Drama school offers full-time training into a performance career but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The audition process alone can be long, expensive and only a lucky few succeed in getting into drama school.
Drama Schools In The UK
If you’re considering actor training in the UK, accredited drama schools UK may help identify your ideal destinations. However, be aware that the better the reputation of the institution, the lower your chances of acceptance.
8 Top UK Drama Schools
In August 2018, The Stage magazine’s WestEndProducer listed the top drama schools which would seriously help aspiring performers to get in front of top casting directors.
They are:
Top Drama Schools For Straight Actors
- The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA)
- London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Top Drama Schools To Launch A Musical Theatre Career
- Mountview
- Guildford School of Acting (GSA)
- Arts Educational School, London
- Urdang Academy
With thousands of people wanting to secure training places on acting and musical theatre courses each year, only a select few will be given places at these drama schools listed. Approximately 1 in every 100 applicants will be offered a place.
Reputation matters with Casting Directors. That’s not to say these institutions have facilities, teachers and talent not found elsewhere.
Furthermore, the training just gets you prepared for the acting industry. You probably have years of low pay, insecure income streams and high levels of rejection ahead as you build a career.
For some people the need to live a creative and fulfilling life compensates for the lack of security. In addition, involvement in the acting industry can open many other creative avenues.
Conservatoires In The UK
Conservatoires offer a range of high level musical and drama training, along with other specialisms in the theatre arts profession.
Degree and postgraduate degree courses are among the options available in these elite institutions.
The Conservatoires in the UK are:
- Royal Central School of Speech And Drama
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Royal Academy of Music
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- Royal College of Music
- Leeds College of Music
- Royal Northern College of Music
- The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
How Do You Get Into Acting School?
It’s best to visit as many drama schools on open days as you can, to assess if you’d be happy there. Then, make your application before the deadline.
Drama schools audition and meet everyone at least once. Popular drama schools may ask you to return three or four times as they whittle down the applicant numbers in each round.
What Qualifications Do You Need For Drama School?
It’s rare for drama schools to demand specific qualifications. Instead, the selection processes will focus on an individual’s talent and commitment.
You might find representation with an acting agency, professional credits or even experience on the set of a micro-budget film helps.
But at the end of the day, it’s your talent in the audition room which must stand out.
Paying For Drama School Auditions
Unlike academic courses, paying for entry assessment is normal. By the time you have auditioned for five or six drama schools, your audition fees alone will have set you back many hundreds of pounds.
Add to that the cost of travel, especially if you are lucky enough to get a callback or two, and all your savings may well disappear even before you get a place.
How Do You Prepare For Drama School Auditions?
You’ll be given clear instructions about the number and types of monologues they want you to deliver. Read these instructions carefully and follow them.
If you’re stuck for a good monologue, check out The Mono Box video library.
Many applicants have an acting coach for their monologue, but you’ll also be given direction in the casting room. They want to see how natural you can be, and your ability to live in the moment.
Your group work and improvisation skills also count in the selection process.
If you don’t have experience of this, join a Youth Theatre now. Even better, get involved with the National Youth Theatre.
Musical theatre applicants will be given instructions about the dances and songs to prepare. But you’ll also be tested in the audition room to see how you cope with new routines and instruction.
You’ll need to be appropriately dressed for an audition so you are comfortable and able to act and dance well.
Monologues For Drama School Auditions
If you have been given a list of monologues to choose from, choose your monologue from that list. Doing something else suggests you can’t follow simple instructions or are a pain to work with, whatever your explanation.
Choose a monologue that fits your casting type. Think carefully about what role a casting director would consider you for.
You need to know your monologues inside and out. Understand what the plot is, where the monologue comes in the play, who the character is, and who they are speaking to. What emotions exist in the piece?
But your flexibility and skill in taking direction are also under the microscope. So however well you deliver your monologue in the audition room, listen carefully to the changes the interview panel now wants to see.
What Are The Chances Of Getting Into Drama School?
Competition for the most prestigious drama courses far exceeds anything faced by candidates for academic places at the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. And all of it is intense.
The odds of getting into a good drama school are low, and any course which has a high acceptance rate should make you pause for thought. You don’t want to spend years and thousands of pounds training if it doesn’t improve your chances of getting relevant work.
University Drama Degrees
Some of the elite acting courses have designated degree status. But there are many options for acting, drama and theatre undergraduate courses which you could consider before later postgraduate training.
