Thinking of Uni

[londonbased]

I have very little tech experience but I have a growing interest in sound & the management side of things - stage/technical/production. I am 24 and don't want to miss out anymore.

 

I know people say that a degree isn't always worth it but I feel that with more people getting degree's, things could turn round with employers asking for a qualification. (hope that makes sense). Also the possibility of looking for ANY job after graduation is easier with a degree.

 

I don't want to leave london so have come up with:-

(1) RADA - Technical Theatre

(2) Mountview - Technical Theatre

(3) Central - sound or Technical/Production Management

(4) Guildhall - Technical Theatre

(5) South Bank - Arts Management

(6) South Bank - Theatre Production

(7) Middlesex - Technical Theatre Arts

 

I know some aren't all practical.

 

Not sure about Sonic Arts or Music/Sound courses.

[Sarah]

Hi,

 

Don't know if you specifically want to do a degree, or just a qualification, but I graduated from LAMDA in July and have found it to be a highly regarded course! Only two years but very practical.... another one to add to your list of potential uni's?

 

With LAMDA you do a term of basic lectures, then start working as crew on productions with the second years as your HoDs, then obviously in your second year you're in charge as the HoD! Also complete work placements in the industry.

 

Just a thought, cant really comment on the others on your list so I thought I'd add my own two pennies worth!

 

Sarah

[londonbased]

Thanks

 

I have been looking at LAMDA but feel that it would be very difficult to get into.

 

I may have to go the 2 year route due to the fact that I'm only getting 2 years of government funding and I don't think I'd be able to finance a whole year myself.

 

As I'm not sure if I want to get more into management (technical/production/stage) or sound. I'm not sure at this stage which course is right for me.

[Sarah]

Hi again,

 

Well I got into LAMDA!! The most important thing that they look for is enthusiasm, and also committment to working in theatre.

 

If you're unsure which area you want to get into LAMDA's course is pretty good because in the first year you do everything and see what you like then in the second year you get to specialise in about three areas.

 

I applied to loads of places and went to open days to see where I liked, some places have brand new kit but horrible atmospheres but others have excellent and supprtive staff and kit that you'll find in most venues throughtout the world!

 

Id advise not deciding on one particular course/college but look around and talk to people, past students and staff.

 

Sarah

[Rob]

I dont know about all of the places you've listed, but given that you want to do specifically sound and stage management I'd recommend you give Guildhall some serious consideration. I didn't go there, but I reckon its very good if you want to get a general grounding with a specialism in management and another discipline. I'm not sure I'd recommend it if you wanted to study every discipline in equal measure. I think the Corporation of London may pay you're fees if you're London based or something like that.

 

I think Central would push you to do either stage management or sound, but not both. As far as I remember, RADA also pushes you to be very specific. Rose Bruford might also be an option as the stage managers look after sound as well. It's almost in London too! I've never heard anything great about Mountview, but I certainly don't speak from experience.

[BenWall]

I think Central would push you to do either stage management or sound, but not both.

 

Yes this is true. Central will only allow you to follow one specific 'strand' of practise! However, I do know people that have changed courses because they have not enjoyed their original choice... this is only a once off occasion though, not a weekly occurrence!

 

Ben

[londonbased]

I know that Central only let you specialise in one, just put both at the moment before I make up my mind.

 

I have been looking at Guildhall for a while now and really like the sound of it.

 

One thing that worries me is my debt and paying that back (which I am doing at the moment). Not sure if I could afford to take a few years off from full time pay.

[Nickwoolley]

I've recently been accepted into Guildhall. I was really impressed when I visited, both on the open day and the interview day. it also has the added bonus of dedicated halls...!

 

I love the course (well on paper, we'll see in September) it seems really well designed and thought out, I especially like how you start off learning everything, you never know what life can throw at you!

 

Another thing, sadly this is the first year when you will have to pay the whole £3000...!

