BA (Hons) Professional Acting

In the first year, you'll be introduced to the key skills you'll need for professional careers in all media areas, such as theatre, film, TV and audio drama. You will get to grips with the essential groundwork in the core performance skills of acting, voice work, movement and music. Throughout the year you'll be guided through an exploration of the craft, psychology and process of acting, with personalised feedback and support.

Classes include acting study based on a range of techniques (for example, this may include improvisation, Laban, Uta Hagen and Meisner) and pure voice and movement training, singing (individual and group sessions) and a range of applied disciplines. You'll also be taking part in a range of workshop projects (indicative topics include contemporary, classical and Greek drama).

You’ll continue your professional and personal development through a range of varied skills classes.

You’ll start to explore a range of different characters and styles of acting through collaborative projects. This may include iconic American drama, comedy/absurdist drama, 19th and early 20th century European naturalism, contemporary texts, Shakespeare and musical theatre.

In a specific module, you will explore at more depth how to deliver convincing screen and audio performances. You will also begin to acquire acting skills in Virtual Production both for motion capture and LED Volume. You will also collaborate with some of the UK’s most exciting industry leaders and practitioners and work with writers and directors to develop new work for the stage. For example, in the new writing project you’ll take part in workshops designed to develop a new play by an exciting contemporary playwright – discovering through the process the role that performers have in shaping scripts. Our current students have been working with writers such as Bisola Alabi, Chloe Myerson and Oisin McKenna.

For some examples of our screen and audio work, take a look at our graduate student films.

In your final year, you’ll strengthen your skillset and stretch your creative abilities as you perform in productions. Usually staged across our three performance spaces, these productions are directed by industry professionals and senior teaching staff, and are programmed to stretch your creative ability to its fullest.

Leading professionals will run workshops to share their invaluable insights, and you’ll receive lectures and guidance on all aspects of life as a professional actor including accounting, interview and audition techniques. You will also have access to a career counsellor throughout the year.

You will develop your skills by performing in a professionally written, directed, crewed and post-produced short film shot on location as well as a Virtual Production Showcase to display your skills in this area. Recent LAMDA graduation films have been selected for national and international film festivals. You will also have the opportunity to develop a new audio drama in our own studio and to record your own voice and showreel.

Throughout the year you’ll continue to receive voice, movement and singing support on all your projects. To support your transition into the industry, you’ll present two separate evenings shared with casting directors and agents, and you’ll gain audition experience with professional casting directors. If you’re eligible to work in the US, and are able to fund your own travel, accommodation and living expenses, you’ll be able to take part in showcases in New York and Los Angeles. LAMDA will be able to discuss with you the timings and level of support we can offer towards the end of your studies.

This BA acting course is designed to challenge and guide you to become an exceptional, independent artist. It will equip you with the knowledge, insight and techniques you need to thrive.

At the end of the course, you’ll be ready to contribute intellectually and imaginatively to the creative skills industry. You’ll be able to demonstrate your refined talent and performance abilities across a full range of dramatic work at the highest levels of the profession.

We won’t teach you just one methodology of acting, instead you’ll learn a wide range of techniques and skills, designed to provide you with the flexibility and knowledge to develop your own process and expression of the craft. These include traditional and established techniques and more contemporary techniques which harness the exciting world of new media.

We know learning technical skills and gaining a deep understanding of stage craft is important, but we also make sure our training techniques are up to date with the evolving world in which we live.

Acting Courses Equipment List

A lot of the work at LAMDA is physical/movement based you should always be dressed comfortably in clothes that do not prohibit movement.

Essential

• Basic black sweatshirt
• Basic black T-shirt
• Black sweatpants/jogging bottoms
• Yoga mat – For reasons of hygiene we recommend that students purchase their own.

Highly recommended

For rehearsal/character work

• Black trousers and/or skirt. Skirt should be floor length and loose. Skirts may also be needed for certain dance lessons.
• White shirt.
• Black shoes with a solid heel (not trainers) or character shoes
• Laptop/tablet.
• Wi-Fi

Recommended

• Black footless tights
• Trainers

Books

Your recommended reading lists will be sent out separately. Most of these books can be found in the LAMDA library therefore there is no need to purchase. These books are for reference and additional learning.

