East 15 Acting School’s MA/MFA Theatre Directing is a unique and renowned course designed specifically for those who are already practicing as or who wish to establish themselves as professional theatre directors. It is open to emerging theatre directors from the UK and to students from around the world. East 15 Acting School's teaching is driven by a wide range of leading directors and professional practitioners from the UK and overseas. The program benefits from its close ties with the London theatre world, which provides training expertise of the highest calibre and the professional networks that are vital to launching a Theatre Directing career.

Each year students have the opportunity to choose four modules out of the seven or eight different options that are offered every year. The menu of modules rotates on a regular basis but always covers a range of directorial practice that is unrivalled in its diversity and will include several of the following: Shakespeare, Contemporary British Drama, Comedy, Musical Theatre and Opera, Physical Theatre, Brecht, Techniques of Adaptation, Improvisation and Devising Techniques, Contemporary Irish Drama, Rehearsal Processes and Workshops, Collaboration with Designers, Attachment (Assistant Director), The Artistic Director, Commedia dell’Arte and Directing for Camera.

University of Essex's international, outstanding teaching faculty is made up of professionals from all areas of live and recorded performance.

Former students now work as professional freelance directors, run companies and venues as Artistic Directors or teach directing in universities and conservatoires around the world.