MA Directing
One year course
One year from September 2025.
Upon graduating, you will gain a Masters degree awarded by LAMDA.
Highlights
Understand an actor’s process through core LAMDA training with classes in acting, voice, movement and singing.
Participate in seminars in text analysis, interpretation and screen processes.
Assist professional directors on onsite or on external placements.
Collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise an original piece of theatre.
Direct a play or project of your choice in the final term.
Who's the course for?
Minimum age: 18. Most students on this course are 21 and over.
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.
Overview
Tuition fees
2025/26 entry:
Tuition fees are reviewed annually. Tuition fees for academic year 2025/26 will be listed shortly.
Previous 2024/25 entry:
UK students: £18,300 per year
International students: £25,225 per year
Application process
Applications are made via UCAS, followed by a first-round interview and a second-round interview, if successful.
Application fee
£27.50 UCAS fee (for 6 choices) plus £15 first-round interview fee and £24 second-round recall interview fee.
Application deadline
Spring 2025 TBC
Please note applications for the North American audition tour will close earlier.
Applications for September 2025 entry will open soon for all applicants.
Join the LAMDA Newsletter to keep up with the latest news and announcements:
About the course
At the start of the course, you will observe and participate in core LAMDA training alongside MFA Professional Acting students, working across the disciplines of acting, voice, movement and singing, to develop a working knowledge and understanding of the actor’s process. You will also participate in seminars in directing practice, understanding movement direction, the aesthetics and processes of screen making and how to prepare for a production. You will also assist and direct fellow acting students in short-scene studies.
In your second and third terms, you will assist professional directors on projects, onsite or on external placements. You will complete a design project with students from Royal Welsh College and during the spring, you will collaborate with LAMDA actors to devise an original piece of theatre – an opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and develop your dramaturgical skills.
Your year will finish with you programming and directing a public performance of a play/project of your choice in one of our performance spaces. Pervious industry guests to the performances have included Natalie Abrahami, Tim Etchells, Ned Bennett, Tom Littler, Mike Longhurst, Roxanna Silbert and Lyndsey Turner.
Key Information & FAQs
This process may be subject to change for 2025/26 entry.
Application form
- To apply for the MA Directing course, applicants must click 'Apply Now' on the course page and fill out the application form. The application form requires a CV and Personal Statement.
- After we have received and processed your application, our Admissions team will email you to invite you to the next stage.
First round
- Applicants will be offered a first round interview online, via Zoom, with two LAMDA practitioners. The interview will last 40 minutes and will refer to the applicant's Personal Statement and CV in the application form. A portfolio or website or links to work online is not compulsory, but advised.
Results of the first round
- The applicant will then be notified whether their first round interview has been successful or unsuccessful.
Second round
- If successful, the applicant will progress to the second round, which consists of a practical session followed by a second interview.
- Second round interviews will take place between May - July, (dates may be subject to change).
- Applicants will be contacted by the Admissions team with more specific information ahead of their recall. Requests for further information can be put in writing to [email protected]
Notification of final result
Our Admissions team will do their best to share the result within two-three weeks. They will let you know if;
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You've been offered a place on the course
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You’ve not been successful this time
We have been training visionary and versatile directors for almost 20 years, and they have gone on to build rewarding and sustainable careers in the industry. The transformational impact of our training lies in our receptiveness to current industry practice, a commitment to preparing you for all aspects of performance production and to nurturing the individuality of your focus and passion.
During this one-year postgraduate MA Directing programme you will build your practice through an intense programme of practical classwork, reflective tutorials and attachments as assistant directors on LAMDA productions, supporting the work of professional directors. Your training will culminate with you directing a play of your choice which will be shared with industry professionals.
You must have completed a college or university course, or have adequate professional experience to meet the demands of the course. You must also have been sufficiently involved in theatre (professional or student) in order to demonstrate serious professional intent on pursuing a career as a director.
You must also be a fluent English speaker. Non-native speakers do not need to provide an English language test report when they apply as we assess English at the auditions and interviews. 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.
Tuition fees
Fees are reviewed annually.
2024/25 entry:
UK students: £18,300 per year
International students: £25,225 per year
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.
Application fee
£27.50 UCAS fee (for 6 choices), plus £15 first-round interview fee and £24 second-round recall interview fee.
Find out about fee waivers here.
Teaching takes place at LAMDA in Barons Court, west London (30 minutes from central London), although course components may be offered either via blended learning (a mix of online/onsite delivery) or components may be delivered via 100% online tuition.
In addition to masterclasses from visiting professional directors, you will also undertake assistant director attachments within LAMDA, working with both in-house and visiting directors. Most recently these have included Chris Sonnex, Amelia Sears, Jade Lewis, Matt Hassall, Anna Marsland, Anthony Lau, James Yeatman and Sam Curtis Lindsay.
Industry professionals are invited to watch your final production and offer their feedback. In the past, these guests have included Natalie Abrahami, Ned Bennett, Giles Croft, Mike Longhurst, Roxanna Silbert and Lyndsey Turner.
Further Resources
Find out more information about the application process, training at LAMDA and funding on our website. Sign up to our emails to keep up to date with the latest news and events.
