Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has announced that it will no longer be accepting applications or admitting any new undergraduate students from 2025. The school in Clifton, which has been preparing students from all walks of life to join the creative industries for almost 80 years, issued a statement this afternoon (Monday, January 6) outlining the reasons behind the decision.
In it, the school said: “Recent challenges that are having a widespread impact across the sector have combined to make the School’s undergraduate training model financially unsustainable. These include capping of student fees, restrictions to international student visas, cuts in grants, and increases in costs of living and teaching.
“Furthermore, the OfS’ recent announcement that it would not be accepting applications for self-registration until August ‘25 at the earliest has necessitated a completely new approach to the school’s business planning.”
Alumni from the school include Oscar and Bafta winners and some of the country’s most famous leading stars. Oscar winner Olivia Coleman, known for her roles in Broadchurch, The Crown and The Favourite is named among its alumni. As well as Jeremy Irons, Gene Wilder, Naomie Harris and Sir Patrick Stewart.
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The school said it would continue to deliver its ‘distinctive suite’ of intensive postgraduate courses, which include MFA Professional Acting, MFA Professional Voice Studies, MA Screen Acting, MA Drama Directing, MA Drama Writing, and MA Performance Design. It will also continue to provide its range of short courses.
It added that it is working closely with the University of the West of England (UWE), its degree validating body, to ensure that the quality of the training current students receive will not be affected, and that they will be able to complete their degree courses as planned. The School’s Trustees said they “intend to create a sustainable long-term future for the School to keep it at the forefront of dramatic arts training for many years to come, but need time and space to work through the options”.
Fiona Francombe, Principal & CEO of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, said: “Along with many Arts and Higher Education organisations, we are facing unprecedented funding challenges which we need to address as our current training model, focusing on teaching undergraduate degree courses, is not viable in the future. As a result, we will no longer be offering undergraduate training from September ’25 but will continue to provide postgraduate training and other courses.
“By taking this decision now we are able to plan for the next two academic years calmly, and with our students’ best interests at heart. It is our intention to create a long-term sustainable future for the School where we can deliver high calibre training for which the School is renowned but we need time and space to work through the options and our current focus must be on existing students and staff.
“We have always been known for producing extraordinary work, training wonderfully talented people, and reaching audiences of all ages. This legacy will continue as we begin this new chapter of our story.”
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School confirmed that this decision will not affect the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, which has been a separate organisation since 1986.
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