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LIPA, Rose Bruford or Other?


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UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE ADVISE ASAP

 

I am an international student who has applied to BA (HONS) technical theatre degrees in the UK.

 

I applied to:

 

●Canterbury christ church university - theatre production (ACCEPTED)

●Rose Bruford College - Stage management (ACCEPTED)

●University of West London - theatre production (ACCEPTED)

●Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts - theatre production arts (ACCEPTED)

●Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts - theatre and performance technology (ACCEPTED)

●Bath Spa University - theatre production (ACCEPTED)

●Guildford School of Acting - professional production skills (awaiting)

●Central School of Speech and Drama - Technical and production management (awaiting)

 

What I require:

- Accredited degree

- Prestigious/honoured college/uni

- Clean facilities and living area

- Friendly feel

- Degree that offers the most all round skills and modules

 

Issues:

- Gut feeling is go with LIPA

- logical feeling is go with Rose Bruford

- Want the movie student concept too much therefore wondering if I shouldn't go to a university instead.

- Only walked through LIPA's doors and feel this may wrongfully give it an advantage above others

- want to be a stage manager/production manager etc but wish to try out set, lighting etc as I have an interest in theatre but not quite sure what will grab my interest more.

 

I have to make a decision in 1week. I would love everyones views on what they would have chosen with the pros and cons.

 

I hope to hear from you all soon.

 

Regards nycdancer

 

Moderation: One forum only please!

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- want to be a stage manager/production manager etc but wish to try out set, lighting etc as I have an interest in theatre but not quite sure what will grab my interest more.

 

In light of this one point, it is worth noting that Rose Bruford's programmes (while very good) are quite narrow in their focus compared to many of the others listed. If you want a more all round experience, look at the others.

 

(Edit to add: There is also a course in that list that I had never heard of. There are also a number of interpretations of what Theatre Production actually is. Check the course content and the staff profiles.)

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I have to say I seem to encounter more people with qualifications from LIPA working actively in technical/creative jobs than any one of the others and all of them speak highly of the experience.

 

Is that not perhaps because of where you are based? being London based myself I've only come across one LIPA student...

 

As a graduate from Central I would recommend it highly. Personally I didnt find LIPA was as welcoming, even from just things like the interview I felt it wasn't particularly friendly and your only chance to talk to them was in a 5 minute interview. At Central the interview day consisted of a few group activities and then a one on one 'chat' with one of the tutors. And personally that suited me much better.

 

Also from my time there you are given more of a chance to work in areas that you want to, but still have the support from your tutor and the guidance that you want.

 

Personally I also preferred the location of central as you could be in the west end within 20 minutes, but with that you do also have considerably higher living costs.

 

Really it's down to personal preference, (although I don't know about all the courses) none of them are necessarily 'bad' choices, but some might not suit you as well.

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I must say I have spoken to Mark Shayle that studied at Central years ago and prspect his work greatly. As an international student, my skype interview did not feel as welcoming for Central compared to the smiles and family feel I received from Rose Bruford and LIPA. Although I have only communicated through emails to LIPA.

 

ImagineerTom: Even though the bulk of your work is located in London, was there any modules taught in college and experience away from London central that ever disadvantage you in receiving a specific job?

 

Lite_Lad: "As a graduate from Central I would recommend it highly. Personally I didnt find LIPA was as welcoming, even from just things like the interview ". In terms of cleanliness and a well presented school which between Rose Bruford and LIPA had a more prestigious decor etc?

 

Thank you all for all the advice. I guess it seems like London has to be the place to be to get experience, contacts and work. Therefore, I guess I'll need to sway my decision more to Rose Bruford. Even thought it is 40min outside of London it's still workable.

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The cost of overseas tuition fees are very high and you are talking 3 years of your life. If there has ever been a reason to come to the UK and have a look around all these places this is it. Don't make your decision based on a forum's worth of opinion from people who've only been to one of them or none at all, at least not for a 3-year course!

 

What makes one person tick is what ticks another off.

 

If you want that 'movie university experience' go to a campus university. There is a lot to be said for campus universities. You don't really get them in London, the real estate is too expensive. Bath Spa will be a good mix for you of being a reasonably traditional campus university whilst also being a well respected course with good connections to industry.

