Academic Accelerator Program (AAP) is a balanced first-year program for international students with good English-language skills. It supplements immersive classes taught in English with just the right amount of support.

As a student in the Academic Accelerator, you’ll receive:

• The right amount of support for your academic and English-speaking needs
• A full year’s worth of college credits
• Access to courses exclusively for international students
• English-language help with words you need to know for your classes
• A mix of classes with international and U.S. students

Gain conservatory-style training in a liberal arts setting through our BFA in Acting, working closely with world-class faculty from Tony Award-winning theatres. You will take six semesters of voice for the actor and six semesters of movement for the actor. Eight semesters of acting will culminate in a semester-long audition class taught by casting directors from the Goodman Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

You will work in small classes with personalized attention from faculty.

• Develop your individual voice
• Engage in ensemble-based learning with fellow students
• Participate in coursework based on exploration - focus on process and discovery
• Learn through doing - participate in the UIC’s Mainstage Season performances and student-generated projects under the direction and coaching of the theatre faculty and guest artists
• Learn about the past and the present - integrate traditional performance theories and forms with contemporary interdisciplinary performance practices
• Get real world experience - take advantage of internships available at major Chicago theatres including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Lookingglass Theatre Company

Performance facilities include a flexible mainstage "black box" theatre, a studio theatre, and other experimental performance spaces.

Many of the program’s graduates are employed professionally in theatre and film, or successfully pursue advanced study in prestigious graduate theatre programs.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum Level of Education Required: Grade 12 / High School
• Min GPA: 63.0% Convert grades
• English Proficiency Requirements:
  For direct admission, applicant must be from an English speaking country or meet either of the following English test scores:

  • Min TOEFL iBT: 68 (Min Listening: 14.0, Min Reading: 14.0, Min Speaking: 14.0, Min Writing: 14.0)

  • Min IELTS overall: 5.5 (Min Listening: 5.0, Min Reading: 5.0, Min Speaking: 5.0, Min Writing: 5.0)

  • Min Duolingo English Test Score: 90

  • Min PTE overall: 46 (Min Listening: 42, Min Reading: 42, Min Speaking: 42, Min Writing: 42)

  This program does NOT offer conditional admission

Other fees:

• Health Insurance Fee: $1,140 per year
• Student Fees: $2,038 per year
• Academic Facilities Maintenance Fund Assessment Fee: $452 per year
• Library and Information Technology Assessment Fee: $294 per year