These degree courses process applications through UCAS, and usually attach student loan financing to eligilible UK students.
And most universities have a thriving theatre scene, even if they don’t offer a relevant course.
Aberystwyth University
Creating Performance (BA)
Drama and English (BA)
Drama and Theatre (BA)
Drama and Theatre (BA)
Drama and Theatre (with integrated year in professional practice) (BA)
Theatre and Performance Design (BA)
Creative Writing and Drama and Theatre (BA)
Drama and Theatre / History (BA)
Drama and Theatre / International Relations (BA)
Education / Drama and Theatre (BA)
English Literature / Drama and Theatre (BA)
Film and Television Studies / Drama and Theatre (BA)
French / Drama and Theatre (BA)
Mathematics / Drama and Theatre (BA)
Media and Theatre Studies (BA)
Spanish / Drama and Theatre (BA)
Theatre and Performance Design / Drama and Theatre (BA)
Theatre and Performance Design / Film and Television Studies (BA)
Filmsonashoestring.com drama courses 2023 entry
Anglia Ruskin University
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature
BA (Hons) Drama and Film
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Filmsonashoestring.com drama courses 2023 entry
Bangor University
Creative Studies BA (Hons)
Welsh, Theatre and Media BSc (Hons)
English Literature with Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Film Studies with Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Media Studies with Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Music with Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Filmsonashoestring.com drama courses 2023 entry
Bath Spa University
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Drama
FdA Contemporary Circus with Physical Theatre
BA (Hons) Creative Arts Practice
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Drama
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Drama (Musical Theatre)
BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature
BA (Hons) Drama and Film and Screen Studies
BA/Bsc (Hons) Drama and Psychology
BA (Hons) Theatre, Festival and Event Production
Filmsonashoestring.com drama courses 2023 entry
University of Bedfordshire
BA (Hons) Media Performance for Film TV and Theatre
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Dance Performance and Choreography
BA (Hons) Dance and Professional Practice
University of Birmingham
BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Arts
Birmingham City University
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Applied Theatre (Community and Education)
BA (Hons) Stage Management
University of Bolton
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
FdA Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Professional and Commercial Dance
BA (Hons) Professional and Commercial Dance with foundation year
BA (Hons) Professional and Commercial Dance (Accelerated Route)
FdA Professional and Commercial Dance
The Arts University Bournemouth
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Performance Design and Film Costume
University of Bristol
Theatre and English, BA
Theatre and French, BA
Theatre and German, BA
Theatre and Italian, BA
Theatre and Portuguese, BA
Theatre and Spanish, BA
Theatre and Film, BA
Brunel University
BA (Hons) Theatre
BA (Hons) Theatre and Creative Writing
BA (Hons) Theatre and English
BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre
Buckingham New University
BA (Hons) Acting (Film, TV and Stage) with Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Acting (Film, TV and Stage)
BA (Hons) Dance and Performance with Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Dance and Performance
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre with Foundation Year
Canterbury Christ Church University
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Dance Education
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Performing Arts with Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Theatre Production
University of Chester
Acting BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Drama BA (Hons)
Drama (Combined) BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre Performance (The Hammond) BA (Hons)
Performing Arts BA (Hons)
Creative Writing and Drama BA (Hons)
Drama and English Literature BA (Hons)
Drama and Psychology BA (Hons)
University of Chichester
BSc (Hons) Dance Science & MSci Dance Science
BA (Hons) Dance, Aerial and Physical Theatre
BA (Hons) Dance Performance
BA (Hons) Dance Education and Teaching
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Acting for Contemporary Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting for Film
BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre and Directing
BA (Hons) Music Performance (Film Acting)
BA (Hons) Music with Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Cabaret)
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Film Acting)
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Music)
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Triple Threat)
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and Arts Development
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Performance
BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production
BA (Hons) Teaching of Musical Theatre (TMT)
BA (Hons) Screen Acting and Film Production
Coventry University
Music and Audio Production BSc (Hons)
Popular Music Performance and Songwriting BA (Hons)
Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)
University for the Creative Arts
