MFA Classical Acting: Performance & Practice (Top Up)
by distance learning*
Course level
Postgraduate
Duration
1 year from September 2027
Location
Online (distance learning)
Entry requirements
Graduate of MA Classical Acting
for the Professional Theatre at LAMDA
from 2013 onwards
How to apply
Apply directly to LAMDA
Applications will open in Autumn 2026
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are reviewed annually, and will be listed shortly. Fees for 2026/27 were: £9,007
*This course is subject to approval
Further your study of the classics and gain an MFA . Applications open soon.
About the course
Experience renowned British conservatoire training across one intense, exhilarating semester in the heart of London.
Running each Autumn and Spring, our Semester Programme is designed to introduce you to LAMDA’s leading actor training. You’ll explore classical and contemporary texts from across British theatre history – taking you from Elizabethan playwrights through to writers working in the Post-War era.
Structured around the core skills of acting, movement and voice, the course is taught through project-focused, practical classes, immersing you physically and textually into the character, language and narrative of the classics.
Each week is designed to enhance your performance skillset, giving you the opportunity to work closely with specific plays within the classical cannon – including William Shakespeare, John Webster and Carol Churchill – and integrating specialisms of historical dance, singing and stage combat into your work. Your semester culminates in informal sharings performed for an invited audience of LAMDA peers and staff.
At its heart, this course represents LAMDA’s ethos and commitment to the ensemble, nurturing individual students’ unique talents whilst promoting the shared responsibility of working creatively together. Through this course, you’ll gain the tools to become an independent and creative artist from an internationally recognised performing arts institution.
Course highlights
- Join organised theatre trips and explore Britain’s cultural scene. Recent cohorts have visited Cymbeline at Shakespeare’s Globe and Hamlet at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
- Participate in stage combat sessions – a historical tradition at LAMDA.
- Learn from specialist practitioners and experienced directors.
- Become part of the diverse and talented LAMDA community, including participating in a range of extracurricular activities like Poetry Night and Bravo and Encore.
- Worth 15-17 college credits (US students) or 60 credits/4 modules at HE Level 5(UK students).
Is this course for me?
Our Semester Programme provides an intensive burst of actor training and takes place each Autumn and Spring. The course is designed to deepen your engagement with classical texts and develop your repertoire of practical acting skills, helping you to achieve your potential as an actor.
Taught across one semester, the course is ideal for students who are looking to study abroad in London and who are keen to experience British conservatoire-style training. Some acting experience is required, but this does not need to be professional.
Megha Thyagarajan
Semester Programme: Classical Acting
Spring 2024
I’ve really had such a wonderful time at LAMDA these past few weeks. It’s taught me a lot about myself and the type of theatre that I want to pursue. LAMDA does such a wonderful job of prioritising process over product and ensuring that there’s a well-rounded ensemble culture.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to some of the most common questions about teaching, timetables, performances, assessments, and what to expect as a LAMDA student.
This course is designed with international students in mind and typically suits those from North America as a study abroad programme. However, some places are available for those from the UK. Apply online to avoid disappointment or email us on [email protected] to check availability.
You will need some experience of acting, which will need to be detailed on your application.
Once your application has been submitted, we may contact you via telephone to discuss your application and to confirm that you meet the entry requirements for the course.
We also require a level of English that is approximately IELTS 6.5. It’s not mandatory for English language tests to have been taken prior to attending this course. However, we recommend that non-native English speakers who have not completed Level 6.5 IELTS must have the equivalent English language experience.
You can test your level using the Cambridge English Language Assessment or the CEFR’s Self-Assessment Table. B2 Proficiency is roughly equivalent to IELTS 6.0.
You can apply through us directly or, for international students, through the Study Abroad Office of your home university or college. We’re also happy to accept applications from individuals who are not currently studying at a university or college.
Course Fees (Autumn 2026)
UK Applicants:
£5,347
International Applicants:
£12,938
Application Fee
£21
Course fees are subject to annual review.
Funding
There is no UK government funding available for this course. If you’re thinking of applying, you will need to be self-financing.
If you’re from outside of the UK or EU, you should speak to your home university for information on study abroad programmes.
Our semester programmes are not eligible for the US Federal Direct Loan Program. Find out more information regarding funding for International Students.
An external student housing provider is available in London for those booked on the Semester Programme as LAMDA does not have its own on-campus accommodation.
Rooms are on a first-come, first served basis and you must be over 18. Please contact [email protected] for further information once you have a confirmed place on the course.
The accommodation fees for this course are in addition to the tuition fees mentioned on this page.
Teaching takes place at LAMDA in Barons Court, West London.
You will take part in at least 30 hours practical work a week. This will be spent in both class and rehearsal. Classes typically take place Monday – Friday, from 9am – 6pm.
In order for you to get the most of your time with us, there may also be sessions on Saturdays, as well as a series of evening masterclasses with special guests.
All teaching staff are experienced and active industry professionals. In addition, many key staff hold, or are working towards, Fellowship or Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE).
Our student and academic services team provides access to a full range of appropriate academic support, including study skills, support for learners with dyslexia or dyspraxia, and other physical equipment or software needed to support you.