 

HTH

 

Nick

[Simon Lewis]

Another thing, sadly this is the first year when you will have to pay the whole £3000...!

 

Nick,

 

as far as I'm aware, you will not have to pay the new fees before or during your studies. However, your student loan and tuition fee loans will be combined into a single amount when you leave university. Repayments for your loan only start when you earn more than £15,000 per year and interest is tied to inflation only.

 

I accept that the debt is still accrued, but some potential students seem to think this extra money has to be paid upfront... at least that part isn't true. Furthermore, many institutions are offering burseries to help support you.

 

Information on student finance from the University of Derby site can be found here.

 

HTH,

 

Simon

[Tomo]

Unfortunately, it means that every single student will have a simply HUGE burden of debt.

 

[Edited to throw in all the figures]

 

Let's say you take out the full loan of £4,405 and add to that the £3000 of fees.

Total yearly loan of £7,405, over three years gives a total loan of £22,215.

 

Throw in annual interest at the current rate (3.2%), and that gives an estimated debt burden of:

£23,667 at the end of three years.

 

Annual interest on that figure is roughly £757, assuming interest rate does not change.

 

Going with current figures, in order to pay off that much interest you'd have to earn £15k + £8,415 p.a.

Which is an annual pre-tax income of just over

 

£23, 415

 

Therefore, if you earn between £15k and £23k, you'll be paying 9% of the amount over 15k, but never pay it off assuming you make no voluntary contributions.

While that looks very much like a Graduate Tax, let's figure out what you'll actually pay back:

 

The Derby site says they write off the debt after 25 years.

The Student Loans Company hasn't mentioned that it any of the documentation I've recieved - must check that!

 

Assuming that's right, and let's say you earn exactly £23,415 from the day you leave Uni, and therefore pay off the interest and no more over 25 years, you'll pay a grand total of:

£18,933 on a loan of £22,215

 

This is the maximum case, as if your income is any lower the interest compounds to infinity, but you pay the same annual figure regardless of loan size so the total you'll pay is less.

 

So if that 25 year figure is right, it's not actually a graduate tax, and only those with very high incomes will ever pay it off.

If the 25 year cut-off is wrong, then it's definately a Graduate Tax.

 

Therefore, the smart thing to do is pay the absolute legal minimum if you earn under some line a little above £23k (assuming full loan and full fees), and pay the most you can afford if above that line.

 

I leave finding that line as an exercise for the student.

[Nickwoolley]

Another thing, sadly this is the first year when you will have to pay the whole £3000...!

as far as I'm aware, you will not have to pay the new fees before or during your studies.

HTH,

 

Simon

Hi Simon,

 

Sorry, yes I do know - looking back at the way I worded it that didn't really come out too well! Thanks for the info though, was interesting.

 

I must say not looking very forward to the debt.

 

Tomo - we had a meeting last week by Northumberland County Council and they said the same thing about the 25 years.

 

Nick

[J Pearce]

After reading through the 30 odd page form and even larger T&Cs booklet I have to fill out for my student loan, I can confirm that it is cancelled after 25 years.

 

The SLC will cancel your loan plus any interest 25 years after the April that you first became liable to repay the loan.

 

They also cancel it if you die or if you become permanently disabled and unfit for work.

[djw1981]

The debt burden may be high but compared to countries such as the USA it is not that high. The problem is that the UK market for students loans is not yet mature, and only has one main supplier.

 

I understand from American friends that they have a system of "investment companies" who invest by lending to students in exchange for a deal of say 1% of lifetime salary or at a set interest rate. The Interest is based on the expected outcome of the course. Commercial banks also do 'low rate' loans for students far more than occurs in the UK.

 

We should also remember that graduates do, on average, earn more. this may not be true in the realm of technical theatre, but is true across the board.

 

Uni students, it is claimed, gain in non-academic ways from their University course. This gaining is not unique, and is available to everyone through life!

 

David

Student Loan debt so far £27,000; 3 more years to go!!!!