One app for all your study abroad needs
The National School of Drama is the only theatre training facility of its kind in India and one of the best in the world. As one of its constituent divisions, it was established by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959. The School’s training is quite intense and is based on a rigorous, detailed, carefully organised syllabus that covers every facet of theatre and links theory to practice. Students are required to write plays as part of their education, which are then produced for the general audience.
Are you also preparing for NSD admission? Then this blog will surely help you!
| Institute Name | National School of Drama |
| Location | New Delhi, India |
| Type | Government/Public, Autonomous |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Affiliated with | Sangeet Natak Akademi |
| Courses offered | Postgraduate Diploma course in Dramatic Arts |
| Official website | https://nsd.gov.in/ |
| Mode of admission | Offline and Online |
| Availability of Scholarship | Yes |
Table of Contents
NSD Admission Dates 2024
The table below represents the tentative dates for NSD admission 2023:
| Events | Dates (Tentative) |
| Release of application form | June 2024 |
| Registration | June 2024 to July 2024 |
| Admit card release | TBA |
| Preliminary Exam | TBA |
| Declaration of result | TBA |
| Final Workshop | TBA |
| Counselling | TBA |
Application Process for NSD Admission
Students can apply for NSD admission through both online and offline modes according to their convenience and preference. Following are some of the steps that a student needs to follow while applying for NSD admission through online mode:
1. Go to the National School of Drama’s website.
2. After arriving at the institute’s “Home” website, select the “New Admission” window. There will be a new page loaded.
3. Fill out all the relevant information to register as a new applicant. Moreover, the undergraduate degree certificate must be submitted.
4. A candidate must give a total of Rs. 50 which is the online application cost. The money can be paid with a debit or credit card. There is also the option of using net banking.
Eligibility Criteria for NSD Admission
In order to take admission at the National School of Drama the candidate must meet the following eligibility criteria:
1. The applicant must hold an undergraduate degree from a worldwide institution of higher learning. No preference is provided based on the bachelor’s degree stream that the applicant completed.
2. Working knowledge in both Hindi and English is crucial for a candidate.
3. The applicant must have at least six years of theatre-related job experience. Specific theatre-specific documentation must be provided during the entrance.
4. A minimum of one letter of recommendation is required for the applicant. Only a renowned theatre specialist should sign the letter.
5. When applying for admission to the NSD, the individual must additionally present a medical certificate certifying their fitness.
6. Throughout the admissions process, a candidate’s age must be at least 18. NSD has set the maximum age at 30. Candidates from the reserved categories, which include SC, ST, and OBC applicants, are given a concession on the upper age restriction. An applicant who falls into one of these categories may be 35 years old at most.
Also Read: Highest paying careers in the entertainment industry
NSD Admission 2024 Selection Process
To select candidates for the diploma course, NSD’s selection process comprises 2 stages – A preliminary exam and Final Workshop. The following points will help you clarify the process:
1. Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements must take a preliminary exam, which is essentially an audition, in the first part of the selection process. The NSD is in charge of planning and carrying out the test.
2. There are test centres located all over India. There are a total of 12 testing locations in India. As testing locations, major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and a few more are picked.
3. The shortlisted candidate who passed the preliminary test is required to attend a session in phase two after being released. The session will take place on the institute’s property. The workshop will last for five days.
4. The selection of candidates for further consideration will be based on their work history and performance on the NSD test.
5. After evaluating the candidate’s performance and talent in the field of theatre, a decision is made.
6. An applicant must also pass a medical exam in order to be officially selected for NSD.
7. There are a total of 23 seats. Out of these 23, four seats are set aside for candidates from the scheduled caste (SC), two for applicants from the scheduled tribe (ST), and seven for candidates from other backward castes (OBC).
Also Read: Best Acting colleges in India
NSD Entrance Examination
The questions at the NSD entrance exam 2024 will gauge the aptitude of the candidate along with their acting skills. The syllabus for the entrance exam will be available online. Following are some of the topics on which the questions of the exam will be based:
| Natyashastra | Relationship between rituals and folk theatre |
| Western Theatre | Karnataka Folk theatre forms |
| Names of the Sanskrit playwriters | Influence of western culture in India drama |
| Origin and development of folk theatre | Importance of Street plays |
| Overview of Amateur theatre | Indus Valley civilisation art |
| Origin and development of Sanskrit Theatre | History of famous persons who studied at NSD |
| Origin and development of Ancient Indian theatre | Famous Theatre persons in India |
| Folks forms and technology | Methods of Acting |
Fee Structure
The average yearly cost of pursuing a Diploma in Dramatic Arts at NSD is around INR 10,500. The table below represents the bifurcation of the total fee structure.
| Admission | INR 50 |
| Mess Charges | INR 650 per month (going to vary every month) |
| Hostel Expenses | INR 14 per month |
| Hostel Rent per seat | INR 110 per month |
| Students’ Union (membership fee) | INR 24 |
| Caution Money (refundable) | INR 2000 |
| Tuition Fee | INR 80 per month |
| Costume for Exercise Classes | INR 800 per month |
| Advance for Make-up Kit (adjustable) | INR 1000 |
| Stationary | INR 800 |
| Electricity and Water Charges (adjustable) | INR 40 per month |
| Medical Fee | INR 1 per month |
NSD Course Syllabus
The Postgraduate Diploma course at NSD is spread over three years and split into six semesters. The table below represents the semester-wise syllabus at NSD:
| Semesters | Subjects |
| Semester-1 | Introduction to Acting |
| Theatre History, Literature & Aesthetics | |
| Introduction to Theatre Techniques & Design | |
| Semester-2 | Introduction to Acting-II |
| Theatre History, Literature & Aesthetics – II | |
| Introduction to Theatre Techniques & Design-II | |
| Theatre History, Literature & Aesthetics- II | |
| Semester -3 | Yoga |
| Movement | |
| Voice & Speech | |
| Theatre & Music | |
| Acting & Improvisation | |
| Semester-4 | Theatre Architecture |
| Scenic Design | |
| Costume Design | |
| Lighting Design | |
| Makeup Design | |
| Semester-5&6 | Specialization Chosen in the Second year between Acting or Theatre History, Literature & Aesthetics |
Also Read: Explore a career in Screenwriting
FAQs
Ans: To get admission to NSD, candidates can apply online or offline. The application form for NSD is available on their official website and the admission fee for the same is INR 50. However, if a candidate wants an offline application form along with the prospectus the fee is INR 225.
Ans: NSD offers postgraduation courses. Therefore, a candidate who has just completed class 12th cannot get admission to NSD.
Ans: While applying for admission to NSD, students also have to pay the running expenses at NSD which is around INR 17,000.
Ans: The duration of the full-time postgraduate diploma course in dramatic arts at the National School of Drama is 3 years.
Located in Delhi, the National School of Drama holds a global reputation for being the top-ranked theatre training school and it is also regarded as one of its kind in India. If you are someone who is passionate about the field of drama and art and wants to become a theatre artist then NSD is a place where you should start or continue your journey of becoming an artist.
This is everything you need to know about NSD admission. Make sure you follow Leverage Edu for more such informative articles on Indian universities.