Admission

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2013
Registrations for the 2013-2014 school year are no longer being accepted.

Click here (pdf) to download the latest edition of the School's application brochure and get a harmonized view of the NTS and its programs.

Ways to Apply

There are two ways to apply to the National Theatre School - on-line and by mail.

On-line Registration

Candidates can apply on-line by clicking here.

To register on-line, please have the following items readily available:

  • a digital photo - close-up – passport-size (mandatory)
  • your credit card (optional)

Please note that the on-line registration session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.
We recommend the use of Internet Explorer or Firefox web browsers to complete your on-line registration. Please avoid Safari (for MAC users) and Chrome.

Candidates can pay the $60 registration fee with their credit card (Visa, MasterCard) by using the Caisses Desjardins secure and confidential electronic payment service or mail a $60 certified cheque or money order made out to the National Theatre School. The registration fee is non-refundable. Please note: for your application to be processed, your registration fee must be postmarked no later than by January 31.

It is possible to apply to more than one program. Candidates must fill out a separate form, and include a $60 application fee for each program to which they apply. The candidate will receive specific instruction relative to the audition process for the program or programs chosen once the School has processed both the application form and the registration fee.

Printable Application Form

It is also possible to print the application form, fill it out and mail it, accompanied by a certified cheque or money order of $60 made out to the National Theatre School of Canada.

The registration fee is non-refundable. Each year, the application deadline date is set at January 31.

It is possible to apply to more than one program. Candidates must fill out a separate form, and include a $60 application fee for each program to which they apply. The candidate will receive specific instruction relative to the audition process for the program or programs chosen once the School has processed both the application form and the registration fee.

Selection Process

The selection process takes place between February and June. Applicants will be notified of the date and location of their interview and audition. Travel costs are the responsibility of the applicant.

The selection process is by jury and is a complex one of analysis, evaluation and comparison. The final results are officially communicated to candidates in June. The School regrets that it cannot send each applicant an evaluation of his or her audition or interview process.

The selection process is not subject to any admission quota by province or region. Talent and dedication are the sole criteria.

Foreign candidates are subject to the same conditions and requirements as Canadians. They must assume all costs associated with their audition, whose dates and locations will be determined by the School.

Educational Services Contract

Once accepted, candidates must sign an educational services contract and pay their tuition fee in order to be officially registered at the National Theatre School.

By signing the educational services contract, students agree to stay at the School for the duration of the program in which they are enrolled. During this period they must agree not to accept work in the performing arts without the prior written authorization from their program director. Also, because of their full schedule of classes and performances, students are strongly discouraged from working other than during their summer vacation.

All programs at the NTS are full-time, and all courses are obligatory. The School grants no equivalencies, exemptions or substitutions for its courses.

School Year

The school year is divided into two semesters. The first semester usually begins around Labour Day and ends mid-December. The second semester runs from January until the beginning of May.

Classes are generally held from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Rehearsals, performances and classes are frequently held on Saturdays, Sundays, and in the evening.

Evaluation and Certificate

There are no grades or report cards given at the School. The evaluation process is continuous and conducted with the collaboration of the professors and directors. These periodic evaluations give students the guidance, feedback and suggestions they need to improve and evolve their craft.

Students who have met all the requirements and completed their program of study, will receive a certificate from the National Theatre School.

NTS is accredited by Québec's Ministry of Education (ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport) which recognizes that its training programs are equivalent with that of a college program, but does not issue a collegiate studies diploma in theatre.

Tuition Fees

For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, tuition fees for the 2013-2014 school year are $4,600. For non-Canadian citizens, the tuition fees for the 2013-2014 school year are $9,200.