About the university
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is a drama conservatoire in London that has trained actors and theatre makers for over 160 years. It teaches a six-month Foundation in Stage and Screen, BA (Hons) degrees in Professional Acting and in Production and Technical Arts, one-year MAs in Musical Theatre and Directing, and MFA degrees in professional acting, classical acting and musical theatre. Entry is by audition or interview rather than by marks.
Indian students interested in acting, musical theatre, directing or backstage work look at LAMDA for its intensive, practical training. Undergraduate courses have no academic entry requirement, and English is assessed at audition. LAMDA has no halls of its own, so students rent privately in London.
- Type
- Drama conservatoire and awarding organisation
- History
- Training artists for over 160 years
- Programmes
- CertHE, BA (Hons), MA and MFA in acting, musical theatre, directing and production
- Intake
- September
- Scholarships
- More than £500,000 a year; around 25% of students receive full scholarships
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £26,631
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £29,758
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £26,761
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at interview; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £24,815
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Production and Technical Arts: Stage and Screen
- Fee / year
- £26,631
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at interview; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £38,765
- Duration
- 18 months
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Postgraduate
MFA Classical Acting: Performance and Practice
- Fee / year
- £38,765
- Duration
- 18 months
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
- Undergraduate
Foundation in Stage and Screen: CertHE
- Fee / year
- £19,467
- Duration
- 6 months, four days a week
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Assessed at audition; UKVI SELT at CEFR B2 or higher if offered a place
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Professional Acting | 3 years | £26,631 | ≈ ₹32.5 lakh |
| MA Musical Theatre | 1 year | £29,758 | ≈ ₹36.3 lakh |
| MA Directing | 1 year | £26,761 | ≈ ₹32.6 lakh |
| MFA Professional Acting | 2 years | £24,815 | ≈ ₹30.3 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Production and Technical Arts: Stage and Screen | 3 years | £26,631 | ≈ ₹32.5 lakh |
| MFA Musical Theatre | 18 months | £38,765 | ≈ ₹47.3 lakh |
| MFA Classical Acting: Performance and Practice | 18 months | £38,765 | ≈ ₹47.3 lakh |
| Foundation in Stage and Screen: CertHE | 6 months, four days a week | £19,467 | ≈ ₹23.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- All degree courses
LAMDA scholarships
Value: Means-tested; around one in four students receives support
Eligibility: After receiving an offer, complete LAMDA's scholarship form and submit your budget by the deadline.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - One-year master's
Chevening Scholarships (external)
Value: Typically full tuition fees
Eligibility: International master's applicants from Chevening-eligible countries. Apply to Chevening directly, before applying to LAMDA; applications open each August.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- BA courses and the Foundation have no academic entry requirements. You must be 18 or over by 1 September of the year you start.
- International applicants apply through UCAS. Acting courses select by audition; Production and Technical Arts selects by interview and needs some backstage experience.
- The UK and international deadline for BA Professional Acting and the Foundation for 2027 entry is 8 March 2027. LAMDA does not make conditional offers.
Postgraduate
- An undergraduate degree or vocational equivalent, and age 21 or over by 1 September of the start year. No minimum degree class is set; selection is by audition or interview.
- Postgraduate applications are made directly to LAMDA. The MA Musical Theatre deadline for 2027 entry is 9 April 2027.
Documents
- Passport
- UCAS or LAMDA application with audition or interview fee
- Audition pieces or interview material
- UKVI-approved SELT result (after an offer, unless exempt)
- Degree certificate for MA and MFA courses
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| At application | No test needed; English is assessed at audition or interview |
| After an offer | A UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR Level B2 or higher |
| Guide level | LAMDA's international page says you should have English of about IELTS 7.0 (IELTS for UKVI) |
| Exemption | Recent successful study of a degree taught in English |
Accommodation and living costs
LAMDA does not have its own halls of residence. It says it helps students find housing in London. The pages we opened give no rent figures, so budget for London private rents.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
LAMDA trains students in London and puts on theatre performances and events, including in the Sainsbury Theatre.
- Practical conservatoire training in acting, musical theatre, directing and production.
- Student support from a Wellbeing Manager, Disability Coordinator, Student Advisor and a personal tutor.
- Semester study-abroad programmes in classical acting.
- LAMDA Exams in communication and performance, taken worldwide.
Careers and graduate outcomes
LAMDA's courses prepare students for professional work in theatre, screen and live performance, both on stage and backstage. See our UK guide for Graduate visa rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much does LAMDA cost for Indian students?
For 2026/27, international fees were £26,631 a year for the BA courses, £26,761 for the MA Directing, £29,758 for the MA Musical Theatre and £24,815 a year for the MFA Professional Acting. Fees are reviewed each year.
Do I need IELTS to apply?
No. LAMDA assesses English at audition or interview. If you get an offer you need a UKVI-approved SELT at CEFR B2 or higher, unless you recently completed a degree taught in English.
Are there scholarships?
Yes. LAMDA gives more than £500,000 a year in scholarships and bursaries, means-tested, and about 25% of students get a full scholarship. You apply after receiving an offer.
When do courses start?
September. Undergraduate applications go through UCAS; postgraduate applications go directly to LAMDA.
Sources
- LAMDA: BA (Hons) Professional Acting (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: MA Musical Theatre (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: MFA Musical Theatre (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: fees and funding (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: scholarships and bursaries (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: international student funding (opens in a new tab)
- LAMDA: international applicants (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lamda.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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