Royal Academy of Dramatic Art | Courses and fees

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art | An overview

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, England offers vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. Its premises are not far from the University of London’s Senate House complex, and it is a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools. Established in 1904 by the renowned actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, It is still closely connected to the performing arts sectors and has earned a superb reputation as a center of excellence on a global scale.

Courses and programs

RADA offers a variety of acting and theater-related short courses, undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as practical, hands-on training.

FdA in Technical Theatre & Stage Management

This two-year program provides a thorough introduction to each component of a theatrical production in the first year before allowing students to specialize in one or more components in the second year.

The majority of their students continue on to the third year of the BA (Hons) progression program, although the FdA is the final year of instruction. After completing this course, students will be completely prepared to enter the profession and advance in their careers. 

Graduates find success in stage management, lighting, sound, props, scenic art, construction, video, costuming, technical, and production management positions in theater, cinema, television, events management, and event production.

Tuition fees –  UK £9,250 per year

Tuition fees international –  £22,800 per year

BA (Hons) in Technical Theatre and Stage Management (progression year)

This one-year course is for anyone who wishes to better prepare themselves for a highly successful specialized profession. Please be aware that as part of a blended learning program, some course components may, if suitable, be offered fully online. While you’re enrolled, you’ll work with peers from all of the courses, particularly those enrolled in their BA (Hons) in Acting, FdA in Technical Theatre and Stage Management, and PgDip in Theatre Costume programs because RADA students work closely together.

Tuition fees UK – £9,250 per year

Tuition fees international –  £22,800 per year

BA (Hons) in Acting

This course offers comprehensive preparation for a career as an actor. For a professional career in theatre, television, film, radio, and audio, you learn abilities in acting, voice, dance, singing, research, critical and contextual studies, and personal and professional growth over the course of three years.

Tuition fees UK – £9,250 per year

Tuition fees international – £22,800 per year

Postgraduate courses

Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Theatre Costume

This two-year, full-time program will cover all aspects of costume-making. Learn how to create a finished garment from a design or costume reference, from pattern-cutting through the final product. You will also gain knowledge about and practice the managerial skills and duties of a costume supervisor, enabling you for an easy transfer into the industry.

Tuition fees UK – £7,610 per year

Tuition fees international – £13,930 per year

MA Theatre Lab

This course is meant specifically for people with performance and acting experience who wish to develop their skills at a professional level and become a more independent or collaborative theatre and performance producers. The MA Theatre Lab at RADA broadens an actor’s training and creative growth by reimagining acting as an embodied and experimental art form at the heart of the theatre-making process.

Tuition fees UK – £15,390

Tuition fees international – £21,230

Key short-term courses

• The Meisner technique (6 weeks course)
• Elements of RADA Workshops: in-person
• Short Course Saturdays
• Shakespeare in Action
• Acting Shakespeare
• Accents for Actors: General American
• Confidence on the Stage
• Scene Study for Actors: in-person
• Shakespeare Awards Workshops: Messenger & Bronze
• Spoken English for Actors: in-person
• Shakespeare Awards Workshops: Silver & Gold
• Imagination Through Movement
• Discovering Poetry
• Elements of RADA Workshops: online
• Acting Fundamentals
• Advanced Scene Study for Actors: online
• Advanced Acting Fundamentals
• Introductions to RADA: one-day workshops
• Archetypes & Character
• Accents for Actors: Exploring How to Learn Accents
• Shakespeare’s Sonnets
• Voicing Audiobooks
• Playwriting for Actors

Fees and financial support – International students

Your education fees will be more expensive if you are an international student compared to a UK student. To find the right costs for your course, carefully review the course details.

Your student status, which is based on tight residency rules established by the Office for Students, a UK government agency, determines the fees you must pay. Before the institution can confirm your place, if you believe you qualify as a “home” student, you must present proof.

You will be classified as an international student and be responsible for paying international fees if you do not meet the requirements for Home (UK) students. Additionally, you won’t be eligible for UK government student loans or, in the majority of cases, RADA scholarships. Please note that RADA courses are not eligible for US Federal Loans.

Key takeaways

• The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is dedicated to world-leading training in the dramatic arts.
• If you are an international student, your fees for your course will be higher than for UK students.  
• RADA provides short courses, undergraduate and graduate training, and practical, vocational education in acting and theatre development.

We hope this blog was informative. If so, please share your views in the comments below. Click here to reach out to us for more information. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.

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FAQs

Q1. Can I apply to RADA if I’m under 18?

Ans. The Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Costume requires students to be at least 18 years old to start. However, the Access and Participation initiatives and Short Courses, provide possibilities for young people under the age of 18.

Q2. I’m not from the UK. What impact does this have on my fees and financing choices?

Ans. For UK students and those from other countries, there are various fees. For UK-level tuition fees, you must have resided in the UK for three years in a row prior to beginning the degree.

Q3. Will I have enough time to work while I’m a student at RADA?

Ans. There wouldn’t be many opportunities for employment throughout the academic year because of the academic schedule, which includes late and weekend classes or plays. To be able to successfully complete their training at RADA, it is critical for students to maintain a balance between study time and downtime.