Acting department
Train with some of the finest actors, directors and writers working today.
Find out more
MFA in Voice, Speech and Text Coaching
Award:
MFA in Voice, Speech and Text Coaching
Awarding body:
University of South Wales
Location of study:
Cardiff (RWCMD and Old Library)
Start date:
20 September 2026
Duration:
Two years full time
Course code:
Introduction
With this two-year MFA programme at Wales’s national conservatoire, you’ll gain the skills to become an industry-ready voice and dialect coach who can work across theatre, TV, film and digital media, and within actor training institutions.
You’ll take part in placements and explore a diverse range of coaching modes, allowing you to develop a collaborative, inclusive coaching style of your own – all while training alongside professionals at the top of their field.
Why choose the MFA in Voice, Speech and Text Coaching at RWCMD?
Train at one of the UK’s best conservatoires
RWCMD is widely regarded as one of the top places to study music and drama in the UK. Our MFA in Voice, Speech and Text Coaching offers world-class tuition and practical experience in a creative, collaborative space to prepare you for the demands of a coaching career.
Outstanding teaching from industry experts
You’ll be guided by some of the leading professional voice coaches working in the industry today, giving you the confidence that your education is aligned with current best practice.
Personalised training and support
You’ll be one of only four students on your course, giving you a high level of support from your tutors, and the space and freedom to really push the boundaries of your creativity in a safe and welcoming environment.
Established links with some of the UK’s best arts and theatre organisations
We have strong partnerships with leading arts organisations across Wales, such as Sherman Theatre and Theatre Clwyd, and those further afield, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Placements working alongside industry professionals
You’ll have the chance to take part in both internal and external placements, allowing you to put into practice what you learnt under the mentorship of experienced professionals or teams. Examples include acting as a vocal coach with some of Wales’s major theatres, such as Sherman Theatre or Theatr Clwyd, or providing dialect support on an in-house Richard Burton Company production.
A collaborative approach unlike any other
You won’t train in isolation behind your laptop screen. You’ll learn by working closely alongside other creative practitioners, such as movement directors, directors and writers, to help you perfect your craft – a collaborative approach that sets our MFA apart from other courses of its kind.
Masterclasses with celebrated creatives
You’ll regularly take part in masterclasses with renowned practitioners who will share their work and offer you insights into the professional world. These experts are drawn from all areas of the industry, from acclaimed published voice coaches to producers and theatre companies looking to employ coaches on a regular basis.
Live in Wales’s capital city
Your training takes place in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, a friendly, welcoming city with a thriving creative community. You’ll discover many opportunities to get involved in external projects, collaborate with local artists and build your network of creative contacts – vital to a successful freelance career.
Study in a dynamic arts centre environment
World-renowned performing artists and groups visit our campus every year as part of our internationally recognised public performance programme. We encourage you to attend as many of these events as possible, all available to you for free or at a discounted rate.
What you’ll study – course structure
This two-year course, the only one of its kind in Wales, is a mix of practical workshops, classwork, seminars, project work, independent research and masterclasses with industry specialists.
You’ll develop the skills to teach and coach voice, text and accents and dialect, helping performers explore the full expressive potential of their voice.
Inclusivity, curiosity and collaboration are the guiding principles in each module. Your training won’t follow a single philosophy of spoken vocal pedagogy or voice coaching, but will instead draw on a range of influences to inform your own practice.
This approach will drive you to challenge outdated norms within the field and make room for innovative, inclusive coaching methods to emerge. And, when they do, you’ll be able to apply these methods to your work with actors from across our drama courses, as well as on collaborative projects with our MFA in Movement Direction, MFA in Drama Writing and MFA in Directing students.
As part of your research and practice, you’ll also visit major theatres and institutions, such as the Olivier Theatre or Shakespeare’s Globe, helping you to better understand the industry and different modes of working.
Performance and collaboration opportunities
- Throughout your course, you’ll take part in a range of coaching opportunities – both on productions and in the voice studio – giving you a wide breadth of hands-on experience that will set you apart after graduation.
- These opportunities include coaching performers in the many productions staged every year by the Richard Burton Company, the College’s in-house theatre company. Frequently attended by industry professionals, these productions reflect real-world practices giving you invaluable experience, preparing you for work after graduation.
- Collaboration runs through the entire length of your course. You’ll work alongside other MFA drama students, as well as those from different departments across the College. These collaborations offer insight into music and other areas of drama, while also giving you the chance to build creative partnerships that could continue long after you graduate.
Our departments and areas of study
Acting department
Train with some of the finest actors, directors and writers working today.
Find out more
Musical Theatre department
Our intensive and immersive training is firmly rooted in the current Musical Theatre industry and equips you to become a well-rounded professional adept in all the integrated aspects of Musical Theatre.
Find out more
Stage Management and Technical Theatre department
Our extensive training combines core technical skills, sound and lighting design, video, construction etc. and the full range of stage management skills, whilst focusing on your chosen specialism.
Find out more
Design
Gain the technical, creative and professional skills to launch your career, with our courses offering hands-on training and numerous placement opportunities.
Find out more
Music
All our music courses focus on you and the musician you want to be; developing your skills as an individual, a collaborative artist and as a musician who will contribute to society.
Find out more
Opera
Storytelling through music and drama is at the heart of this intensive, personalised training, shaped by hands-on industry experience and guided by eminent teachers, performers and practitioners from the international world of opera.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
Need advice before applying?
Our admissions team is happy to help with any questions about entry requirements, interviews or life at RWCMD. Email admissions@rwcmd.ac.uk to get started.
Graduate success and career pathways
Our alumni have gone on to illustrious careers in the creative industries – from vocal coaching at leading UK arts venues to founding their own events management companies.
They work with renowned organisations including Shakespeare’s Globe, National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.
Life at RWCMD
Accommodation
Whether you're in your first year or final year, finding somewhere to live is always a priority. We've put together some information to help you find the perfect place for you to enjoy life in Cardiff.
Find out more
Student support
Student Services is a welcoming and dedicated team, providing support and advice, working in partnership with our students to empower them to meet their potential while studying at RWCMD.
Find out more
Living in Cardiff
It is no coincidence that our students love Cardiff, but what makes it so special?
Find out more
Ready to begin your conservatoire journey?
Join a community of passionate, talented artists at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Whether you’re preparing for a career in TV and film, or looking to shape the future of drama education, your path starts here.
