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Get the Skills to Become a Professional Actor 

Two students navigating a scene on stage
Be prepared to excel on a professional film set.

6-Month Dramatic Arts Diploma Program in Vancouver, BC

Our Dramatic Arts Diploma Program is an emotional, comprehensive and intensive six month, full-time diploma course. Its purpose is to give students a solid foundation of acting principles and is designed to challenge actors to achieve their highest potential. Tools learned during this acting diploma range from script analysis, character research, audition skills and scene work to improvisation, voice, movement/body, and on-camera techniques, which will all be needed for your demo reel project.

Next Start Dates: 

March 11th, 2024 to Sept 6th, 2024

Sept 9th, 2024 to March 7th, 2025

Time: Monday to Friday 9am – 1:15pm

Course Duration: 6 months

Become a Qualified Acting Professional

Our Dramatic Arts Program will provide you with the hands-on training, practical studio experience, and industry expertise it takes for you to become a confident acting professional, all in one acting diploma.

Our program and facilities are of optimal quality. Plus, Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts’ student-centered approach gives you plenty of opportunities for interactive, activity-based learning.

Get the knowledge and training you need to pursue your passion! Diploma courses in acting include:

  • • Text & Script Analysis
  • • Improvisation
  • • Character Analysis & Development
  • • Standard American Dialect
  • • Camera Tech
  • • Career Planning & Goal Setting
  • • Set Etiquette & Terminology
  • • Getting an Agent
  • • Monologues
  • • Headshots & Resumes
  • • TV & Film Cold Read Auditions
  • • Audition Reel Projects
  • • On & Off Camera
  • • Commercial Auditions
  • • Professional headshots included in tuition
  •  

The best way to see if VADA is the right fit for you is to see it for yourself. You can tour our facilities, meet with students and instructors and get a true feel for what it’s like to be a part of the VADA community. Book a Tour Now or Get More Information

Register Now!

Career Guidance, as an actor you are your own business and this means learning to maintain the balance between career and craft. Staff assists students in putting together their professional package; cover letters, resume, headshots and demo reel for applying to agencies for representation and look for opportunities for students to audition for student films, indies, short films, corporate videos or TV commercials.

Out of all the acting programs out here in Canada that I had applied for, VADA is the only academy that was genuinely concerned for my well being as a person, as well as the most direct in helping me on the journey towards my acting goals. One of the most interesting and helpful experiences that separate this program from the rest of the acting programs in Vancouver is the Field Trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles in which we attended intensive workshops with directors, producers, writers, actors, and casting directors. I learned so many tools of the trade from these veterans, including the reality of the industry and being able to get a good taste of the experience of being in LA.
Emmanuel Ghattas - Dramatic Arts Diploma

Financial Aid – Funding Your Education

Financial Aid is available for eligible Canadian and Permanent Residents who are enrolled in VADA’s full-time 6 Month Dramatic Arts Diploma Program. International Students who have enrolled in our Full-Time Dramatic Arts Program Diploma are also eligible to apply for a Study Visa, which will allow them to work part-time off campus and full-time during scheduled school breaks while attending the program. 

Scholarship Opportunities Available

VADA Studios offers Scholarships for both domestic and international students. Learn more about eligibility conditions and Scholarship requirements.

VADA High School Scholarship Application

VADA Domestic Scholarship Application

Walker Saunders-Welsh High School Scholarship Award

 

Successful Alumni

  • Luvia Petersen

    Continuum, The 100, Dead Rising 2
  • Alex Barima

    Supernatural, Travellers, The Returned, Truth & Lies
  • Jenna Romanin

    Bates Motel, Olympus, iZombie, Second Chance
  • Eduard Witzke

    What’s Up Warthogs?
    Motive

Acting Diploma Course Curriculum

Acting & Camera Tech

Acting classes cover all aspects of acting technique, theory and prep work–starting with script analysis and exploration, character development, making strong choices, high/low status, sense memory, listening drills, subtext, taking actions and achieving the acting goals that you set for yourself.

As a student, you will also learn the technical side of acting for the camera including camera angles, shot sizes, continuity, marks and hitting them, lighting, closeup vs wide shot acting adjustments, the basic way of shooting a scene, on-set equipment and terminology and much more.


Scene Study

Building on what you learn from the “Acting & Camera Tech” class working on Film & TV scenes, here you explore contemporary play writing.

The refined and challenging writing of plays not only sharpens and enhances the actor’s abilities, it enables them to then take a Film & TV script (from a locally shot production as an example) and approach it with ease and confidence, giving them a better success rate in getting acting gigs.


On-Camera Auditioning

The audition process is an art onto itself. It is the few moments when the quality of your performance determines getting the job or not.

Cold read audition techniques are drilled on and off-camera until confidence is achieved. Focus is also put on making a believable performance in an unreal environment.

All work in this class is filmed on-camera and reviewed, allowing you to improve your skills by visual critique.


Improvisation

Many Commercials, Features Films and TV series employ improvisation in the audition room as well as on set. Students are taught the art of improvisation so that they may call on these skills at any time.

