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The Central Academy of Drama, China
Dongcheng Campus, Beijing China (Mainland)
# 40QS WUR Ranking By Subject
23Undergraduate programs
22Postgraduate programs
5,375 USDTuition Fee/year
About The Central Academy of Drama, China
The Central Academy of Drama was the first theatre higher educational institution of the People's Republic of China. Now it is affiliated to China's Ministry of Education and is ranked as one of the best top-level drama and stage arts institutions in China. The Academy is the headquarter of China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes, Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC) and Secretariat of Global Alliance of Theatre Schools (GATS). It also acts as the base for the GATS International Theatre Festival. It is a world famous higher educational institute of arts, and holds the UNESCO CHAIR ON THEATRE EDUCATION.
The history of the Academy dates back to more than 70 years, to April 10th, 1938, when Yan An Lu Xun Art College was established. The Academy opened officially in December, 1949 and held the inaugural conference on 2nd of April, 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the official name in calligraphy.
The Academy has two campuses, one is located at Dong Mianhua Hutong No. 39, Dongcheng District, and the other new one is located on Hong Fu Middle Rd No.4, Changping District. Area of these two campuses reach 230, 000㎡, and the construction area is about 180,000㎡.
The Academy’s pedagogic programs have been subdivided into Department of Acting, Department of Directing, Department of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Literature, Department of Musical Theatre, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Western Opera, Department of Dance Drama, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Arts. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting, Directing, Art Design for Drama, Film & TV, Literature on Drama, Film & TV, Theater Studies, Public Utilities Management, and Broadcast & Anchoring. The academy has first-class discipline master’s degree and doctor’s degree authorization centers in Studies of Drama (Film & TV), and Theory Studies of Art. The Academy also has post-doctoral research station for art studies.
The Academy has the only state-level teaching team in acting, the only state-level characteristic major in directing, the only national innovative experimental zone for talents cultivation in musical acting, and the only state-level demonstration center for experimental teaching in Drama (Film & TV). The Academy also acts as headquarters of many national and international organizations, including China Drama Art Institute, Committee of Directing Arts of China Theater Association, China Association of Stage Arts, International Stage Arts Network, China Centre of OISTAT, China Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics, Education Committee of China Musical Theatre Association, and China Collaborative Innovation Center for Theatre Arts Management.
In the Academy’s long-term history, it continues to uphold the principle of realism, and inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions and carefully absorbs from other cultures. The Academy constantly consolidates basis and strengthens practice, and pursues the spirit of “genuineness, creation and beauty”. The institution commits itself to training drama, film & TV art talents for the country and the world. A majority of graduates have become world-famous artists, scholars, professors and writers, who have made remarkable contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese drama, film & TV industry.
About The Central Academy of Drama, China
The Central Academy of Drama was the first theatre higher educational institution of the People's Republic of China. Now it is affiliated to China's Ministry of Education and is ranked as one of the best top-level drama and stage arts institutions in China. The Academy is the headquarter of China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes, Asia Theatre Education Centre (ATEC) and Secretariat of Global Alliance of Theatre Schools (GATS). It also acts as the base for the GATS International Theatre Festival. It is a world famous higher educational institute of arts, and holds the UNESCO CHAIR ON THEATRE EDUCATION.
The history of the Academy dates back to more than 70 years, to April 10th, 1938, when Yan An Lu Xun Art College was established. The Academy opened officially in December, 1949 and held the inaugural conference on 2nd of April, 1950. Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the official name in calligraphy.
The Academy has two campuses, one is located at Dong Mianhua Hutong No. 39, Dongcheng District, and the other new one is located on Hong Fu Middle Rd No.4, Changping District. Area of these two campuses reach 230, 000㎡, and the construction area is about 180,000㎡.
The Academy’s pedagogic programs have been subdivided into Department of Acting, Department of Directing, Department of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Literature, Department of Musical Theatre, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Western Opera, Department of Dance Drama, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Arts. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting, Directing, Art Design for Drama, Film & TV, Literature on Drama, Film & TV, Theater Studies, Public Utilities Management, and Broadcast & Anchoring. The academy has first-class discipline master’s degree and doctor’s degree authorization centers in Studies of Drama (Film & TV), and Theory Studies of Art. The Academy also has post-doctoral research station for art studies.
The Academy has the only state-level teaching team in acting, the only state-level characteristic major in directing, the only national innovative experimental zone for talents cultivation in musical acting, and the only state-level demonstration center for experimental teaching in Drama (Film & TV). The Academy also acts as headquarters of many national and international organizations, including China Drama Art Institute, Committee of Directing Arts of China Theater Association, China Association of Stage Arts, International Stage Arts Network, China Centre of OISTAT, China Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics, Education Committee of China Musical Theatre Association, and China Collaborative Innovation Center for Theatre Arts Management.