BA (Hons) Acting & Performance
De Montfort University
Arts and Festivals Management BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Drama and Theatre Arts BA (Hons)
Performing Arts BA (Hons)
University of Derby
Theatre Arts BA (Hons)
Theatre Arts with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
University of East Anglia
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) English Literature and Drama
BA (Hons) Drama and Creative Writing
University of East London
BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen
BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice
BA (Hons) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
Edge Hill University
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
Edinburgh Napier University
BA (Hons) Acting & English
BA (Hons) Stage and Screen Acting
University of Essex (East 15)
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Acting (International)
BA (Hons) Acting and Community Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting and Contemporary Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting and Physical Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting and Stage Combat
BA (Hons) Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film)
BA (Hons) Stage and Production Management
BA (Hons) World Performance
Certificate of HE Acting and Theatre Arts
University of Essex
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama and Literature
BA (Hons) Film and Drama
University of Exeter
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama and Film & Television Studies
Falmouth University
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Dance & Choreography
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Technical Theatre Arts
BA (Hons) Theatre & Performance
University of Glasgow
MA Creative Arts & Industries
MA Theatre Studies
University of Gloucestershire
BA (Hons) Dance
BA (Hons) Dance (Level 6)
BA (Hons) Drama and Performance Practice
BA (Hons) Drama and Performance Practice (Level 6)
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Performing Arts (Level 6)
University of Greenwich
Professional Dance and Musical Theatre, BA Hons
Drama, BA Hons
Drama and English Literature, BA Hons
University of the Highlands & Islands
BA (Hons) Drama and Production
University of Huddersfield
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama with Creative Writing
University of Hull
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Practice
University of Kent
BA (Hons) Comparative Literature and Drama
BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature
BA (Hons) Drama and Film
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre
Kingston University
Dance and Drama BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Drama and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
Drama and English BA (Hons)
Drama BA (Hons)
Music Technology BA (Hons)
Lancaster University
Drama, Theatre and Performance BA Hons
Drama, Theatre and Performance (Placement Year) BA Hons
Drama, Theatre and Performance (Study Abroad) BA Hons
Film and Theatre BA Hons
Film and Theatre (Placement Year) BA Hons
Film and Theatre (Study Abroad) BA Hons
Fine Art and Theatre BA Hons
Fine Art and Theatre (Placement Year) BA Hons
Fine Art and Theatre (Study Abroad) BA Hons
French Studies and Theatre BA Hons
German Studies and Theatre BA Hons
Spanish Studies and Theatre BA Hons
Theatre and Chinese Studies BA Hons
Theatre and Creative Writing BA Hons
Theatre and Creative Writing (Placement Year) BA Hons
Theatre and Creative Writing (Study Abroad) BA Hons
Theatre and English Literature BA Hons
Theatre and English Literature (Placement Year) BA Hons
Theatre and English Literature (Study Abroad) BA Hons
University of Leeds
BA (Hons) English Literature and Theatre Studies
BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance
Leeds Beckett University
Dance BA (Hons)
Performing Arts BA (Hons)
Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
University of Lincoln
Drama and English BA (Hons)
Drama and Theatre BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
Technical Theatre and Stage Management BA (Hons)
Liverpool Hope University
Dance
Dance and Business Management
Dance and Computer Science
Dance and Conservation Biology
Dance and Contemporary Fashion Design
Dance and Creative Writing
Dance and Digital Creativity
Dance and Drama
Dance and Early Childhood
Dance and Economics
Dance and Education
Dance and English Language
Dance and Film & Visual Culture
Dance and Human Biology
Dance and Information Technology
Dance and International Relations
Dance and Law
Dance and Mathematics
Dance and Media & Communication
Dance and Music
Dance and Musical Theatre
Dance and Nutrition
Dance and Philosophy & Ethics
Dance and Politics
Dance and Psychology
Dance and Social Care
Dance and Social Policy
Dance and Sociology
Dance and Sport & Physical Education
Dance and Theology
Drama
Drama and Accounting & Finance
Drama and Art & Design History
Drama and Childhood & Youth
Drama and Computer Science
Drama and Conservation Biology
Drama and Contemporary Fashion Design
Drama and Contemporary Performance
Drama and Creative Writing
Drama and Criminology
Drama and Dance
Drama and Early Childhood
Drama and Economics
Drama and English Language
Drama and English Literature
Drama and Film & Visual Culture
Drama and Geography
Drama and History
Drama and Human Geography
Drama and Information Technology
Drama and International Relations
Drama and Law
Drama and Marketing