We use exercises in character, spontaneity, focus, give and take, comic pairings, listening, short and long form and a whole host of others to round out this course.


Agent Seminar

There is an agent seminar included in the tuition as part of the Dramatic Arts Diploma Program. Two professional Agents join us for the day and impart their knowledge on to you! This is the chance of a lifetime for you to meet these people in a relaxed setting and ask any questions, find out what is needed and expected of you as an actor.

Show them your headshot, resume and cover letter — a package you’ve put together while attending the program. Also, perform an audition for them to receive immediate feedback. Normal costs for such seminars run as high as $200/day.

Entrance Requirements

Standard Entrance Requirements

Step 1: Initial Application

Applicants must have one of the following prerequisites:

17 years of age or older with a copy of Grade 12 diploma (or transcripts) from a Canadian high school or an equivalent institution worldwide, or

 Successful completion of Government Equivalency Diploma (GED), or

Mature Placement: If applicant does not possess a high school diploma or GED, the may apply as a mature student (over 19)

Note: High school students may apply during their final year of study (Grade 12), however cannot begin studies at VADA Studios until proof of graduation is provided

Additional Requirements:

Application Fee: $75.

300 Word Essay (minimum) on the subject of:

  • Why would you like to become an actor?
  • Why do you feel VADA is the right school for you?

1 Headshot photo (Does not need to need to be professionally done).

Copy of Valid Passport

Step 2: After submitting applications and support documents

  • Staff will follow up to request/confirm documents received.
  • Staff will schedule an Entrance Interview (conducted by phone or Zoom with a member of the Admissions Board).

Step 3: Audition Monologue

If an applicant successfully passes Entrance Interview:

  • Applicants will be assigned a monologue to audition
  • The applicant is given 4 days to prepare, perform, videotape, then send back their performance by email attachment
  • Staff will follow up to confirm that the monologue has been received
  • Staff will confirm if the applicant has been accepted

Step 4: Letter of Acceptance and Tuition Deposit

  • Applicant is accepted into the program and sent an email with the acceptance package
  • Applicant will be given 2 weeks to send their tuition deposit to hold their seat in the program:

30% deposit (Domestic students: Canadians & Permanent Resident Visa holders)

Note: Payment plans can be created for the remainder of tuition (Note: There is a $250 administrative fee per payment plan)

Course Duration: 24 Weeks + 2 Week Break, Monday – Friday, 4 hours/ day (20 hrs week)

Course Fee: $12,500.00

Applicants may apply online or in person (please contact the school to book an appointment if applying in person)


International Students Requirements

Step 1: Initial Application

Applicants must have one of the following prerequisites:

17 years of age or older with a copy of Grade 12 diploma (or transcripts) from a Canadian high school or an equivalent institution worldwide, or

 Successful completion of Government Equivalency Diploma (GED), or

Mature Placement: If applicant does not possess a high school diploma or GED, the may apply as a mature student (over 19)

Note: High school students may apply during their final year of study (Grade 12), however, cannot begin studies at VADA Acting School until proof of graduation is provided

Additional Requirements:

Application Fee: $75.

300 Word Essay (minimum) on the subject of:

  • Why would you like to become an actor?
  • Why do you feel VADA is the right school for you?

1  Headshot Photo (Does not need to be professionally done)

Copy of Valid Passport 

International Students (English Requirement)

Must provide all of the above requirements and proof of one of the following English Proficiency Test Scores:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5.5 or higher
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) score of 65 or higher
  • Pass an oral interview with an Admissions Officer.

Step 2: After submitting applications and support documents

  • Staff will follow up to request/confirm documents received.
  • Staff will schedule an Entrance Interview (conducted by phone or Skype with a member of the Admissions Board).

Step 3: Audition Monologue

If applicant successfully passes Entrance Interview:

  • Applicants will be assigned a monologue to audition by the Admissions Board
  • Applicant is given 4 days to prepare, perform, videotape, then send back their performance by email attachment
  • Staff will follow up to confirm that the monologue has been received
  • Staff will confirm if applicant has been accepted

Step 4: Letter of Acceptance and Tuition Deposit

  • Applicant is accepted into the program and sent an email with the acceptance package
  • Applicant will be given 2 weeks to send their tuition deposit to hold their seat in the program:

50% deposit (International students)

Note: Payment plans can be created for the remainder of tuition (Note: There is a $250 administrative fee per payment plan)

Course Duration: 24 Weeks + 2 Week Break, Monday – Friday, 4 hrs/day (20 hrs a week).

International Student Course Fee: $17,500.00 (CDN)

Applicants may apply online or in person (please contact the school to book an appointment if applying in person).

Start Your Acting Career Today…

Join VADA, no other school gives you better support to kickstart your career after graduation! If you’re ready to hone your professional acting skills then fill out the form on this page to receive more information! Or give us a call at 604-633-1525 to speak to a friendly and knowledgeable VADA Admissions Advisor today.

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