
Professional Voice Practice - MA / MFA / PgDip
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2023/24 Entry
Realise your potential as a creative practitioner and train to be a professional voice coach at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. You will gain highly specialised knowledge in a range of professional contexts and develop advanced expertise as a voice coach, teacher or performer....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location Bournville
- Award MA / MFA / PgDip
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
- Faculty Faculty of Arts, Design and Media
Overview
Realise your potential as a creative practitioner and train to be a professional voice coach at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. You will gain highly specialised knowledge in a range of professional contexts and develop advanced expertise as a voice coach, teacher or performer.
Through reading, discussion, reflective writing and practising as a coach or teacher, you will relate theory and practice and learn the ways of thinking and working of a professional voice practitioner. Through full engagement with the opportunities the course provides, you will be prepared for work as a voice practitioner in private practice, in Further or Higher Education, in business, in theatre, performing arts and media.
What's covered in this course?
The starting point is work on yourself: i.e. your voice and its source in your body and breath. It is the experiential understanding of this process and listening to your colleagues on the course that informs your own pedagogy. At Royal Birmingham Conservatoire we advocate a physiological and imaginative approach to voice work that develops the 'practical, intellectual, physical and emotional skills of students in an atmosphere that is enabling, supportive and empowering'*.
Through core learning based on how the voice works, your imagination will fuel the development of your personal artistry and development. If you aspire to learn in-depth, specialist knowledge in professional voice practice, then this programme will not only teach you the skills, but broaden your vital industry connections.
The foundation of the course is rooted in the principles and practices of healthy vocal use. Exploring topics such as vocal function and dysfunction, phonetics and accent analysis, you will build an in-depth awareness of professional voice practice. The content of the course spans from teaching you practice-based methods and strategies to theoretical research.
We will help you establish links to industry through our strong connections with leading companies such as the RSC, Birmingham REP Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. We have a working relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company and with the company’s Head of Voice, Kate Godfrey. We also have connections at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Voice Clinic which can offer students insights to clinical practice. Our Professional Voice Practice course has been developed with the support of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Graduates have gone on to fulfil very exciting careers, working professionally at prestigious organisations such as the RSC, The Royal Court, the Minack, The Cambridge Theatre, the Mountview Theatre Academy and ALRA.
With regular masterclasses and a compulsory placement module you will gain excellent insight and experience of working professional practice. Your course will be led by a mixture of visiting and in-house tutors, all of which have extensive industry experience. Alex Taylor, your course director, has worked internationally with schools such as Juilliard. Alex’s influential background brings a wealth of experience to the course, bringing you comprehensive, informed and exciting study. Our visiting tutors’ range of experience varies from work with professional theatre companies, the field of film and television, Voice Care Network UK, NHS Direct, the BBC, UK Borders and many more.
*(Federation of Drama Schools Core Principles)

I applied to a number of voice programmes, but I was really attracted to Birmingham at the audition when I met Alex Taylor and Stephen Simms. They were engaging and took an interest in my personal career path from the moment I met them. The programme was unique in its mix of practice and research – it was truly a perfect blend. The strong practice-based foundation got me ready to work and teach, but the research component helped me learn to challenge pedagogy and explore the bedrock of voice and speech work. I felt and still feel that with this mix of practice and research, I have the knowledge and power to discover the solutions for challenges in my professional life.
Dayle Torwanicky, NYC-based Teaching Artist
Why Choose Us?
- The course was developed hand-in-hand with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s voice department, which means the content has been carefully crafted to provide you with the best, industry-required knowledge and voice skill.
- The course provides you with an overview of a range of approaches to working with the voice through working with a range of highly-qualified and gifted practitioners. Methodologies include: Linklater, Estill and Berry.
- We have a working relationship with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Voice Clinic, offering students the unique chance to explore professional voice practice in an authentic, specialised and engaging way.
- Here at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire we are proud to be a part of Birmingham City University. Unlike other acting schools, as a student you are not only part of an accredited drama school but also a recognised University.
- Our industry connections stem from internal and external sources. Our staff have vast, and notable experience, both at home and internationally. Staff have worked with a range of individual, companies and projects, including the BBC, the NHS, British repertory and festival theatres and much more.
- Enhance your employability by learning an in-depth specialised knowledge of professional voice practice. Graduates have gone on to succeed in the field of voice practice, working on well-known productions such as the RSC’s Matilda, teaching in accredited drama schools, working in Further and Higher Education, running their own successful businesses and developing their private practice.
Entry Requirements
This course is likely to appeal to those who already have an interest in and some knowledge of voice: actors, drama graduates, teachers, speech therapists, singers and musicians with a particular interest in vocal music.
