MFA Directing

at Edinburgh Napier University

We believe that there is no standard approach to the training of theatre directors.  The art is a combination of visual, textual, and communicative acuity and every director is unique.  For that reason the course is designed to be individually responsive to each student’s interests and experience.  Most modules are heavily mentor-based, which means that you always have advice, expertise, and guidance on hand as you explore your artistic potential.

The courses are taught by a team of industry professionals: Mark Thomson (Directing) has worked with most of the great names in British theatre and served as Artistic Director of Edinburgh's prestigious Lyceum Theatre for 13 years. 

May Sumbwanyambe is an award-winning playwright currently working with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Traverse, and the BBC, to name just a few.

Modules:
 

• Dramatic Story and Structure 
• Script Analysis 
• Design and Metaphor
• Applied Directing 
• Professional Preparation
• Festival Production
   

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees 

IELTS (Academic)
6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL Internet Based Test
80 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

Pearson’s Test of Academic English
56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge B2 First (formerly Cambridge English First (FCE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE)
ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component

LanguageCert English language qualification
B2 Communicator Test with overall 39 or above, and 25 or above in all skills

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. 

While we can’t predict the future, we can be certain that an ever-expanding range of entertainment platforms will require an ever-expanding range of content.

We believe that directors trained in the core skills of good story-telling, inspiring great performance, working effectively and creatively in a collaborative environment, preparing and adhering to schedules and budgets, and understanding a variety of marketing possibilities will be able to adapt their work to a variety of platforms. 

This course aims to train such graduates, who can see unlimited potential and a variety of opportunities for themselves in the entertainment industry.