Applying to East 15

Applicants must hold academic qualifications equivalent to the entry requirements for any chosen course/s or provide evidence of suitability for study.

Step 1

• Read our full payment and admissions Terms and Conditions

Step 2 

• Complete a UCAS application.
  
  You only need to enter your first choice of course as one choice on UCAS as you will get the chance to add more course choices at the next stage.
  
  If you are in UCAS but have not put East 15 as one of your choices, you should put your UCAS number in the relevant box.
   
  If you are not intending to enter UCAS at all, you can still apply to East 15 directly and should miss out this step. Please enter "DirectApp" in the UCAS number box on the application form . 
  
  To complete your UCAS application you will need the following information:
  
  Institution Name: Essex
  Institution Code: E70
  Campus Code: L for Loughton; S for Southend
  
  Cert HE Theatre Arts - Campus Code: L or S  UCAS Code: W410
  
  BA Acting - Campus Code: L  UCAS Code: W411
  
  BA Acting (International) - Campus Code: L  UCAS Code: W83A
  
  BA Acting and Contemporary Theatre - Campus Code: L  UCAS Code: W441
  
  BA Stage and Production Management - Campus Code: L  UCAS Code: DKAS
  
  BA Acting and Community Theatre - Campus Code: S  UCAS Code W496
  
  BA Acting and Stage Combat - Campus Code: S  UCAS Code W412
  
  BA Physical Theatre - Campus Code: S  UCAS Code: W494
  
  BA Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) - Campus Code: S  UCAS Code: W900
  
  BA World Performance - Campus Code: S  UCAS Code: W495

Step 3

• Those applying only for BA Creative Producing (Theatre & Short Film) and/or BA Stage & Production Management do not need to complete this step and should go straight to Step 4. 

• Prepare your online audition as you will need to include the URL link(s) for your video(s) in your application. Full details on what to prepare can be found in the 'Online Auditions' section of this page. 

Step 4

• Complete our Direct Application Form. ALL applicants for our audition courses should select Option 2 in the Auditions section of the application form.
  
  You can apply for up to 3 courses on this form.  

Please note, it is important that you complete the application form in full as it is this, and not your UCAS form, that will be considered along with your audition or interview.
 
BA Creative Producing (Theatre & Short Film) and/or BA Stage & Production Management only: Direct applicants for these courses should choose Option 4 in the Audition section of the East 15 Application Form and include in their Personal Statement why they wish to study on the course they are applying for.  If you have already applied through UCAS for one or both of these courses you do not need to complete this step as we will look at your UCAS application instead.

Step 5

• Pay the audition fee.
  
  This applies to all applicants attending a UK audition and non UK residents who are submitting online auditions.
  
  You may be eligible for an Audition Fee Waiver. Please see the section below for more information. 
  
  Applicants applying only for BA Stage & Production Management and/or BA Creative Producing (Theatre & Short Film) do not need to pay the audition fee. 
  
  Applicants attending an overseas audition do not need to pay the audition fee. 
  
  Please note that this fee is non-refundable. See terms and conditions.

We believe in fair access to training and therefore provide free auditions to applicants from low-income households.

Eligibility

To apply for a free audition, you must meet all of the following essential criteria:  

• You are applying for undergraduate study.
• You are a home (UK) / EU applicant.
• You attended a state school.  

In addition to the above essential criteria, applicants should also meet at least one of the following criteria:  

• Your household income is under £25,000 per year.
• You are in receipt of benefits including disability benefits: Universal Credit, PIP, DLA.You have Caring Responsibilities (Young Carer/ Carer).
• You will be considered to be a care leaver when you begin your training.
• You are an estranged student (not supported by your family).
• You can offer other evidence of financial hardship.  

I meet the criteria...what's next...?

Please download and complete this form and send with your Direct Application Form along with your proof of household income. Please save and attach this form with any supporting documents to your Direct Application Form. You can do this after clicking ‘Submit Application’ on the Direct Application Form.

Proof of income may include:  

• Personal* or parental** P60s
• Confirmation of income-related benefit payments (e.g. Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Income Support)
• Evidence of tax return from the financial year 2018-19  

*if you are an independent student

**if you are supported by more than one parent/carer, please include both of their P60s  

If you are awarded an audition fee waiver, you will be sent an invitation to audition.

If you are unsuccessful, we will contact you with further information.  

This form must be completed and submitted at the time of application. Any forms received independently of your direct East 15 application form will not be considered. 

Overseas applicants from outside the EEA are likely to require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. If you think this applies to you, and you are offered a place following audition or interview, you may be required to provide the following documentation:

• a copy of your passport
• transcripts of your highest level of qualification showing the grades achieved
• proof that you have undertaken an English language test (for example, IELTS with a score of 6.0 overall and a 5.5 minimum in each component) if English is not your first language
• a reference recommending you for the course (this is normally completed through UCAS)

Further information about the documents you will need to provide will be sent to you by the Admissions Office at the University of Essex as part of your formal offer. These documents are not required as part of your application and audition.

All applicants are required to attend an audition or interview. However, if you are based outside the UK please note that we offer overseas auditions in around 10 countries each year or will accept online audition materials. 

Applicants may only apply and audition once in each academic year.

We strongly suggest you read our information about what to prepare for UK and international auditions thoroughly before attending your audition. 

Audition or interview date 

Following submission of your direct application to East 15 you will be contacted by our Admissions Team to advise you of your audition or interview date (alternatively, if you are an overseas applicant, and have submitted audition materials electronically, we will acknowledge receipt of these). We run a number of audition days throughout the year and strongly recommend that you read audition guidance and the Terms and Conditions for Audition (.pdf).

Once you have received your audition/interview date, all further correspondence from the school will be via email. Please ensure that you check your inbox regularly (we also recommend that you check junk/spam folders just in case your email provider filters our emails).

Outcome

You won’t receive any feedback on the day of your audition/interview, however, you should expect to hear from us via email within two weeks. The outcome of your audition/interview will initially be communicated as one of the four outcomes below:

Receiving an offer 

If you receive a Provisional Offer you should respond to it within two weeks, indicating whether or not you are interested in the course that is recommended.

Your Formal Conditional Offer will arrive soon afterwards (this may take up to a fortnight). The offer, which will arrive via email, includes the conditions of our offer and important response deadline information. You will also receive correspondence from the University of Essex Undergraduate Admissions Team either confirming your offer and the conditions and instructions on what you need to do next or requesting further information. It is important that you respond to any requests within the time-frame given as our offer may be withdrawn if we do not hear from you.

Please note, successful applicants must submit a response to the University (accepting or declining the offer). You must also return our Admissions Agreement (link contained within your offer letter) and a refundable £300 course deposit (refunds subject to Terms and Conditions for Course Deposit (.pdf) by the stipulated deadline to secure your place.