Drama and Mathematics
Drama and Music
Drama and Music Production
Drama and Musical Theatre
Drama and Nutrition
Drama and Religious Studies
Drama and Sociology
Drama and Special Educational Needs
Drama and Sport & Exercise Science
Drama and Sport & Physical Education
Drama and Theology
Drama and Tourism
Health & Wellbeing and Drama
Drama & Theatre
Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre and Accounting & Finance
Musical Theatre and Art & Design History
Musical Theatre and Business Management
Musical Theatre and Childhood & Youth
Musical Theatre and Contemporary Performance
Musical Theatre and Criminology
Musical Theatre and Dance
Musical Theatre and Digital Creativity
Musical Theatre and Drama
Musical Theatre and Education
Musical Theatre and English Literature
Musical Theatre and Geography
Musical Theatre and Health & Wellbeing
Musical Theatre and History
Musical Theatre and Human Biology
Musical Theatre and Human Geography
Musical Theatre and Marketing
Musical Theatre and Media & Communication
Musical Theatre and Music Production
Musical Theatre and Philosophy & Ethics
Musical Theatre and Politics
Musical Theatre and Psychology
Musical Theatre and Religious Studies
Musical Theatre and Social Care
Musical Theatre and Social Policy
Musical Theatre and Special Educational Needs
Musical Theatre and Sport & Exercise Science
Musical Theatre and Tourism
Liverpool John Moores University
Drama BA (Hons)
Drama and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
Drama and English Literature BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre Practice BA (Hons)
London Metropolitan University
Theatre and Film (Top-Up) – BA (Hons)
Theatre and Film – BA (Hons)
Theatre and Performance (Top-up) – BA (Hons)
Theatre and Performance – BA (Hons)
London South Bank University
Acting and Performance – BA (Hons)
University of Manchester
DramaBA (3 years) BA
Drama and English Literature BA (3 years)BA
Drama and Film Studies BA (3 years)BA
Drama and Music
Manchester Metropolitan University
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Drama and Contemporary Performance
Middlesex University
Theatre BA
University of Northampton
Acting BA (Hons)
Acting for Contemporary & Devised Performance BA (Hons)
Northumbria University
Drama Foundation Year
Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Norwich University of the Arts
BA (Hons) Acting
Nottingham Trent University
Design for Theatre and Live Performance – BA (Hons)
Oxford Brookes University
Drama, Theatre and Acting – BA (Hons)
Plymouth Marjon University
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance-Making
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
University of Plymouth
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Acting with Foundation
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre with Foundation
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama with Foundation
University of Portsmouth
Drama and Performance BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
Queen Margaret University
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
BA/BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction
BA/BA (Hons) Drama
BA/BA (Hons) Theatre and Film
BA/BA (Hons) Performance
Queen’s University Belfast
Drama BA
Drama and English BA
Film and Theatre Making BA
University of Reading
BA Art and Theatre
BA Creative Writing and Film & Theatre
BA Creative Writing and Theatre
BA English Literature and Film & Theatre
BA English Literature and Theatre
BA Film & Theatre
BA Theatre & Performance
Regent’s University London
Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)
Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons) with Foundation
Roehampton University
Dance BA
Diverse Dance Styles (IRIE!)
University of Salford
BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance Practice
BA (Hons) Media and Performance
BA (Hons) Comedy Writing and Performance
BA (Hons) Film, TV and Stage Design
Sheffield Hallam University
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance (1 year top-up)
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance with Foundation Year
University of South Wales
BA (Hons) Perfformio, Theatr a’r Cyfryngau
BA (Hons) Performance Producing and Management
BA (Hons) Performance and Media
BA (Hons) Theatre and Drama
Solent University
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Prosthetics and Special Effects Design
BA (Hons) Television Production
St Mary’s University
BA (Hons) Acting
Staffordshire University
Acting and Screen Performance (Top-up) BA (Hons)
Acting and Theatre Arts (Top-up) BA (Hons)
Acting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)
Page, Stage and Screen BA (Hons)
University of Sunderland
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Performing Arts with Integrated Foundation Year
BA (Hons) Professional Dance
BA (Hons) Screen Performance
BA (Hons) Screen Performance Integrated Foundation Year
University of Surrey (GSA Conservatoire)
BA (Hons) Actor-Musician
BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Theatre Production
University of Sussex
Arts and Humanities (with a foundation year) BA (Hons)
Drama and English BA (Hons)
Drama and English (with a study abroad year) BA (Hons)
Drama and Film Studies BA (Hons)
Drama and Film Studies (with a study abroad year) BA (Hons)
Drama with a Language BA (Hons)
Drama, Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Drama, Theatre and Performance (with a study abroad year) BA (Hons)
Teesside University
