1) Can I apply for a government student loan to attend VADA?
YES! VADA is an accredited institution with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency. Students accepted into our Dramatic Arts Program are eligible to apply for government student loans. BC Residents go to Student Aid BC to find out if you are eligible.

2) I am not from Vancouver. Where can I find accomodations?
There are a number of housing options for out-of-town students.
a) A homestay program: we refer students to Vancouver Homestay. They will place you with a family for room and board.
b) Renting an apartment or a room in a house: for current rental listings go to The Vancouver Sun or Craigslist
c) For shorter stays, you may want to try a hostel. Visit Hi Hostels to find a hostel that suits you. Feel free to call us before you book a room and we can tell you whether or not it is a safe, clean place to stay.

3) How much does it cost to live in Vancouver?

Apartments can run from $500-$1000 for a studio or one bedroom. Two bedroom suites are around $750-$1400, so it is more affordable if you have a roommate. For shorter stays, hostels run from $18/night shared or $50/night private and YMCA's are about $55+/night. Downtown hotels are upward of $90-$100/night. Homestay including meals is around $650-800/month and there is a placement fee that goes to Vancouver Homestay if you book through them.

4) Do you pair students together to share apartments?

We suggest that you find a temporary place for your first month, such as a homestay family, and then once you've met the students in your class, choose someone to live with and find a 2-bedroom apartment together. We find it difficult to pair students as compatible roommates when we haven't met them and they haven't met each other. Most students aren't comfortable agreeing to live with you until they've met you. This is just our experience!

5) I have little/no film acting experience or training on my resume. What are my chances of being accepted for the full-time Dramatic Arts Program?

The main thing we look for in qualified students is their drive and passion to succeed as an actor. We explore this in your application essay and interview. We want to work with students who work hard to improve their craft. We are not here to pick just the most talented people. It's our job as well as yours to make you a good actor. We don't expect you to be that before you get here.

6) Will I get a headshot at the end of the Dramatic Arts Program?

By the last month of the program, we will prompt you to get your headshots done. The cost of headshots is not included in your tuition, but we will help you to find a photographer who suits your needs. We have many photographer's portfolios in our Resource Centre that students can use to select a photographer. Headshot sessions can run anywhere from $150 to $500 depending on the photographer, which is why we recommend that each full-time student plan to spend an around $300 for headshots towards the end of the program.

7) I am not from Canada. Do I need a student visa to take the Dramatic Arts Program?

You do not need a study permit to take a program that is six months or less in duration. The Dramatic Arts Program is 24 weeks long and falls in this category. If you would like to work during your stay at VADA, or if you plan to stay in Vancouver after the program and get an agent, you will need to get a Work Visa. For more information about visas, go to Citizen and Immigration Canada