A leading theatrical course at Scotland's most prestigious performing arts academy is taking no new students for the next academic year, The Herald can reveal.

The multi-disciplinary course in Contemporary Performance Practice (CPP) at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow will not have a first-year intake in 2008/2009.

Yesterday, the cash-strapped academy admitted that recruitment to the cutting-edge, four-year degree has been "put on hold" as part of the "change process" at the conservatoire.

The RSAMD said that there was "no threat to the course" but staff and former pupils of the CPP, which has been running for 11 years, fear that its days could now be numbered.

As a result of the freeze, places for 12 new first-year students will not be filled.

The cancellation comes a day after it was revealed that the RSAMD's student opera production of Eugene Onegin could have a cost over-run of £100,000. Last month, The Herald disclosed staff at the academy are facing job cuts as part of moves to save £600,000.

The CPP course, led by Deborah Richardson-Webb, is designed to teach young actors innovative and ground-breaking ways of working in the realm of "performance art".

It especially encourages outreach, educational and community-based work, as well as teaching students to set up their own practice, and work as experimental solo artists working with image, action, sound and text, as well as within traditional theatre remits.

Johnny McKnight, an actor who set up a theatre company after attending the course, said that if the course is removed its affect would be "devastating". He said the course's emphasis on working in outreach and community work makes it unique.

"I never would have had the career I have if I had not taken that course," he said. "The course stresses what a lot of theatre companies are now placing a lot of emphasis on: education work, working with communities, in participation, and working with people who would never usually consider going to see theatre.

"This sends out the message that the RSAMD is not so interested in such educational work as the high end, money-making arts, like music."

Alumni of the course include Kate Stannard, who has attracted glowing reviews for her experimental work, as well as McKnight and Julie Brown, who founded the Random Accomplice theatre company.

A spokeswoman for the RSAMD said: "The quality of the student learning experience is of paramount importance to us and we continually look across our entire provision to ensure we remain at the vanguard of conservatoire education worldwide. As part of the change process and continuous improvement at the academy we have decided to put a hold on student recruitment for this programme for one year.

"This decision is based upon sound business planning and educational expertise.

"We remain committed to providing a range of programmes across the academic spectrum and delivering excellence in drama and music education in Scotland remains a priority."

The academy is undergoing a period of considerable financial change, and is offering a voluntary severance scheme to its 300 full-time staff.

John Wallace, principal, has said that long-term financial problems have been caused by the underfunding by the Scottish Funding Council.

Drama students only attract around £7000 in funding from the SFC, compared to £13,000 for music students - whereas academies in England receive £12,000 for drama students.