In the Academy’s long-term history, it continues to uphold the principle of realism, and inherits Chinese aesthetic traditions and carefully absorbs from other cultures. The Academy constantly consolidates basis and strengthens practice, and pursues the spirit of “genuineness, creation and beauty”. The institution commits itself to training drama, film & TV art talents for the country and the world. A majority of graduates have become world-famous artists, scholars, professors and writers, who have made remarkable contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese drama, film & TV industry.
Available programs
Bachelor UG
Master PG
PHD
The Central Academy of Drama was the first theatre higher educational institution of the People's Republic of China. It is affiliated to China's Ministry of Education and is ranked as one of the best top-level drama and stage arts institutions in China. In recent years, the Academy has continuously made efforts to place undergraduate talent training and teaching at its pedagogic center, takes teaching quality improvement as a basic orientation, and strives to promote educational and teaching reform comprehensively. The Academy has strengthened exchange and communication, and consolidated its academic position in theatre education world.
The Academy is composed of Department of Acting, Department of Directing, Department of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Literature, Department of Musical Theatre, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Western Opera, Department of Dance Theatre, Department of Theatre Pedagogy, Department of Theatre Management, Department of Film and TV Arts. Majors offered at the undergraduate level include: Acting, Directing, Art Design for Drama, Film & TV, Literature on Drama & Film & TV, Theater Studies, and Broadcast & Anchoring.
To ensure continuous improvement of undergraduate educational and teaching quality and enable students to enjoy quality teaching resources, the Academy recruits only 600 undergraduates each year and keeps the number of current students in the Academy to 3000 at a long time. The Academy now has about 2100 students.
While promoting the Chinese theatre to follow the world trends and concepts, the Academy, a world top art college, has actively made efforts to cultivate undergraduate talents with international insight and competitiveness. The Academy has cooperated with St. Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy, Russia and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, UK on an exchange project of 2+2 double-degree on four-year acting. In the future, the Academy will further increase more teaching cooperation programs with international renowned universities and colleges to explore new channels for innovative art talent trainings.
Acting Department (12)
Stage, Film and TV Acting
Dance Theatre Department (12)
Dance Theatre Performance Systems
Directing Department (12)
Stage, Film & TV Directing
Dramatic Literature Department (12)
Screen Writing
Theatre Criticism
Theatre Studies
Film & TV Art Department (12)
Film and TV Directing
Film and TV Production and Management
TV Compering
Musical Theatre Department (12)
Acting (Musical Theatre Acting)
Opera Department (12)
Opera Program
Peking Opera Department (12)
Music Instruments of Peking Opera
Peking Opera Acting
Puppetry Theatre Department (12)
Acting (Acting and Design)
Stage Design Department (12)
Costume design
Lighting design
Make-up Design
Scenic Painting
Set design
Stage Management
Theatre Management Department (12)
Theatre Management
Theatre Pedagogy Department (12)
Theatre Pedagogy
Theatrology
In 1981, approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council of P. R. China (ADCSC), The Central Academy of Drama, China is among the first batch of higher education institutions that have received the right to grant master degree. In July 1986, with the approval of ADCSC, The Academy gets the right to award doctoral degree. In January 2002, “Drama and Chinese Traditional Opera” is acknowledged as one of the National Key Disciplines by the Ministry of Education.
The academy has first-class discipline master’s degree and doctor’s degree authorization centers in Studies of Drama (Film & TV), and Theory Studies of Art. The main research directions are Esthetics of Drama, Theatre Studies, History of Chinese Opera, History of Foreign Theatre, History of Chinese Drama, History of Stage Design, Filmology, Studies on Drama (Film and TV) Acting, Studies on Theatre Directing, Studies on Theatre Stage Design, Studies on Drama (Film and TV) Literature, Studies on Theatre Management, Studies on Film Art, Theories and Practice of Musical Theatre Acting, Broadcasting and Hosting Art, etc.
The Central Academy of Drama, China has 111 master and doctor tutors. The Academy now has 354 graduate students, among whom 266 master students and 68 doctoral students.
Acting Department (6)
Stage, Film and TV Acting
Directing Department (6)
Stage, Film & TV Directing
Dramatic Literature Department (6)
Chinese Spoken Drama
Playwriting and Playwriting Theory
The History of Chinese Traditional Xiqu
Theatre Aesthetics
Theatre Studies
Western Theatre
Musical Theatre Department (6)
Acting (Musical Theatre Acting)
Stage Design Department (6)
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Make-up Design
Scenic Painting
Set Design
Stage Management
Theatre Management Department (6)
Theatre Management
Acting Department (3)
Stage, Film and TV Acting
Directing Department (3)
Stage, Film & TV Directing
Dramatic Literature Department (3)
Oriental Theatre
Playwriting
Theatre Aesthetics
Western Theatre
Tuition fee and scholarships
Domestic Students
International Students
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Rankings & ratings
The Central Academy of Drama, China is one of the top universities in Beijing, China (Mainland). It is ranked #40 in QS WUR Ranking By Subject 2023.
QS WUR Ranking By Subject
QS WUR Ranking By Subject
The Central Academy of Drama, China
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