If you’re an aspiring actor who wants to attend one of Europe’s respected acting schools, consider applying to one of the institutions below. Europe is home to many well-known training centers for drama, theater, and the performing arts. Express your passion for the performing arts and check out this list of top acting schools in Europe!
Top Acting Schools in Europe
1. Mountview Academy of the Arts
As one of the UK’s leading drama schools, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts is a creative learning center that provides vocational training in performance and production arts in Europe. Its Peckham building includes two theaters, studios, music practice rooms, production workshops, meeting rooms, two TV studios, a radio suite, café/bars, and a rooftop restaurant/bar. Graduates from Mountview have gone on to work in theater, film, television, and recorded arts.
They offer a BA (Hons) Performance – Acting, where students develop technical acting skills through workshops, classes, projects, and performance opportunities. Mountview also offers BA-level options in Performance – Musical Theatre and Actor Musicianship, as well as production arts pathways such as stage management and technical production.
Meanwhile, the MA Performance – Acting program provides intensive one-year vocational training for students preparing for careers in theater, television, film, and recorded arts. Mountview also offers postgraduate programs in areas such as musical theater, creative practice, music direction, theatre for community and education, and stage and production management. Alumni include Amanda Holden and Callum Blue.
2. London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA)
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, or LAMDA, is a respected school for acting in Europe that brings empowerment, innovation, and collaboration together to prepare students for the field. Through theater spaces, rehearsal rooms, placements, and productions, LAMDA gives students practical, hands-on experience with traditional and contemporary training. The school values inclusion and diversity for its multinational student community and provides a nurturing environment for performance projects.
They offer a BA (Hons) Professional Acting program and semester programs in Classical Acting. Their postgraduate acting and directing programs include the MFA Professional Acting and MA Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre. Some of the well-known actors who graduated from LAMDA are Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Claflin, Dominic Cooper, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and many more.
3. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
- Study Program
- Location: England | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Located in London, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a world-leading training ground for dramatic arts and is among the best schools for acting in Europe. With an impressive track record of successful graduates in theater, film, and TV, RADA creates opportunities for students to join an engaging training community.
Their BA (Hons) in Acting is a three-year, full-time undergraduate course that enables students to develop their creative potential in classical and contemporary theater, film, television, radio, and digital media. RADA’s current postgraduate courses include MA Performance Lighting Design, MA Stage Management, MA Theatre Costume, MA Theatre Lab, and MA Playwriting.
4. Manchester Metropolitan University
The Manchester Metropolitan University‘s Manchester School of Theatre is among the best schools for acting in Europe and has a long-standing reputation for training professional actors, theater makers, and performers for employment in theater, film, TV, and radio. Its graduates have appeared in work produced by Netflix, Marvel, Sky Atlantic, the BBC, BFI, Sony, Channel 4, the West End, the Globe, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and others. Notable alumni include Zawe Ashton and Julie Walters.
They offer three-year undergraduate programs including BA (Hons) Acting and BA (Hons) Drama and Contemporary Performance. Their MA/MFA Performance program is also notable for its practical, versatile, and interdisciplinary approach to performance-making and training.
5. Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Located in the heart of London, Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a leading school for acting in Europe and is a vibrant community of actors, performance makers, production artists, and musicians. The Drama Department has inclusive and progressive practice at its core, and live productions take place in three distinctive theaters. Guildhall’s acting graduates include high-profile names and award-winners in theater, film, and television.
They currently offer a BA Acting program, which supports students in developing their individual practice while training across stage, screen, digital, and audio platforms. Students also have opportunities to collaborate across Guildhall’s Drama, Music, and Production Arts communities through live productions, digital platforms, screen projects, and live-streamed work.
FAQs about Studying Acting
Which Subjects Are Best for Acting?
If you are wondering which subjects can help you pursue a career in acting, your best options may include Musical Theatre, Drama, Stage Management, Costume Design, Media Studies, and Film. Getting a degree in these fields can give you the appropriate knowledge and skills to kick-start a career in acting. While we do not have specific courses on acting, you can visit our page to explore all of our available courses and see if you can apply for any that meet your interests. You are also welcome to check out other available courses for international students!
We hope that this article on the best acting schools in Europe was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students to learn more about studying abroad!
