Entry Requirements

Undergraduate Programmes Admission

Undergraduate Programmes Admission

Section Information
General Requirements • Applicants must be at least 17 years of age at the time of commencement/enrolment for all Bachelor's programmes at SPAA.
• UAE Secondary School Completion Certificate or equivalent approved by the UAE Ministry of Education.
• Candidates for performance programmes (i.e. Acting and Musical Theatre) must pass the audition process.
• Candidates for the Production Arts Programme must pass the interview process.
English Language Proficiency Requirement • UAE MOE Curriculum: A minimum of 80% in the English subject.
• American/British ir other English-taught curricula: Not Required.
• Other Curricula not delivered in English, one of the following:

• IELTS General: Minimum score of 5.5, or IELTS Academic: Minimum score of 5.0
• TOEFL: Minimum score of 500 (173 CBT or 61 IBT)
• Pass the SPAA English Language Placement Test.

Certificate of Equivalency • The UAE Ministry of Education requires all enrolled students to obtain an Equivalency Certificate for their Secondary/BA Certificate.
• The Equivalency Certificate is required from all candidates except those from the UAE's Ministry of Education Curriculum (UAE's MOE).
Conditional Admission • Applicants who have applied for a Certificate of Equivalency but have not completed the equivalency process by the time of registration may register for the fundamental year, provided they sign the Conditional Admission Contract.
• These applicants must present a copy of the MOE application receipt as proof.
• Candidates who do not have proof of any required English language proficiency scores upon admission can be conditionally admitted. While under conditional admitted status, students must study in the Intensive English Programme (IEP). The student will be allowed one academic year to achieve the required English Proficiency scores in order to continue in the programme.
Upon Acceptance and joining the Academy • All fundamental year students are required to take the SPAA placement test in writing and speaking.
• Students who fail the test will enrol in a non-credit-bearing English course and receive additional English lessons weekly during term time.
• Students have one full academic year to pass the placement test to progress to the consecutive year of their studies.
• Students who do not meet the required level within one academic year must interrupt their studies and may re-enrol only after meeting the required standard.
Recognition of Prior Learning • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process that allows a student to enter a programme at an advanced stage and, based on prior learning, be awarded credit for a course which they have not completed, providing they meet 80% of the prescribed course learning outcomes.
• Applicants for bachelor’s level programmes will be asked to provide additional evidence of unaccredited, informal, or professional experience at the same academic level. For bachelor’s programmes, this limit is set at thirty (30) credit hours.
• Applicants to the Music College Programmes must submit one essay (1000 - 2000 words) on a musicological or music-theoretical topic and pass a Musicianship test.
Credit Transfer Transfer credits from credit courses offered by other recognised postsecondary institutions are generally accepted where the course content is equivalent to the SPAA course under consideration.
Postgraduate Programmes Admission

Postgraduate Programmes Admission

Section Information
General Requirements The selection process considers not only educational qualifications but also the applicant's combination of aptitude, ability, and motivation. Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre and Live Performance Creation at SPAA must meet the following minimum criteria:
• Completion of a bachelor's degree in arts or a relevant discipline with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.25 out of 4.0 or equivalent.
English Language Proficiency Requirements A minimum level of English proficiency in the form of either:
• An academic IELTS minimum score of 6.0 (out of 9).
• An EmSAT English minimum score of 1400.
• A TOEFL minimum score of 79 on the Internet Based Test (IBT).

Subject to review, the English test score requirement may be waived for a native English speaker who has completed a degree at an English-medium institution.
Statement of Purpose: Video or Written Each applicant is required to submit a Statement of Purpose in one of the following formats:
a) A written statement of 800-1,000 words.
b) A 2–3-minute video providing insight into the student's artistic aspirations and motivations.

Additionally, applicants must submit a Curriculum Vitae and a portfolio of recent work depending on their specialisation (Directing, Set/Costume Design, or Producing).
Audition or Interview Applicants are required to participate in an interview or audition process, which may include discussing their educational, work experience, or creative projects.
Conditional Admission Requirements • Applicants with a lower CGPA score (minimum 2.7 out of 4.0) may be considered for conditional admission under exceptional circumstances.
• Applicants must submit an Equivalency Letter from the Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs by the end of the first trimester.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) RPL allows students to enter a programme at an advanced stage by awarding credit for prior learning, provided 80% of course outcomes are met. For postgraduate programmes, this is limited to six (6) credit hours.
Credit Transfer Students may seek credit transfer for graduate-level courses taken at accredited institutions. Transfer credits are subject to approval and are limited to 6 credits.
Application Timelines Applications for the graduate MFA programme are accepted from October to March. The programme closes to new applications once the maximum number of students is reached.