MFA Professional Acting

If you want to work as an actor and maker in the creative sector, our MFA acting programme offers an outstanding training. It will position you as an accomplished artist, with the ability to forge your own unique path in the industry.

Overview

Tuition fees
For academic year 2023/24:
UK applicants: £14,453 per year
International applicants: £24,092 per year

Tuition fees are reviewed annually

Application Process:

Application Deadline

Monday 10 April 2023 at 3pm [UK, BST]

Join the Future students mailing list here.

Application fees

Find out if you qualify for audition fee waivers here.

US Applicants:

  • £88 for in-person first round audition in the US, January/February 2023.
  • Recall audition, if successful, late February, early March 2023.

​​​​​​Apply Now

    UK & International applicants:

    • £15 first round self-tape audition for UK and International applicants.
    • £36 in-person recall audition, if successful, at LAMDA in April/June 2023 £36

    Apply Now​​​​​​

    Current students on training at LAMDA

    About the course

    In the two years you’ll be working mainly in small-group classes and will receive frequent, personalised feedback and support to advance your skill-set and accelerate your career.

    You’ll develop an informed, open, yet questioning, approach to the craft of acting. This will set you up with the skills and confidence to become an independent minded practitioner with considerable professional versatility and creativity.

    This masters degree in acting provides rigorous, world-class conservatoire training combined with industry-level postgraduate project work. The course is open to those from any background, but especially for those who want to shake up the ecosystem of the creative skills industry, and use their abilities to challenge the status quo and shape new landscapes for dramatic art.

    In your first year, you'll cover the core disciplines of acting, voice, movement and music in intensive classes, alongside workshop projects which may include contemporary texts, classical plays, and late 19th/ early 20th century European naturalism. These workshops will give you an opportunity to apply the skills you've learnt in class.

    You'll also begin to explore how to deliver convincing screen and audio performances. and take part in a new writing project with exciting, pioneering writers, exploring the role of the actor as a collaborative artist.

    Modules:

    The final year will prepare you to become an independent and stand-out professional within the industry. You’ll be immersed in a series of performances on stage, screen and in audio drama, including a professionally written, directed, crewed and post-produced short film. Recent LAMDA graduation films have been selected for national and international film festivals. The final element of your training will be centred on the collaborative development and performance of a small group piece of original, self-created, theatre.

    You’ll also have the opportunity to share your artistry, skills and experience with younger audiences and potential theatre-makers. The annual Shakespeare in Schools programme is an opportunity for our graduating MFA actors to share a bespoke project with secondary schools and colleges, culminating in fast-paced adaptations of Shakespeare's popular works and workshops directly engaging with their younger audiences.

    In your training LAMDA will offer you some opportunities for masterclasses, lectures, talks, and where possible, open auditions with industry professionals. Finally, a unique feature of this course is the chance to train as a LAMDA Exams teacher.

    Modules:

    Key information

    This MFA Professional Acting course is a two-year postgraduate programme for those who already have a BA or BFA degree, or comparable professional experience, and want to take the next steps to develop their talents further and become a successful, entrepreneurial, creative artist.

    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
    • Non-mediated student learning to encourage self-reflective practice
    • Peer evaluations – a central part of actor training in an ensemble situation

    You need to 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 interviews. However, you’ll need to provide a valid IELTS test report with an overall score of 6.5 if you’re offered a place. We can only accept IELTS for UKVI.

    Tuition fees
    For academic year 2023/24:

    UK applicants: £14,453 per year
    International applicants: £24,092 per year

    Application fees

    £88 for US based applicant in-person audition
    ​​​​​£21 for UK & International applicant first round audition
    £36 for UK & International applicant recall 

    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.

    Find out if you qualify for a fee waiver here.

    Your future career

    Our specialist careers support covers guidance on working as an actor and on broader, more entrepreneurial routes into the industry, including the chance to train to teach LAMDA Exams.

    When you graduate, you’ll leave with a professionally-shot show reel and a voice reel. Agents and casting directors are invited to attend selected productions and film screenings. You’ll also take part in a duologue showcase and a digital showcase shared with key industry professionals.

    You’ll also have access to the Genesis LAMDA Network when you graduate, which provides mentoring and a bridge into the industry. Find out more about how LAMDA support you beyond your training here.

    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/continuation 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.