Essential Requirements
Essential |
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You should normally possess a first degree, performance diploma or equivalent qualification. |
You will also be considered if you do not meet the above entry requirements, but possess an appropriate level of performance skills and professional experience. |
Admission to this course is via audition and interview. Please see our Guidance for Applicants for more information. |
For full details and advice about auditions and interviews, please visit the Acting Auditions and Interviews section of the Conservatoire website. |
English language requirements
- IELTS overall score 7.0 (6.5 in all components) or equivalent is required.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £12,075 in 2024/25
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- Register interest
- £1342 per 20 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: MFA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £12,075 in 2024/25
- Register interest
Award: PgDip
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £8,050 in 2024/25
- Register interest
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- Register interest
- £1342 per 20 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £19,020 in 2024/25
- Register interest
Award: MFA
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £19,020 in 2024/25
- Register interest
Award: PgDip
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £12,680 in 2024/25
- Register interest
Please read the Guidance for Applicants before making your application.
Completing your application
Further information on writing your personal statement can be found on the UCAS Conservatoires website.
Course in Depth
PG Dip
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules, totalling 120 credits:
This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.
Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.
Combined with the Voice and Text and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.
At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Voice and Text modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.
This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.
The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.
MA
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.
Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.
Combined with the Voice and Text and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.
At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Voice and Text modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.
This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.
The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.
This module spans the programme and the Major Project, delivered in Term 4, represents the culmination of your journey on the course. It is the point in the course when you have the opportunity to reflect on all you have learnt thus far in order to initiate lines of enquiry and personal strategies through which to develop your own ideas as a foundation for future work in the field.
Much of the work of the Major Project is self-directed. You are encouraged to undertake research-through-practice and create a performance-based major project. You may choose to include a written component by way of evaluating their practice or you may choose to perform and be examined through a viva voce examination. There are a range of options for submission, laid out below and in the module brief.
MFA
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 280 credits):
This module informs and underpins the practical work of the modules Practical Voice, Voice and Text and Singing. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures in the early weeks of the course are designed to inform the student’s understanding of healthy vocal use and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place for the voice to function which is the focus of the practical work throughout the year.
Practical Phonetics provides a theoretical underpinning for the work with language of the Voice and Text module and also introduces another important area of work for the voice practitioner which deals with the accents and dialects of spoken English. Practical Phonetics will provide the student with the tools of research, analysis and practice necessary in order to acquire other accents and will provide them with strategies useful for the teaching of accent and dialect work.
Combined with the Voice and Text and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation of the student’s deeper understanding of voice work and provides him/her with a range of physiologically and imaginatively based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling his/her own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
Emphasis is placed on a practical, personal exploration of voice work and upon personal, reflective practice. By exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use him/herself, the student acquires an understanding of how the voice functions and of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for the voice to function optimally and expressively.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Singing modules, this module forms the foundation for a deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of approaches to the interpretation and speaking of densely coded texts simultaneously enabling your voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power.
To engage with the work to the fullest extent, you need to learn and present texts within the class so that an experiential understanding of the imaginative and technical demands of interpreting texts is developed. As graduates of the course, you will be working with actors, actors in training, or other students of voice, so it is important that you have some direct experience of performing, in a safe and supportive environment in order to understand the challenges that face the performer or presenter.
At a time when professional performers are increasingly required to sing as well as speak, this module aims to provide you with insights, techniques and the diagnostic tools that will enable you to address the issues that may arise when a performer is required to move seamlessly from speech to song and from sung text back to spoken text.
Combined with the Practical Voice and Voice and Text modules, this module contributes to your deeper understanding of voice work and provides you with a range of imaginative and physiologically based approaches to working with the voice, simultaneously enabling your own voice to develop in terms of clarity, range, expressivity and power. In exploring all the elements of healthy vocal use in practice you acquire an understanding of the physical/vocal conditions that need to be in place in order for your voice to function optimally in moving from spoken to sung text. Care is taken to emphasise and to clarify the relationship between the function of the voice when speaking and when singing, and the differences and similarities of these vocal functions. The aim is to provide you with a deeper understanding of these two vocal activities, and an awareness of the inter-relationship between them.
This module provides opportunities for you to explore the various philosophical and ethical issues relating to the contexts within which you may work as a voice professional, simultaneously providing you with the theoretical foundation you will need in order to teach.
The module proceeds through the first three terms of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars and student-led practical sessions. In the third term, the pedagogy class feeds into your Placement experience, providing a useful forum for debate and discussion.
