Bristol Old Vic Theatre School scraps undergrad degrees
Actors previously trained at the school include Olivia Coleman and Sir Patrick Stewart
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School - considered one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind in the country - will stop offering undergraduate degrees from September, saying they have become financially unsustainable.
The school, which has existed for nearly 80 years and boasts world famous actors including Olivia Coleman, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis and Sir Patrick Stewart among its alumni, says it has taken the decision with students' "best interests" at heart.
It blames "recent challenges" that are having a widespread impact on the education sector, including capping of student fees, restrictions on international student visas and cuts in grants.
Fiona Francombe, Principal and Chief Executive of the School said: "Along with many Arts and Higher Education organisations, we are facing unprecedented funding challenges which we need to address as our current training model, focusing on teaching undergraduate degree courses, is not viable in the future.
“As a result, we will no longer be offering undergraduate training from September ’25 but will continue to provide postgraduate training and other courses. By taking this decision now we are able to plan for the next two academic years calmly, and with our students’ best interests at heart.
“It is our intention to create a long-term sustainable future for the School where we can deliver high calibre training for which the School is renowned but we need time and space to work through the options and our current focus must be on existing students and staff."
Ms Francombe insists that the School's legacy of "producing extraordinary work" and training "wonderfully talented people" will continue.
The Theatre School will continue offering postgraduate courses and short courses, while it says it is working with the University of the West of England - its degree validating body - to make sure that the quality of the training current students receive will not be affected, and that they will be able to complete their degree courses as planned.
You can find out more about the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School on its website here.