How to Apply

The online admission application system will be available starting November 1st and will have a DEADLINE for receipt of a complete application (including all supporting documentation for both domestic and international applicants) of December 15 for the subsequent academic year. The application system will close on December 16 at 12:00 am MST. Submitting your application at least three weeks before the deadline is highly recommended. Please note: Fall term (September 1 - December 31) is the only term in which selected applicants may begin their programs.

  1. To apply for the MFA Directing program, please click here and review steps 3, 4 and 5 on that webpage. To submit your on-line application, click the "Apply Now" button. Upload all required documents listed below and submit your $135 (Canadian) processing fee online.

2. The required documents are:

  • A Letter of Intent outlining why you want to pursue a professional directing degree, where you see yourself after this program, and any other articulation of your ambitions, skills experiences and interests
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Official transcripts from all universities attended. International applicants must provide an official, original language copy of their transcript (with an accompanying official English translation), as well as an original language copy of their degree certificate (with an accompanying English translation).
  • You will need to request one set to be sent directly to you that you will then scan and upload into your application.

  • If admitted, you will then need to request a second set of official copies to be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). (Do not request this second set until you are admitted to a graduate program and prompted to do so by GPS.)  Please consult the transcript guidelines posted here.
  • 3 letters of recommendation.
  • You will be asked to submit contact information for your referees in your on-line application.
  • Referees are prompted by the application system to submit their reference electronically when your application is complete and the processing fee is paid.

  • Reference letters must be received by the deadline. Please ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner so that your referees can submit their reference by the deadline.
  • Directorial preparation of one of these plays: Hedda Gabler (Ibsen), Harlem Duet (Djanet Sears), East of Berlin (Hannah Moskovitch), Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (Tomson Highway), Intimate Apparel (Lynn Nottage), Scorched (Wajdi Mouawad) or Twelfth Night (Shakespeare). The directorial preparation should include a production concept, a study of major characters, and the story and/or dramatic action, with an emphasis on one or two key scenes. Please limit yourself to a total of no more than 10 typed, double-spaced pages (approximately 2500 words).
  • Portfolio including commentary and/or documentation of your theatre work. The portfolio should be in PDF format. If it is under 5MB it can be uploaded to the online application. If it is larger than 5MB it can be sent directly to the Department of Drama, either on CD or by e-mail in a PDF file to:
Graduate Advisor
Department of Drama
3-146 Fine Arts Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2C9
Email: dramags@ualberta.ca
  • For international applicants, English Language Proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, etc) test results, when applicable.
  • Information on the English Language Proficiency requirement and exempted institutions, can be found here here. The Department of Drama will not accept scores that are lower than the minimum scores posted.

3. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email from the online application system with an embedded link that allows you to log in and view the status of your application in the submitted applications portal.

  • Use the same email address and log in that you used to create your application to access your application via this link.
  • Until you are admitted and have accepted an offer, please communicate with us regarding the status of your application via the Communications tab within your application.
  • Log in frequently, because your application is where the results of your application will be communicated to you.

Short listed applicants will be interviewed by phone, Skype or in person.

The MFA Directing Coordinator  would be pleased to discuss the program and facilities with you. 

Our Application form requires the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. We recommend clearing your browser cache before initiating our application form.

Apply Now