This module spans the programme and the Major Project, delivered in Term 4, represents the culmination of your journey on the course. It is the point in the course when you have the opportunity to reflect on all you have learnt thus far in order to initiate lines of enquiry and personal strategies through which to develop your own ideas as a foundation for future work in the field.
Much of the work of the Major Project is self-directed. You are encouraged to undertake research-through-practice and create a performance-based major project. You may choose to include a written component by way of evaluating their practice or you may choose to perform and be examined through a viva voce examination. There are a range of options for submission, laid out below and in the module brief.
This module provides opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of practical voice teaching.
The course provides you with a weekly opportunity to continue to explore your own vocal practice, through a two-hour practical session. You will be assigned, or you may request, a personal voice tutor. This may be one of the permanent voice staff of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, or it may be a voice practitioner of some standing who works for another institution or company. (If opting to work with someone outside the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, additional costs must be borne by you.)
This module provides an opportunity for you to reflect on and appraise your developing professional identity in the context of a placement opportunity within the Birmingham Conservatoire.
The module is delivered in the second term of the course and is delivered through a range of teaching modes, including tutorials and student-led practical sessions. This is a further opportunity to respond to the professional challenges posed by the role of the voice practitioner in a professional context after the work of Pedagogy & Placement 1.
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in practically oriented action research in the context of a work or placement opportunity, either within the Birmingham Conservatoire or at another institution.
The module is delivered in the final term of the course and is delivered mainly through tutorials, student-led practical sessions, and teaching observations. This is a further opportunity to respond to the professional challenges posed by the role of the voice practitioner in a professional context after the work of Pedagogy & Placement 1 and 2.
This module seeks to provide you with the opportunity to consider ways in which you can develop your professional profile. You will be encouraged to play to your own strengths and to identify your own goals and career path.
In the context of a series of master classes and workshops designed to cover a range of professional contexts and personal management skills, you will reflect on your own current and potential practice, your particular skill set and your career goals and produce a professional portfolio.
Course Structure
As a Master’s student you will be expected to take a proactive attitude toward study. You will have timetabled classes as well as time for self-directed study. This one-year programme is delivered through a combination of group lectures, practical sessions, workshops and seminars.
You will explore in-depth the theory and practice of working with the voice. During your studies you will consider innovations in practice, and initiate research. You will be taught philosophical, ethical and aesthetic principles related to voice practice. Conducting private and self-directed study will widen your knowledge of the field and help you acquire a Master’s level understanding of professional voice practice.
Some classes are essentially studio based; they will be practically-focused on the development of your vocal and textual skills. This will enable you to gain an understanding into healthy vocal use, the demands of spoken and sung texts, and the relationship between the singing and speaking voice.
Development of your teaching skills is established through micro-teaching, presentation seminars and tutorials. We encourage you to foster creativity and initiative, teaching you to respond to complex situations. You will create workshops and effective presentations and you will be expected to critically reflect your work in order to advance.
Part-Time Study
The MA Professional Voice Practice operates either as a one-year, full-time course or a two-year, part-time course.
For part-time students the course modules are distributed over two years of study. For part-time PgDip students, half of the modules are studied over three terms in a first year, and the other half over three terms in a second year.
For part-time MA students the second year of study includes four terms, the final term being dedicated to the production of the dissertation/research project.
You can negotiate your modules with the Course Director, however the Voice Theory and Phonetics and Practical Voice modules must be taken in the first year of the course. The Placement Module and the Research Project should represent the culmination of study and take place at the end of your second year.
Employability
Enhancing Employability Skills
You’ll be encouraged to think creatively, considering how to apply the knowledge taught to your specific interests or practice. This will allow you to develop a set of tools and transferable skills that will help you translate your knowledge to a variety of professional voice roles.
Throughout the programme you will develop your ability in planning and presenting presentations, performances, and workshops. You will be able to deliver professional voice content to a high artistic, intellectual and professional level. Graduates will be able to make sound judgements and demonstrate a systematic understanding of voice. You will be able to form expert insight and strategies of creative thinking.
The programme is structured to develop your teaching skills, through micro-teaching. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the techniques applicable to professional voice practice. This will prepare you for a manner of roles within the voice field. Many of our students express an interest in forming their own professional voice companies, providing bespoke vocal services. We encourage you to explore a variety of pathways, ensuring you leave with specialised, yet extensive knowledge and skill.
The content of this course will allow you to progress into voice roles within private practice, teaching in a drama school context or even voice coaching in the industry. You’ll also have the skills needed for voice teaching in other contexts such as working in the community or teaching in a primary or secondary school.
