Step 1 – Pre-application
The applications are now open! See step 2.
3 STEPS TO APPLY
Step 2 - Application form
Between October 31st, 2024, and January 31, 2025, fill out the application form and pay the $95 application fee. The applications open on October 31st.
Before you get started, make sure you have at hand:
- A recent digital headshot (in a PDF file, maximum 5 MB)
- A method of payment
- The names and contact information of 2 references*(Teachers and/or theatre professionals you know, teachers or employers, whatever field you work in).
- Your CV**
- A credit card to pay the application fee
*For the Production Design and Technical Arts, Playwriting and Set and Costume Design programs only.
** For the Production Design and Technical Arts and Directing programs only.
Step 3 – Evaluation process
Instructions for the evaluation will be sent in February to candidates who have submitted an application form and paid the application fee by January 31, 2025.
The evaluation process varies by program. See Audition/evaluation by program below for more information.
The selection process runs from February to May.
Audition/evaluation per program
Production Design and Technical Arts
Each candidate to the Production Design and Technical Arts program is contacted for an interview. Following the interview, all candidates are required to write a production concept for the mounting of a play chosen by the School. Candidates have one month after the interview to prepare this test.
Set and Costume Design
Candidates to the Set and Costume Design program have one month to complete an artistic project, for which they will receive instructions. Candidates who pass this initial step are invited to an interview during which they are asked to present a portfolio of recent art or theatrical work.
Acting
Applicants to the Acting program must audition (prepare two short monologues that must not exceed two minutes each). A number of candidates are then selected for a callback workshop.
Directing
IMPORTANT: The Directing program accepts applications once every two years. Next application period: September 2023.
Once the application has been submitted, candidates to the Directing program are subsequently required to submit a portfolio that will include: a letter of intention, a resume, and a written treatment of a text from a list of plays supplied by the School. After consideration of these submissions, selected candidates will be invited to attend a workshop which will include an interview.
Playwriting
Every Playwriting application must be accompanied by two plays of at least 20 pages each, a letter of intent, and a resume. Several candidates are invited to an interview before the final selection is made.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
To study with us, you need a valid:
These applications require numerous documents from you. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the requirements and start preparing them while you wait for your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from us.
Once you receive your LOA, submit your applications immediately, as processing times can be lengthy. The CAQ processing time can take up to 25 business days. After obtaining your CAQ, you’ll need to apply for a federal Study Permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Processing times for the Study Permit can take up to 3 months.
Important: You cannot begin your studies without a valid study permit. If you're applying from outside Canada, it’s crucial that you have a valid visa before entering the country.
For the Acting program, candidates selected for the callback workshop (last stage of the selection process) must be able to come to Montreal. All other steps can be completed remotely.
TUITION FEES - 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
Canadian citizens and permanent residents
- Acting, Production, and Set & Costume Design programs:$5,946.85
- Playwriting and Directing programs:$6,877.97
International students
- Acting, Production, and Set & Costume Design programs: $11,893.78
- Playwriting and Directing programs: $13,755.94
Financial aid
Money should never be an obstacle to talent.
NTS can help you finance your studies.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there an age limit for enrolment?
Yes. Candidates must be at least 18 years old as of December 31 of the year of entry at NTS (i.e. you turn 18 before December 31st, 2025).
Can I apply to several programs at once, including applying to an English program as well as a French one?
Yes, absolutely. Candidates must then:
- Fill in a different online form for each program
- Pay $95 application fee for each program to which they apply
Can the National Theatre School offer credits for courses successfully completed at another school?
No. All courses are obligatory; students must complete their entire program of study regardless of their chosen discipline or previous studies. The School does not grant course equivalencies, exemptions or substitutions. Only one status is recognized, that of full-time student.
Are there prerequisites to be accepted to the NTS?
No. There are no academic prerequisites for any of NTS’s programs. Regardless of your level of experience, if you're passionate about theatre and motivated to take on an intense three-year training program, it’s worth applying!
How can I check the status of my application throughout the selection process?
The selection process for all programs runs from February to May. At each stage of the process, candidates are notified in advance of the date and location of their interview or audition, and of the status of their application.
The final results will be officially announced in May.
NEED ANY HELP?
Read the Frequently Asked Questions
CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM
admission@ent-nts.ca
514-842-7954, ext. 163