We heard you are about to embark on your acting journey in the UK. Probably, you are asking a lot of questions at this moment. Which is the top drama school in the UK? What are the best acting schools in London? Does any of these acting schools accept international students? These and many other questions might cross your mind, all of which we’re about to answer!

So, if you have a passion and want to develop a career in acting, we are here to tell you all about the top acting schools in the UK. In this blog, you will learn about the acting schools in the UK for international students with their courses. Let’s dig in!

A List of Acting Schools in the UK

The UK is one of the best places in the world to start your acting career and study drama. Drama schools in the country are numerous, and many have courses for international students. You can check the websites of these prestigious acting schools to check the availability of the courses. 

Apply via UCAS for degree courses.

Drama Schools in London

London is where Shakespeare’s Globe and many other great theatres and drama schools are located. Here is a list of the best acting schools in London for you to check out.

1. London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA)

This drama school in the UK is a top-ranked conservatoire that offers high-quality training to actors, stage managers, technicians, directors, and designers of all backgrounds. 

2. ArtsEd

ArtsEd is one of the top drama schools in the UK. It provides training in all aspects of acting but is most recognised for its TV and film training. Also, it offers excellent BA programmes in both acting and musical theatre. Part-time and holiday courses in the performing arts are also available at the institution.

3. Drama Studio London (DSL)

This acting-only school is partnered with the University of West London. It provides traditional yet relevant training and has an impressive alumni list.

4. Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts 

The school is one of the world's oldest theatre arts training schools. This musical theatre school offers high-level courses in acting, dance, and musical theatre.  

5. Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Mountview is one of the top drama schools in the UK, but it is best known for its high-quality musical theatre training and excellent graduates. 

Acting Schools in the UK

Here is a list of the top acting schools in the UK you should check out!

1. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School | Bristol

Opened in 1946, the Old Vic Theatre is one of the UK's oldest and best conservatoire drama schools. Currently, the school is among the top 15 drama schools in the UK. The school selects a small number of students to join it each year, and it is internationally recognised for its training.

The school offers world-class actor training and has delivered some of today's most famous and talented actors, including Daniel Day-Lewis, the only actor to ever win three Academy Awards in the leading category.

2. East 15 Acting School | Loughton 

Margaret Walker opened E 15 drama school in 1961 and the school is in the 5th place among the best drama schools in the UK list. 

E15 has provided excellent training for both stage and screen acting. The school also provides other training, including combat, fencing, and other types of training, which is highly beneficial for any actor.

3. Oxford School of Drama | Woodstock

Oxford School of Drama is one of the best independent drama schools in the UK, despite being one of the newest schools in the country. It was built 26 years ago and quickly became among the top acting schools in the UK. The school accepts only 18 students per course, so it can be very competitive to be able to join it. 

4. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | Glasgow

This is another one of the top drama schools in the UK. RCS is also one of the oldest schools in the UK that specialises in drama, as it was built in 1847. It provides amazing undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as courses for students under 18 in its Junior Academy of Drama. 

5. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama | Cardiff

RWCMD is also a top acting school in the UK. It was founded in 1949 and has been among the top schools of drama, not only in the United Kingdom, but also it is one of the best acting schools in the world. The school even helps its students after graduation to get on with their careers, as it has strong connections in the field.

6. Guildford School of Acting | Guildford 

GSA comes second in the list of top drama schools in the UK. It was opened in 1935 and is currently a part of the School of Arts at the University of Surrey. The school is known for its  quality training in the fields of acting and musical theatre.

7. Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre | Manchester

MMU holds a strong position in the list of top drama schools in the UK and is a popular choice for acting students. The school also has connections with BBC North and Granada which, to a great deal, helps the students after graduation. MMU's training is heavily influenced by physical theatre practitioners such as Grotowski, as well as works by Brecht and Stanislavski.

We hope you have found the school you are looking for in the previous list of UK drama schools. Joining an acting school in the UK will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make! Check out the best music colleges in London! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most prestigious acting school?

Juilliard is the most well-known acting school on the list. It offers an intense four-year conservatory programme in actor training.

Where can I study acting in the UK?

Here are some of the best drama universities and top drama schools in the UK according to the Guardian University Rankings 2023:

• University of Exeter.

• The University of West London.

• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

• The University of Warwick.

• Conservatoire of Dance and Drama.

• The University of Essex.

• The University of Surrey.

• Lancaster University.