Acting (degree)

Whether to study at a drama school or university is a common dilemma for wannabe acting students.

“There’s a big difference between academic courses and vocational courses, which provide training for the profession,” says Nicole Hay, National Council for Drama Training (NCDT).

“It is important to know the difference between vocational training courses and the vast number of performing arts courses on offer at UK universities. University courses are generally more academic and rarely offer the same number of contact hours as at vocational drama schools,” she added.

However, Carole-Anne Upton, chair of the Standing Conference of University Drama Departments, believes that the difference between courses offered by universities and drama schools has blurred in the last 10 years.

Speaking to the Guardian, she said: “It’s no longer true that universities offer academic courses whereas drama schools offer training. Now drama schools give degrees and universities are going in a more vocational direction.”

She added: “An academic degree in drama from almost any university will also involve an understanding of the practice. Most university courses have theory at their heart, explaining the relationship between the theory and practice of drama.”

Broadly speaking, a university degree will keep you options open and a drama school training will be more focussed.

The quality and curriculum does vary enormously between courses, and we recommend you do as much research as you can before picking one.

The Conference of Drama Schools

The Conference of Drama Schools is a group of 22 of the leading schools but there are many other very good courses all over the UK.

Further reading

David Bond, head of acting, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama on do I want to act?

Nicole Hay, National Council for Drama Training on acting as a career

Where can I study this?