  • Interview: Conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
  • Academic skills. In the audition students will be assessed on their literacy through a short test. This determines whether they must participate in a bridging course before the degree starts.
Applicants with higher education

Audition

  • Performance applicants should prepare to present two contrasting monologues, and participate in an improvisation and warm up.
  • Theatre Practice Applicants should prepare to present one monologue and a portfolio demonstrating their area of speciality. For example, a design portfolio, directors book or a script.
  • Production applicants should prepare to present a portfolio showcasing two separate areas of specialty. For example, a design portfolio and a directors book.
  • Interview: Conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
  • Academic skills. In the audition students will be assessed on their literacy through a short test. This determines whether they must participate in a bridging course before the degree starts.
Applicants with VET or TAFE studies

Audition

  • Performance applicants should prepare to present two contrasting monologues, and participate in an improvisation and warm up exercise.
  • Theatre Practice applicants should prepare to present one monologue and a portfolio demonstrating their area of speciality. For example, a design portfolio, directors book or a script.
  • Production applicants should prepare to present a portfolio showcasing two separate areas of specialty. For example, a design portfolio and a directors book.
  • Interview: Conducted concurrently with the audition. Applicants will discuss their previous experience, personal motivation and aspirations.
  • Academic skills. In the audition students will be assessed on their literacy through a short test. This determines whether they must participate in a bridging course before the degree starts.

If the applicant is successful they will be issued an offer letter and a written agreement. Students will need to respond to the offer within 6 weeks. This is done online and a confirmation will be emailed back to the applicant. At this point, applicants are welcome to apply for Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you are eligible for credit or RPL, you may be exempt from completing some units and you may be able to finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.

 

Please refer to the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy reference.

Download the Student Selection and Admission Policy and Procedure.

Excelsia drama students previous productions

  Applicant background
2019 Semester 2
Number of students Percentage of  all students
 (A) Past higher education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)
715%
  (B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study00%
 (C) Work and life experience
(Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three  categories)
12%

 (D) Recent secondary education:

  • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the impact of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)
00%
  • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
00%
  • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation with no minimum ATAR)
3678%
    International students24%
    All students46100%

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