Central School of Speech and Drama

Central School of Speech and Drama

Age: 105

History: Founded in 1906 for training actors by the formidable Miss Elsie Fogerty. The school moved from its original Albert Hall base to the Embassy Theatre, Swiss Cottage, in 1956, with the help of a distinguished alumnus, Laurence Olivier. In 2004, the school was granted the power to grant its own degrees and in 2005 it became a college of the University of London.

Address: The campus is at Swiss Cottage in north-west London.

Ambience: Jazzy mix of studio spaces and an Edwardian theatre. The site is conveniently located by Swiss Cottage tube station, close to Primrose Hill, Regent's Park and Hampstead. Theatre students mean there's a creative buzz, the college is small, which creates friendly, sociable atmosphere.

Vital statistics: Has around 850 students, with lots of postgraduates; takes around 220 new undergraduates a year. Offers undergraduate degrees in acting, music theatre, collaborative and devised theatre, costume construction, design for stage, drama applied theatre and education, performance arts, production lighting, prop making, puppetry, scenic art, scenic construction, stage management, technical and production management, theatre lighting design and theatre sound.

Added value: Claims to have the widest range of courses in theatre arts and the best technical theatre training facilities in the UK. It is also noted for introducing new forms and practices alongside classical theatre. When they graduate, students can hobnob with other Central alumni, who form a powerful network in the industry.

Easy to get into? Not for acting. The acting course receives over 4,700 applications for 54 places. For drama, applied theatre and education, the normal minimum entry is BBB at A-level plus five GCSEs at C or above, one of which must be English. For undergraduate craft, technology and design subjects, normal minimum entry is BBC at A-level or DDM at BTEC National Diploma.

Glittering alumni: Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench, Harold Pinter, Cameron Mackintosh, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Graham Norton, Catherine Tate, James Nesbitt and Rufus Sewell, to name just a few.

Transport links: Right on the swanky Jubilee line and great for bus and rail links.

Who's the boss? Professor Gavin Henderson CBE is the principal.

Teaching: A 2006 Ofsted inspection rated the college’s teacher training as satisfactory in management and quality assurance, and good in all other areas. It is a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning according to the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Research: Scored 2.55 in the Research Assessment Exercise, equivalent to 37th out 118 in The Independent’s Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Student bar runs regular events including discos, karaoke and quiz nights. Plus one student ball per term.

How green is it? Central did not supply information to People and Planet for ranking in the 'Green League 2011' and therefore received no award.

Any accommodation? There are a small number of rooms available in the University of London's intercollegiate halls, but most of these involve a 30-40 minute commute to Central. To find a local flat you get the help of a part-time summer accommodation assistant.

Cheap to live there? Dear me, no. Student rents in surrounding suburbs average £100 to £170 per week.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time undergrads starting in September 2011. The school is yet to announce its fee plans for 2012 entry.

Bursaries: There are a number of course-specific scholarships available. See the website for details.

Prospectus: 020 7722 8183; www.cssd.ac.uk

UCAS code: C35