Student and academic services also arrange access to any specialist help needed to support your physical or mental wellbeing, such as physiotherapy, vocal health or counselling. You’ll also have free online support with our digital health and wellbeing platform – Togetherall.com
Your course work will be assessed using UK higher education marking criteria and you will be provided with official transcripts of the course. Additional information about grading and assessments can be found in the Course Handbook, the Academic Regulations and the Credit Framework. The team in Student & Academic Services can help you convert marks into US credits and GPA or ECTS credits if you wish. Final decisions about onward use of credit lie with your ‘home’ institution.
If you have any queries about this, get in touch with our Admissions Team for further details.
A day in the life of a semester student at LAMDA
About the course
Are you ready to elevate your practice? The MFA Classical Acting: Performance & Practice (Top-Up) (By Distance Learning) is only available to graduates of LAMDA’s MA Classical Acting.
This year-long course is a stimulating and immersive addition to the MA Classical Acting course, designed to enhance the skills acquired through your MA Classical training and develop your skills as artist-educators.
The course comprises 2 modules: Pedagogies of Performance and New Classics.
Pedagogies of Performances will build connections between your MA practical training and practitioners’ theories, concepts and influences upon current studio practice. New Classics explores creative and interpretative modes of theatrical adaptation. You will discover the potentials of story, character, text and genre to create your own original theatrical project.
Throughout the programme, you will investigate diverse approaches to teaching and learning and explore the interplay of theory and hands-on practice. You will have opportunities to develop your ‘teaching toolkit’ and enhance your theatre-making through the ‘new classics’ creative process.
A unique aspect of the course is its partnership with LAMDA Exams.
You will study the LAMDA Syllabus in Practise course.
This week-long Continuous Professional Development (CPD) component provides you with foundational knowledge of the LAMDA Exams Syllabi. You will emerge with the skills to prepare students globally for LAMDA accredited examinations.
This course is taken online through distance learning.
Is this course for me?
Designed specifically for working professionals and international practitioners, the MFA in Classical Acting: Performance & Practice (Top-Up) (By Distance Learning) offers the perfect balance between personalised teaching and flexibility, enabling you to balance study with family and professional responsibilities. Study part-time from anywhere in the world and join a global community of artists and educators.
This year-long, part-time course is taught through online tutor-led seminars, workshops, lectures, as well as self-directed study. You will benefit from unlimited access to LAMDA’s virtual learning environment and ongoing support from highly-experienced tutors.
LAMDA’s MFA qualification is particularly valuable for applicants from the United States and other international contexts, equipping graduates with core skills to teach not only in higher education but also across a wide range of educational, professional, and community settings.
By joining the MFA Classical Acting (Top-Up) (By Distance Learning), you will join a diverse learning community in a journey of exploration, discovery and professional growth. Students have opportunities for social learning and collaborative work, supported by peers and tutors. You will have the freedom to shape your teaching identity, refine your creative voice and bring your vision to life through your ‘new classics’ project, engaging with emerging practice and possibilities in contemporary theatre.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to some of the most common questions about teaching, timetables, performances, assessments, and what to expect as a LAMDA student.
You will need to hold LAMDA’s MA Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre dating from the year 2013 or after. Alumni who were awarded other qualifications or who completed prior to this date will unfortunately not be eligible.
You must also be a fluent English speaker. Non-native speakers will need to provide proof of their completed MA Classical Acting degree, when applying for a Student Visa. A Secure English Language Test (SELT) is not required.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are reviewed annually.
2026/27 entry:
UK students: £9,007
International students: £9,007
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.
As this top-up course will be almost exclusively for former students, there will be no formal audition or interview process. However, we will require a short personal statement which will cover the following:
- What have you been doing since graduating from LAMDA?
- Why would you like to study on this course?
- How do you foresee it aiding you in your future endeavours?
This personal statement can be written, a video recording or an audio recording. It should be approximately 500 words long.
The course can be taken online from anywhere in the world, offering flexibility and time for self-led exploration and study.
Students’ progress on the course is supported informally through ongoing feedback, tutorials and reflective exercises that prepare you for your final assessments. Each module has its own set of expectations, which will be clearly outlined to you as you go.
Pedagogies of Performance is assessed by a portfolio, drawing upon your experiences in the intellectual and practical processes of pedagogy. New Classics is assessed through a project in the creative processes and act of adaptation.
The Syllabus in Practice element is assessed separately by LAMDA Examinations staff, and the assessment does not contribute to the MFA degree outcome.
The course comprises 2 modules.
Pedagogies of Performance is taught in Term 1 and concludes at start of Term 2. New Classics is taught in the latter part of Term 2 and concludes in Term 3.
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.
How to apply
Everything you need to know, from submitting your application and preparing for your audition to important dates and next steps.
Fees and funding
Find information about tuition fees, scholarships, bursaries and financial support available to help make LAMDA training as accessible as possible.
Student life
Learn what it’s like to study at LAMDA, from life on campus and student support, to accommodation and making the most of your time in London.