 

Don't assume London is your only option. There is strong theatre presence all over the UK, not just in London where the West End is. Remember also that studying in London you are likely to incur living costs up to 50% higher than many other places in the UK. (Though not Guildford, that's also silly money). My shared flat in West London cost me 700 pounds per month, whilst I had friends renting 2 bedroom houses with gardens and garages in the midlands for 500. Also take it from me having lived 20 minutes from London and lived in Central London; that living from 20 minutes from London is not the same as living in London! Besides the 40 minutes extra there and back, London transport is still pump after midnight, and if you're getting out of gigs at 2-3am you will really appreciate being in the city itself.

 

3 years is a long time and you've got to be somewhere that makes you happy as much as somewhere with a good reputation. Being happy at university will have a positive effect on your work and your lifestyle, and these things are as fundamental to post-university employment as where your degree comes from. The thing is that whether you go to LIPA, Central, Rose Bruford, Bath Spa, etc... all those courses have students who go on to have successful careers, and ultimately the most important defining thing in who is successful and who isn't, is the person themselves. So if you work hard and do your thing, you should be able to choose the university you like the best and focus on making the best of it as ultimately that is what will define where your career goes.

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The cost of overseas tuition fees are very high and you are talking 3 years of your life. If there has ever been a reason to come to the UK and have a look around all these places this is it. Don't make your decision based on a forum's worth of opinion from people who've only been to one of them or none at all, at least not for a 3-year course!

 

He is absolutely right. You simply should come and look at these places and the towns they are in. You really should not make a decision like this without exploring the ground fully.

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The costs are important and all London and Home Counties places are seeing rents rise enormously. The reckoning is £30K for a degree in England and £50K for the same one in London.

 

There is a lot to be said for Liverpool with the Echo and Everyman going full bore, Bath is a great city for young people with Brizzle in easy reach. Massive youth culture.

 

Canterbury can be a bit out on a limb and I haven't a clue what the courses are like there or Reading. I just wouldn't live in either.

 

From what you write I would guess a more generalist course with lots of real-world experience would be best but that is a guess. From your list my choices would be Bath, LIPA, Central but I would also look at Derby.

 

As for the Hippy and his video. That house exterior was in a road in Bristol where average prices are now £500K and rents average £1000+ a month. There is a cupboard in Sidcup going for £300 a month but they don't accept students and I wouldn't fit anyway.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi all,

 

Firstly, thank you so much for all the feed back. I truly appreciate it.

 

Secondly, I chose to accept LIPA's offer. I am so excited because I've walked through their doors and I know what to expect :)

 

Thirdly, as much as I have made my decision, the South African Rand against the Brtitish Pound has risen dramatically due to our very "lovely educated" government (JA RIGHT!!!!!). Therefore, I will NOT be able to afford living and studing. I can only pay for one of those aspects.

 

I'm digging for all the financial help and scholarships I can get but nothing possitive has turned up yet. I want to be in the UK so badly but I'm affraid if I cannot go I would have to forget about this career and try follow my dancing career until I stop to study theatre technology.

 

If anyone has any contacts up their sleeve for roughly 13 000 pounds just for the 1st year I would be truly gratefull. I am willing to help out, job shadow, be the guinea pig or whatever it takes in return for the sponsorship.

 

I will everyone a blessed future and to living healthy.

 

Kind regards.

 

Tamryn Delport

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  • 2 weeks later...

Tamryn,

On a more serious note, you need to carefully consider the issue of work and your student visa. I understand that as part of Tier 4 student visa applications non EU students need to "Provide evidence of sufficient funds to support him- or herself throughout their studies. ".

Part of the Visa conditions state "Students (non-EU) who hold the general student visa are only allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time but are permitted to work full-time hours during holidays". It is very likely that your attendance will be monitored by the University on a week by week basis in order to comply with Home Office rules - so taking a bit of time off to do a few extra jobs would get spotted quite quickly...

Many of your costs (e.g. halls or accommodation) will need a deposit or upfront payment. Getting £13000 through part time and holiday work isn't impossible, but also isn't easy if you do not already have the skills to offer.

I don;t want to discourage you, but equally I would not want you to have unrealistic expectations!

Simon Lewis

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