Undergraduate Drama Admissions
The UNCSA School of Drama offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in Acting or Directing. Applicants complete the online application, submit the Required Application Documents, attend an Information Session, audition, and interview with Drama faculty.
Admission decisions are based on a combination of artistic and academic merits and are released after all applicants been reviewed. Whenever possible, in-person auditions are strongly encouraged.
Application Deadline
* Updated 1/18/24: The deadline to apply to the School of Drama BFA Acting and Directing programs has passed. Applications are no longer being accepted.
To meet a deadline, candidates must submit an application and application fee.
The required application documents must be uploaded in time for a candidate's scheduled audition, but do not need to be uploaded in order to meet a deadline.
The 2024-25 applications deadlines:
- Wednesday, November 1, 2023 (11:59 p.m. EST)
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (11:59 p.m. EST)
Audition Information
Information Sessions
On the day of their audition, applicants are required to attend a faculty-hosted informational session about the School of Drama.
Applicants with an off-campus audition before 2 p.m. will be assigned to that day's 9-10:30 a.m. session. Applicants with an off-campus audition after 3:30 p.m. will be assigned to that day's 2-3:30 p.m. session.
Auditions
Auditions are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. Audition times will begin to be assigned in October.
In-person, On-campus
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Performance Place, UNCSA
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Information Session
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In-person, Off-campus
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Ripley Grier Studios |
Audition Dates
Note: the Monday, January 29 audition date has been changed to Thursday, January 25. |
Information Session
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| Hyatt Regency 151 East Wacker Dr Chicago, IL 60601 Room: Gold Coast Room |
Audition Dates
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Information Session Sessions are held in-person in the Chicago at the following times:
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Sonesta Los Angeles Airport, LAX REVISED ROOM ASSIGNMENT: |
Audition Dates
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Information Session Sessions are held in-person in LA at the following times:
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Virtual (Zoom)
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Audition Dates
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Information Session
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Audition Dates*
* 1/19/24: Additional dates added. |
Information Session Information on how to attend shared |
Admissions decisions are based on a combination of artistic and academic merits. Decisions are released after all candidates have auditioned.
Academic Criteria
Applicants must meet UNCSA Academic Criteria by the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Academic Requirements
Applicants should have or be on track to receive a high school diploma or equivalent with the following academic subjects:
| Subject | Units | Specifications |
| English | 4 | Four units in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature |
| Social Studies | 2 | Includes a U.S. History credit |
| Mathematics | 3 | Includes Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry or a higher level course |
| Science | 3 | Three course units in science including a life or biological science course, a physical science course and at least one laboratory course |
| Additional Coursework | 2 | May be in Mathematics, English, World Languages, Social Studies, Science, and/or Computer Science |
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Note: Early College High School Graduates This legislation only applies to seniors graduating from North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High Schools (Early Colleges) who will earn an Associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma. All other Early College students will be evaluated using standard freshman criteria. Applicants from North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS) receive special consideration in the admission review for UNC system universities based on North Carolina law. According to House Bill 97 Section 11.16.(a) “any student who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and who applies for admission to the constituent institution has the option of being considered for admission as a freshman or as a transfer student.” You can determine if your school is a CIHS school on their website: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/enhanced-opportunities/advanced-learning-and-gifted-education/cooperative-innovative-high-schools. Being “considered” refers to the evaluation of your credentials and not your student type. Regardless of how you are evaluated, you are considered a new freshman upon enrollment. You will be a freshman with college credit. If you feel strongly that your standardized test scores or high school GPA will hinder you in the freshman review, please don’t hesitate to contact an admissions counselor to discuss the transfer review option. Admission to UNCSA is by audition and or interview and all applicants to the undergraduate program are considered first time freshmen. The School makes every effort to place the student at the arts level that best reflects their proficiency. |
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GPA
Test Scores
ACT or SAT Scores
Applicants should submit ACT or SAT test scores with the following minimum score requirements:
- ACT: 19 (writing portion optional)
- SAT: 1010 composite score in Critical Reading & Math
The average applicant's ACT score is 24 and the average SAT Critical Reading, Math & Writing score is 1200.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on test availability, the UNC Board of Governors waived the standardized test requirement for first-year students applying for admission in Fall 2024.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement for their desired program may submit qualifying SAT or ACT scores in order to meet Admissions Criteria.
International Applicants
International applicants should submit official ACT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo
scores. Minimum score requirements for international students are:
- TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- Duolingo English Test: 100
- ACT: English Language Arts (ELA) section: 21
- SAT: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (ERW) section: 540
Advanced Standing for Undergraduate Students through Placement Tests
UNCSA accepts Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International
Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), and Cambridge International Certificate college credits.
Our Division of Liberal Arts grants advanced standing credit. Learn more.
Completed Application, Fees & Required Documents
1. Complete the online application.
2. Pay your Application Fee: $95 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, $130 for international applicants. Application fees are non-refundable.
Payment Options
- Online: Follow payment instructions at the end of the application or on your Admissions Portal.
- Check or Money Order (through a U.S. bank): Make payable to "UNCSA" and include your full legal name. Mail your payment and fully legible name of the applicant to the Office of Admissions.
- Fee Waiver: Submit an SAT, ACT or NACAC Fee Waiver Request signed by your high school counselor.
- International Applicants: Use Flywire to pay your application fee online through an international bank or pay by check or money order through a U.S. bank as listed above.
3. Upload all Required Application Documents at least two weeks prior to your scheduled audition.
Please note: If you are applying to two different UNCSA art schools (Dance, Design & Production, Drama, Filmmaking and Music), you will need to complete a second application and pay a second application fee.