Programme overview
The Summer Conservatoire, launched in 2019, takes place at GSA's state-of-the-art facilities, including purpose-built studios and performance spaces, located on the Stag Hill Campus at the University of Surrey in Guildford. All courses are taught by professional GSA conservatoire tutors and cover a wide range of skills including acting, singing, voice and dance, as well as as various technical theatre skills.
GSA has successfully run summer schools for over 20 years and has built an international reputation for delivering world-class training. Summer Conservatoire is specifically for students passionate about pursuing a career in the arts, giving you a taste of life within a conservatoire and the rigours and expectations of training. The intensive courses are designed to inspire and prepare you for further training within a conservatoire or higher education, in pursuit of a career within the industry.
The curriculum is inclusive and multicultural, offering access to a broad spectrum of insights.
There are no entry auditions for GSA Summer Conservatoire programmes but places are limited so early application is advised. Age requirements apply for each programme.
Non-native speakers of English are requested to provide an IELTS test or equivalent to make sure their level of English is adequate for the course.
Applications for 2025 Summer Conservatoire bursaries are now closed. Applications for Summer Conservatoire 2026 will open January 2026.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must have applied (or will be required to apply) for attendance in GSA Junior activity, such as Saturday School or Summer Conservatoire.
To be eligible to apply for a funded place, applicants must also meet at least ONE of the criteria listed below:
- From a Low Participation Neighbourhood (defined as POLAR4 Quintiles 1 and 2 by OfS*)
- From an area of high deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation, IMD Quintile 1 & 2**)
- Eligible for free school meals in the last six years
- Care-experienced and students in local authority care
- A young carer (you care for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without your support
* You can check whether you live in a Low Participation Neighbourhood by using our online postcode look-up tool. To be eligible, your postcode must be Quintile 1 or 2 against POLAR 4 (see table on map).
** You can check your postcode's IMD score using this online look-up tool. To be eligible, your postcode needs a 1 - 4 in column F.
The selection process may also consider other applicant information, including the following criteria:
- Classified as having a disability
- A forced migrant (refugees and asylum seekers)
- Estranged, studying without the support of your family (limited, negative or no contact with parents)
- From a military family (parent/carer has served in the UK armed forces or reserves)
- From a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups
- From a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman or Boater (GRTSB) community
- Or a student whose studies have suffered significant disruption due to illness or personal circumstances
We are unable to provide accommodation for the Summer Conservatoire course.
Musical Theatre courses
This course allows you to see what it is like to be part of the GSA Conservatoire. You will spend the week working with GSA Conservatoire tutors following a sample timetable of our full-time BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme. Classes will be taken in singing, acting, mime/physical theatre and voice. Dance techniques include ballet and jazz. You will also be working on a specific project which will enable you to work effectively with performance techniques. This intensive week-long programme is designed to give you a taste of the highly demanding but thrilling training at a full-time drama school.
This is a 1-week course. You can choose from Week 1 or Week 2 (both weeks contain the same content).
Week 1 runs from 28 July - 1 August 2025.
Week 2 runs from 4 August - 8 August 2025.
9.30am - 5pm
Spaces are limited
Fees: £440 per week
This course allows you to see what it is like to be part of the GSA Conservatoire. You will spend the week working with GSA Conservatoire tutors following a sample timetable of our full-time BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme. Classes will be taken in singing, acting, mime/physical theatre and voice. Dance techniques include ballet and jazz. You will also be working on a specific project which will enable you to work effectively with performance techniques. This intensive week-long programme is designed to give you a taste of the highly demanding but thrilling training at a full-time drama school.
This is a 1-week course running from 28 July - 1 August 2025.
9.30am - 5pm
Spaces are limited
Fee: £500
GSA is widely recognised by the entertainment industry as a provider of the foremost musical theatre training in the world. Our audition technique courses offer students hoping to gain entry into drama school invaluable experience and advice. This two-day course will help you prepare for your audition into Higher Education or a conservatoire. You will be focusing on audition techniques in dance, voice, singing and acting going through a mock audition with advice and feedback from professional GSA tutors. You will need to bring a monologue and a song with you to the course.
This is a 2-day course on 5 and 6 of August.
10am - 5pm
Spaces are limited
Fee: £210
Acting Courses
This course is designed to give aspiring actors an insight into what it takes to train as an actor in a conservatoire environment. Through intensive practical sessions with professional GSA Conservatoire tutors, students will look at voice, movement and text analysis with a focus on the actor's neutral listening, responding and storytelling-based ensemble work. These will be put into practice through short duologues and ensemble texts.
This is a 1-week course running from 4 August - 8 August 2025.
9.30am - 5pm
Spaces are limited
Fee: £440
Gaining a place at a conservatoire or Higher Education institution to train in Acting is highly competitive. This two-day course will help you prepare for drama school auditions not only at GSA but at other Federation of Drama School conservatoires. You will be focusing on voice, acting technique, presentation skills and delivering monologues. You will need to bring 2 monologues with you which will be heard and developed during the two-day course. Professional GSA tutors will provide you with feedback and guidance for your audition.
This is a 2-day course on 29 and 30 July 2025.
10am - 5pm
Spaces are limited
Fee: £210
Technical Theatre
This is a three-day course for those aged 14-18, offering an insight into university conservatoire training in theatre production and inspiring them to consider offstage theatre roles as a career option, whether that be through the HE programme or other routes. This course will provide introductory sessions in lighting, sound, stage management, prop making, and costume design. It also includes a trip to a West End production and a backstage tour.
Unavailable for summer 2025
Never before have I been to a place that so values every SINGLE person
I learnt so much over the week and felt like my confidence has grown immensely
I wish I could express how much impact this experience has had on my practical work. I'd love to thank every member of staff. Thank you for such an unforgettable experience
Terms and Conditions
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Privacy Policy
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Safeguarding Policy
View GSA Safeguarding policy here.
If you have any complaints, in the first instance, please send them to gsasummerschool@gsa.surrey.ac.uk and they will be dealt with in line with our complaints procedure.