FdA Acting
FdA Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Top-up)
University of the Arts London
BA (Hons) Contemporary Theatre and Performance
BA (Hons) Creative Technical Theatre
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance
BA (Hons) Theatre Design
BA (Hons) Performance: Design and Practice
Ulster University
BA (Hons) Drama
BA (Hons) Drama with Education
BA (Hons) Drama with History
BA (Hons) Drama with Irish
BA (Hons) Drama with Marketing
BA (Hons) Drama with Music
University of Wales, Trinity Saint David
BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Commercial Dance
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre
BA (Hons) Performmio
University of Warwick
German and Theatre Studies (BA)
Hispanic Studies and Theatre Studies (BA)
Italian and Theatre Studies (BA)
Theatre and Performance Studies (BA)
Theatre and Performance Studies and Global Sustainable Development (BASc)
University of the West of England
Drama – BA(Hons)
Drama and Acting – BA(Hons)
University of the West of Scotland
BA (Hons) Performance
University of West London
Applied Theatre (Acting and Devising) BA (Hons)
Acting (Performance) BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
University of Winchester
Acting BA (Hons)
Dance BA (Hons)
Drama BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
University of Wolverhampton
BA (Hons) Technical Theatre (Top Up)
University of Worcester
BA (Hons) Dance Theatre
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (with Millennium Performing Arts)
BA (Hons) Theatre, Acting and Performance
MA Touring Theatre
University of York
BA (Hons) Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance
York St John University
Acting BA (Hons)
Applied Theatre MA
Drama and Dance BA (Hons)
Drama and Theatre BA (Hons)
Drama: Education and Community BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre BA (Hons)
When Do You Hear The Results?
Many drama schools will indicate a timescale for results. But in reality, some applicants will hear within hours, while others wait for weeks before getting their result. Even applicants to the same course can be told at different times.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Go To Drama School?
Courses which lead to a bachelor’s degree usually set 18 as the minimum age for new entrants. If you’re younger than this, you could consider full-time training at an arts school or a drama course at a local college.
There’s rarely an official maximum age limit for drama school entrants. Many students go to drama school after university. It’s common to find people at drama schools who are changing careers after a decade or two.
The average age of getting into drama school depends on the institution and courses offered, as a different focus demands different skills and abilities.
A large number of applications to drama school are from young people around the age of 18. Some do get accepted. But many benefit from two or three years in the adult world and come back to audition as better and more experienced actors.
How Long Do You Have To Go To School For Acting?
Foundation courses run for two or three terms, but do not lead to accreditation. They are often used as a springboard (albeit an expensive one) to gain entry on a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor degrees run for three years full-time, whilst post-graduate acting courses are a year full-time.
Many drama schools also run short courses. You won’t get accreditation but may learn some valuable skills.
If casting directors look at someone’s training, they are primarily interested in high level, high quality courses between one and three years.
Can I Get A Student Loan For Drama School?
Once you have secured a place, you face a funding issue.
If you received an offer of a place on a bachelor’s degree in acting, and you haven’t already been to university, you can get a student loan for the tuition fee. Depending on your household income, you may also be eligible to receive a student loan for maintenance costs.
But many institutions offer places on their Foundation degree course or deliver courses not qualifying for the student loan criteria.
If you move to London, the cost of rent is crippling. As hard as it is to win a place at drama school, obtaining a scholarship or financial support will be even tougher.
But don’t think “Well, I’m going to drama school near me” unless that happens to offer high-quality training and industry contacts to improve your chances of a successful career. Otherwise, you will spend years training and thousands of pounds in fees and living costs with little benefit in the long term.
Working During Drama School
Don’t be fooled into thinking a part-time job will provide the answer to your financial problems.
Many institutions specifically bar students from any work which interrupts their training. Even acting jobs for film and TV are prohibited, with some actors choosing to drop out of training rather than turn down a potentially breakthrough role.
A good musical theatre or acting course can have students on site from breakfast until the evening.
Once you graduate, fame and riches are a long way off, should they ever arrive. Analysis of graduate income shows that Performing Arts degrees consistently deliver the worst income outcomes five years later.
Reasons To Go To Drama School
So, why bother applying for drama school? We discuss some of the many benefits of drama school in our article about how to get into acting without drama school.
