GraduateMusic & Performing Arts
Master of Fine Arts (Directing)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney, NSW, Australia
About this program
NIDA's Master of Fine Arts (Directing) is an 18-month, studio-based course centred on immersive, practice-led directing projects across classical and contemporary theatre, screen, opera and devised performance, supported by Prime Video. Students collaborate throughout with actors, designers and production teams and gain exposure to leading practitioners, with the course culminating in a graduation project: a short live production the student both creates and directs, presented in a curated season at NIDA's own theatres in front of artistic directors and industry professionals.
The course requires students to be based in Sydney for most of its 18 months (full-time from late January to early December in year one, and January to March in year two), with the final 3 months given over to a research project and an industry placement, during which onshore attendance eases. Graduates have won AFI Awards, Directors' Guild Awards, the Prix Italia Award for Directing, Helpmann Awards and Sydney Theatre Awards, and have worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Schaubühne Berlin, Royal Court Theatre and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Entry doesn't require a directing-specific undergraduate degree: applicants need an undergraduate degree in any area or 5 years of relevant experience, assessed through a portfolio, an online interview and (for shortlisted applicants) a recall audition.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified nida.edu.au ↗
Course structure
Study plan in 5 parts
- Directing Techniques
- Directing Practice
- The Contemporary Director
- Dramaturgy
- Directing Techniques
- Directing Practice
- The Contemporary Director
- Practice-Based Research Project
- The Contemporary Director
- Major Directing Project
- Practice-Based Research Project
- 18 months
- 7 subjects
- 180credit points total (Directing Practice carries 50 credit points as the lead subject)
- on campus
- based in Sydney for most of the course
Admissions
An undergraduate degree in any area, or 5 years of relevant experience in a related area. Selection: an online application with portfolio (Round One), an online interview for shortlisted applicants (Round Two), and a recall audition for a further shortlist (Round Three). International applicants must also complete a Genuine Temporary Entry (GTE) interview.
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