Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships at LAMDA
Our scholarships help talented students overcome financial barriers so they can study and complete their training at LAMDA. Today, around one in four LAMDA students receives scholarship support. However, demand is greater than the funding we currently have available. We’re working to grow our scholarships programme so that financial circumstances are never a barrier for talented students from underrepresented backgrounds who want to train at LAMDA.
Guide to Applying
There are more scholarship applications than funding available each year. We encourage you to start planning how you’ll fund your studies as early as possible and apply for any loans or student finance well before your course begins.
1. Understand the cost of studying
Before you apply for a scholarship, make sure you understand the full cost of your training at LAMDA. This includes your tuition fees, accommodation, and everyday living costs for the duration of your course.
You’ll need to show that you have a realistic plan to cover these costs before applying for scholarship support.
2. Explore your funding options
Apply for any student finance or undergraduate or postgraduate loans available in your home country before applying for a LAMDA scholarship.
As part of your application, we’ll ask how you plan to fund your studies, so it’s important to explore all available sources of financial support.
3. Prepare a realistic budget
Create a budget that covers your expected income and expenses while studying at LAMDA, including:
- Tuition fees
- Rent and accommodation
- Food and travel
- Other day-to-day living costs
You’ll need to include this budget with your scholarship application.
4. Accept your offer and complete your application
If you’re offered a place at LAMDA, we’ll send you a scholarship application form.
Complete the form and submit your budget by the deadline provided.
5. Complete the financial assessment
All scholarship applications are means-tested as part of our assessment process.
- If you’re under 25 or financially dependent on your family, we’ll assess your annual household income.
- If you’re 26 or over, or financially independent, we’ll assess your own annual income.
You can find full details of how scholarships are assessed in our guidance documents:
- LAMDA Scholarships Guide (Home Fees)
- LAMDA Scholarships Guide (International Fees)
External Scholarships
Alongside LAMDA scholarships, there are a number of external scholarship opportunities you may wish to explore.
These scholarships have their own eligibility criteria and application processes, so please check the requirements carefully before applying.
The Black Heart Art programme aims to provide financial scholarships to underrepresented and under-resourced young people for arts education, empowering the next generation of diverse arts talent. The scholarship programme is open to individuals who are hardworking, under-resourced, and ambitious. Funding amounts are assessed on an individual basis to ensure fair and tailored support. Applications are accepted and reviewed in March and August.
Chevening enables outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year Master’s degrees in the UK and typically offers full tuition-fee scholarships. This Scholarship is open to international Master’s applicants. Applications for this scholarship are made directly to Chevening, not LAMDA, and open annually in August for the academic year that begins thirteen months later. N.B. You must apply to Chevening before you apply to LAMDA and there is no guarantee of a scholarship from Chevening even if you are offered a place by LAMDA.
This Award is for an incoming student on LAMDA’s MA Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre course and provides a full tuition-fee scholarship as well as a living stipend. Applications from students from under-served populations are encouraged. This Award is generously provided through an endowment from the MLDauray Arts Initiative. Applications for this scholarship are made directly to Fulbright, not LAMDA, and open annually in early November for the following academic year. N.B. You must apply to Fulbright before you apply to LAMDA and there is no guarantee of a scholarship from Fulbright even if you are offered a place by LAMDA.
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. N.B. You must apply to Marshall before you apply to LAMDA and there is no guarantee of a scholarship from Marshall even if you are offered a place by LAMDA.
The National Youth Arts Trust grants bursaries of up to £1,000 each to talented young people aged 12–25 who can’t afford to access opportunities in the arts. A bursary can be used to cover tuition fees at drama school.
The Sidney Perry Foundation assists students who are pursuing their first or further degrees (full- and part-time) by providing financial support. Its mission is to promote access to education and ensure that individuals can achieve their academic goals, regardless of financial circumstances.
The Split Infinitive Trust supports individual students on acting or musical theatre courses, especially those from Yorkshire or studying in the region, with awards of £250 to £500 towards living costs.
During Your Training
There are also a number of competitive external scholarships that eligible students may be considered for during their training.
These awards are based on financial need and each has its own eligibility criteria and selection process, which may include an audition or interview.
The Constellation Creative Bursary aims to encourage and promote greater participation and representation of British East and Southeast Asian actors on stage and screen by supporting the pathway from graduating student to professional actor. This is awarded by New Earth Theatre and open to all graduating students of East and Southeast Asian descent.
This Scholarship is for Welsh individuals aged 18+ who plan to pursue advanced (postgraduate) study in a creative drama discipline, such as acting, scriptwriting, directing, or set design. The charity aims to support education for the public through performance arts.
The Dewar Arts Awards provide financial support to talented young people, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their potential in the arts. Candidates must be under 30 years old, live and work in Scotland, demonstrate genuinely limited financial means and showcase strong artistic and/or creative ambition. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
The Luke Westlake Scholarship supports working-class actors in the UK through a financial bursary and exclusive industry opportunities. Each year, the scholarship provides over £6,000 in financial and professional support to the selected recipient. Applicants must be in their penultimate year of an undergraduate acting course and submit a self-tape audition as part of the application process. Applications open in October, with the award announced in December.
In partnership with Manic Street Preachers, the Mab Gwalia Welsh Drama Student Scholarship awards up to £15,000 each academic year to support up to three eligible students. Applicants must be Welsh or reside in Wales and come from a low-income background, with selection based on financial circumstances and a personal statement.
The Wayne Sleep Foundation support talented students of the Performing Arts (Dance, Drama, and Music) with awards of up to £2500 to help with accommodation and living costs. Applicants must have confirmed places at leading performing arts institutions in the UK. Applications open in Spring each year.
More Information
Pathways Programme
Read more about how LAMDA Pathways can support with applying and auditioning.
Disabled Students’ Allowance
Discover how students with a disability can access financial support whilst they’re training.
Student Support
Find out how we support our students at LAMDA.