Our Graduates
Lottie Williams-Burrell
Senior Voice Tutor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Since graduating, Lottie has worked as a freelance voice teacher at Associated Studios, Birmingham School of Acting (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where she became a Senior Voice Tutor in 2017. Lottie’s time on the course helped her considerably with building relationships and making important industry connections. In addition to her work at Mountview, Lottie gained experience working as a voice coach at a number of London-based shows, she also has experience teaching private clients.
Lottie was originally attracted to MA Professional Voice Practice by the singing module. Her highlights from the course include the accent and dialect module, the masterclasses where she was introduced to leading voice professionals, and the “fantastic group of teachers and students”.
Dayle Torwanicky
NYC-based Teaching Artist
Since graduating Dayle was immediately hired to teach at a full-time acting conservatory in New York City. She has managed to build up her teaching hours from 3 hours a week to 20+ hours in addition to coaching productions every term.
Following her training on MA Professional Voice Practice, she went to become a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. She is now on her sixth year on faculty at Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where she teaches on three courses. In addition, teaching classes she also maintains private clients. Dayle has managed to keep in touch with his class members from Birmingham who are now situated at different parts of the world (New York City, Los Angeles and Barcelona) they collaborate regularly and help one another to learn and grow. Dayle’s future plans include broadening her knowledge in linguistics in order to continue work with international actors.
James Gitsham
Lecturer in Theatre at LASALLE College of the Arts
James was offered a full time voice tutor role prior to graduating. He later on went on to develop a private voice coaching business before successfully taking on the role as a Lecturer at the Theatre at LASALLE College of Arts in Singapore.
James said “The program introduced me to a much wider world of voice training than that which I’d previously been aware of. There were opportunities to develop the skills to apply voice work to a variety of areas including vocational actor training, professional accent coaching and to the world of commercial business training.”
The first thing that attracted James to master’s program at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire was the expertise and qualifications of the teaching staff. James continues “The breadth of material that was covered on the course struck me as unique within postgraduate voice programmes. From being trained through the vocal progression of Kristen Linklater, to instruction in levels one and two of Estill Voice Training, we covered a variety of voice practitioners. The program also has an excellent staff-student ratio which allows for a great deal of one to one training and personalised feedback.”
Placements
Placements are an important aspect of this course, as they allow you to experience a professional work environment. Placements are a compulsory part of the programme, in which you will work and gain further insights into the demands of the practicing voice professional.
In the past our students have undertaken placements in a wide range of contexts, such as regional theatre companies, drama schools, HE and FE colleges, primary and secondary schools, and community or industrial projects. Students have also worked with prestigious organisations such as the Royal Court Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
These placements provide you with real-life experience, and as a requirement you will be actively involved in delivering an aspect of the programmes provided by your selected placement organisation.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Further information
This course is focused on professional voice practice within the United Kingdom, therefore is suitable for international applicants seeking to learn about a specific culture of practice. In the past we have welcomed students from the USA, who wanted to develop specialised knowledge.
International students are able to apply for a one year full-time MA Professional Voice Practice. Applicants are required to audition and interview for this programme. However overseas students are able to audition via DVD, following the guidelines provided by Birmingham School of Acting.
The delivery of the course includes intensive study of vocal interpretation relevant to British professional practice. This will include the study of British accents, and other specialised aspects, a prior knowledge and understanding of this is desired. You must hold prior knowledge and understanding of the English language, this includes the confidence in speaking the language. You must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English Language as a requirement for this course.
If you seek to develop a Master’s level of knowledge and skill in this particular area then Birmingham School of Acting is for you.
If you are based in the USA we normally hold auditions in late January to early February.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities



Location
The School of Acting is based at Ruskin Hall in Bournville, although students can also benefit from a range of performance spaces around the city. As a part of the Arts, Design and Media faculty, we also have access to facilities at the Parkside Building, which boasts state-of-the-art radio and television studios, edit suites, photography studios, and much more.
Performances
Students regularly perform at professional theatres across the West Midlands, including The Birmingham Central Library Theatre; Crescent Theatre; Hippodrome Studio (Patrick Centre); The Old Rep Theatre and The Drum.
Our staff
Alex Taylor
Course Director MFA in Acting the British Tradition, MA in Professional Voice Practice
Alex Taylor has worked extensively in the UK, USA and South East Asia as a director, an actor and as a voice specialist. From 1984-1990 he was the Director of the School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University and, at thirty, was the youngest drama school principal in the UK. He created one of the first honours degree courses for...
More about AlexStephen Simms
Vice Principal - Acting, Professor of Actor Education
Stephen is the Vice Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting, one of the UK's leading conservatoires of acting, where he is also the Head of Acting. He is also Professor of Actor Education, the only person to hold this position in the country. He directs and teaches on the acting courses at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Recent...
More about Stephen