Other

It can be useful to have a recording device so that you can record accents, music etc. It is sufficient to have a phone with the facility to record sound.

You should be a fluent English speaker. Non-native speakers do not need to provide an English language test report when they apply, as we assess this at the auditions. However, you’ll need to provide a valid IELTS test report with an overall score of seven if you’re offered a place. We can only accept IELTS for UKVI.

LAMDA does not make conditional offers, or adjust entry requirements according to non-academic criteria.

Tuition fees
Fees are reviewed annually.

2025/26 entry:
UK students: £9,275 per year
International students: £25,363 per year

Previous 2024/25 entry:
UK students: £9,000 per year
International students: £24,155 per year

Application fees

• £88 for US-based applicants for in-person auditions.
• ​​​​​£27.50 UCAS fee (for 6 choices) for UK & International applicants, plus £15 first-round audition fee. Recall fees to be confirmed.

If you’re interested in applying to two or more LAMDA courses, please let the Admissions team know by emailing [email protected]. There is no need to apply to more than one LAMDA course in your UCAS application choices.

Pathways Programme

If you are a member of our Pathways Programme, you are entitled to a free first-round audition. Applications are made directly to LAMDA and you do not need to apply through UCAS. You must apply to the Pathways Programme before applying to the course to receive your application fee waiver.

Course fees confirmed in an offer letter may be increased in further years of study by an inflationary amount determined in accordance with measures set by government.

Each day will be different, but you can expect the teaching to take shape in any of the following formats:

• Tutor-led class work
• Tutor-led tutorials
• Guest lectures, workshops and seminars
• Research projects
• Collaborative learning, including scene studies, workshops, rehearsals and performances, and devising and making processes
• Non-mediated student learning to encourage self-reflective practice
• Peer evaluations – a central part of actor training in an ensemble situation

Teaching takes place at LAMDA in Barons Court, west London, although course components may be offered either by blended learning (a mix of online and onsite delivery).

If your final year production goes on tour, you may go to other locations in the UK and overseas.

You’ll be assessed continuously during all your classes and rehearsals. There will also be a summative assessment which takes place at the end of each term or performance project, and typically includes marks for preparation, process and outcome.

Besides the daily feedback from teaching staff in classes and rehearsals, you will also receive detailed written feedback at the end of every term and, for final year students, at the end of each production.

Credits: 360 credits in total (each year is 120 credits)

All modules each year are compulsory.

Year one (pass/fail)

• Building the Craft of Acting (40 credits)
• Movement & Physical Development 1 (35 credits)
• Vocal Techniques, Development & Application (35 credits)
• Singing & Musicianship 1 (5 credits)
• Screen & Audio 1 (5 credits)

Year two (40% of final degree mark)

• Developing the Craft of Acting (40 credits)
• Movement & Physical Development 2 (30 credits)
• Vocal Techniques, Development & Application 2 (30 credits)
• Singing & Musicianship 2 (10 credits)
• Screen & Audio 2 (10 credits)

Year three (60% of final degree mark)

• Applying the Craft of Acting in Performance (75 credits)
• Performance – Movement (15 credits)
• Performance – Voice (15 credits)
• Screen & Audio 3 (15 credits)

Your outline timetable will be produced before each term starts, so that you can start planning your schedule. A detailed weekly timetable, which includes the specific rooms, is produced at the end of the week before it is delivered. There are three terms per year, beginning in September, January and April.

You’ll be expected to train for approximately 35 hours per week and all classes are compulsory.

This course has a maximum intake of only 30. Depending on the class, there are usually between seven and 15 students in each group. The tutor will work closely with you in this group setting with opportunities for personalised one-on-one training where appropriate.

When you graduate, you’ll leave with a professionally-shot show reel and a voice reel. Agents and casting directors are invited to sharing productions and film screenings.

In your final year, our Industry Liaison Associate will promote opportunities to attend lectures, masterclasses and open auditions with visiting industry professionals.

Eligible to work in USA or Canada?

LAMDA's training will culminate in a series of professional development and industry events to support your growth as a professional artist and the start of your career in North America. This may include digital or in-person events to help graduates gain exposure and will be tailored each year to best suit the current industry.