East 15 Acting School tops The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide

High student satisfaction and the success of East 15 Acting School graduates have helped it secure top spot in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.

East 15, based in Loughton and Southend, is part of the University of Essex which was listed as number one for drama, dance and cinematics in the Guide.

• The Stage reports on East 15's success

School director Professor Leon Rubin said: “It is a testament to the commitment and hard work all of our staff and students at East 15 that we should have achieved this ranking and I am proud of all of them.

“Since becoming part of the University of Essex in 2000, a core mission has been to design and deliver a spectrum of professional courses that offer as wide a choice to our prospective students as possible and that are best fit for a 21st century global Industry.

“We continue to invest in our Loughton Campus, which has just enjoyed the addition of some £2.5 million worth of new learning resource and Students’ Union facilities. "

“With the support of the University we established our second campus at Southend-on-Sea with state of the art facilities and provide top-class facilities for some five further undergraduate Acting and Production courses, as well as a much-in-demand Foundation programme.

Supporting our graduates 

“We continue to strive to ensure a very high level of employability for our graduates, both through the well trained talent they bring to the Industry but also through a work ethic that combined with rigorous technical training, encourages fresh thinking and bold approaches to work opportunities.

“This year we have, once again through our New Company Production Awards, provided some £48,000 of funding to help twelve new theatre companies, all formed from within the School, to kick start their own new ventures. Many of the companies we have supported since the Awards began have gone on to acclaimed success with award winning productions that have often first seen the light of day on the Fringe and then successfully toured both here and abroad.

“Our BA Stage and Production Management graduates have enjoyed similar success with a record of 100% employability on graduation each year since the course began. Our theatre directing alumni direct and run theatre companies globally.

Our international community

“We are one of the most International of all UK drama schools boasting students from over 20 countries; this, in turn, serves to enrich the experience of the whole student community.

“As well as the many International undergraduate and postgraduate students that have returned to their own countries to pursue successful careers, our British alumni have also continued to make their mark throughout the UK in national theatres and community and small scale venues across the world and in theatre, television, film and radio.

“The quality of the teaching, the level of student satisfaction and the employability success of our graduates all contribute to the overall picture of a school I feel we are justifiably proud to be part of.”