Central Academy of Drama

The Central Academy of Drama in Beijing was established in 1950 as the first theatre higher education institution of the People's Republic of China, with roots to 1938. It is directly under the Ministry of Education and part of the Double First-Class Initiative, and is generally regarded as the leading drama, film and television arts institution in China. It is the headquarters of the World Theatre Education Alliance, the China Alliance of Theatre Higher Educational Institutes and the Asia Theatre Education Centre, which gives it a coordinating role in theatre education across the region. Teaching is in Chinese, and for drama that is not a formality. Acting, directing and dramatic writing are built entirely on language, so the practical demand exceeds any certificate threshold. A Kazakh applicant should assume HSK 5 or above and be realistic about what performing in a second language involves. The academy publishes its fees directly, which few Chinese arts institutions do: CNY 36,000 a year for a bachelor's degree.