LIST OF PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGES IN THE UK AND WHAT THEY OFFER

So you’re thinking of applying to a performing arts college but not sure which one to look at?

There are so many different colleges and they all offer slightly different courses and sometimes it is hard to know where to start! 

But fear not - We have compiled a list for you! (Details correct as of 2020)

Most colleges start their auditions in October or November and they will usually run until April or May.  

But a lot of open days are scheduled for September and October. These are a good way of getting a feeling for the college so make sure you don't miss out since they get booked up pretty quickly. 

CDMT - Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre usually holds an open day in November where all their accredited colleges attend. This is day is brilliant if you feel that you could do with a bit more information about the whole process of applying to colleges. There is a limited number of tickets. There are talks for both parents and students about funding, the audition process and life after you have finished your training. There are also an opportunity to watch classes from the attending colleges as well as take part in audition style classes within your chosen pathway. There is plenty of time to speak to staff from the different colleges so you can get a lot of information by attending this open day. Take a look here for more information

Already decided on what schools you want to apply to? Here's our handy hints on how to prepare for the dance part of your auditions.

Please note that this is not a complete list, it is not in any rank order at all and we will add to it all the time. All the information is correct when the list was created but please let us know if there is a mistake, something missing or if there is anything you think we need to add to it. 

London and surrounding areas

 

ArtsEd 

 

 

Drama | Dance 

16+ 18+

• 6th form 
• Foundation
• BA Hons in Acting or Musical Theatre 
• MA  Acting course 

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://artsed.co.uk/courses/

Bird College - Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre 

Dance | Musical Theatre courses

16+ 18+

• Foundation 
• 3 year Diploma 
• BA Hons Degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://bird-college.com/he-fe/

Bodywork Cambridge 

Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 

• BTEC Level 
• 1 year intensive course 
• 3 year Diploma 

The BTEC is a 1 year course equivalent of 1,5 A-level and fully funded by the government 

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs)  

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://bodyworkcompany.co.uk/

D&B Academy of Performing Arts 

Musical Theatre

16+ 

• 3 Diploma in Musical Theatre

Privately funded course but the college offers a number of scholarships and bursaries. 

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.dandbperformingarts.co.uk/school-performing-arts/performing-arts/

Emil Dale Academy   

Musical Theatre

16+ 18+ 

• Foundation [Gap Year] [17+]
• BTEC 2 year full time study, equivalent to 3 A-levels [16+]
• BA Hons Degree in Professional Musical Theatre [18+]

For more information: https://www.emildale.co.uk/

Guildford School of Acting [GSA] University of Surrey   

Acting and Theatre |  Dance | Musical Theatre | Technical Theatre

18+

• Foundation in Acting 
• A large number of different BA Hons Degree courses in acting, dance, MT and Technical Theatre 
• MA in Acting or Dance
• PHd in Acting or Dance

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://gsauk.org/

Italia Conti  

Dance | Acting | Musical Theatre

16+ 18+

• 3 year Diploma in Dance or Musical Theatre 
• BA Hons degree in Musical Theatre and Acting

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.italiaconti.com/

Laine Theatre Arts  

Musical Theatre but with a strong dance training. 

16+ 

• Foundation 
• 3 Year Diploma 
• 1 year BA Hons Degree Top up course 

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs)

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://laine-theatre-arts.co.uk/

London Studio Centre 

Ballet | Contemporary | Jazz | Musical Theatre pathways

16+ 18+

• Foundation 
• 3 year in house Diploma in dance 
• BA Hons Degree in Theatre Dance [with chosen pathway] 
• MA in Dance performance or Dance Producing and Management  

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.londonstudiocentre.org/

Masters Performing Arts College 

Dance

16+ ?

• In-house 3 year diploma course

The fees are privately funded but the college operates its own scholarships and fee assisted programs. 

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: http://www.mastersperformingarts.co.uk/

Millenium    

Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 

• Foundation in professional Dance 
• 3 year Diploma in dance [Validated by Trinity College London] 
• 3 year in house diploma in dance

Privately funded course with different fee options depending on how many contact hours you would want. 

The college can offer grants towards the funding. 

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.mpacollege.co.uk/

Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts   

Acting | Musical Theatre

• Foundation in Acting or Musical Theatre
•  3 year Diplomas in several pathways within Acting and Musical Theatre 
• BA Hons Degrees in several pathways within Acting and Musical Theatre  
• MA courses in several pathways within Acting and Musical Theatre  

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.mountview.org.uk/

Performers College  

Musical Theatre | Dance

16+ 18+

• 1 year Pre Vocational Course [Like a foundation course] 
• 3 Year Diploma in MT or Dance [validated by Trinity College London]
• BA Hons Degree course in MT or Dance 

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://performerscollege.co.uk/

Stella Mann College 

Dance | MusicalTheatre

16+ 18+

• 3 year In house diploma [all students will do this]
• BA degree top up year instead of 3rd year diploma for 18+ students if you wish to do so.

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.stellamanncollege.co.uk/

The Urdang Academy 

Dance | musical theatre | Singing & acting

16+ 18+

• Foundation [18+]
• 2 year Access to Vocational Training course AVT [16+] Equivalent to 2 A-levels and fully government funded
• 3 year diploma - 3 tracks MT, Dance or Singing and Acting [validated by Trinity College London] [16+]
• BA Hons Degree  - 3 tracks MT, Dance or Singing and Acting [18+]

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) and funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://theurdang.london/

Tring Park School for the performing arts  

Dance | Acting | Musical Theatre | Commercial Music

• Lower School [From year 7] 
• Upper School [2 A-levels and a Btec]
• 3 year Diploma in Dance [ballet, contemporary and jazz | Acting | Musical Theatre | Commercial Music [validated by Trinity College London] [16+]
• A-Levels are also available

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) 

For more information: https://www.tringpark.com/

 

Trinity Laban   

Dance | Musical Theatre

18+

• Foundation
• BA Hons in Musical Theatre Performance and Contemporary Dance

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

For more information: https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/study/musical-theatre/

The rest of the UK

Addict Academy  

Dance

16+ 18+ 

• BTEC level 3 diploma in Dance - equivalent to 3 A-levels [16+] Fully funded
• HND 2 year course in Dance entry requirement: 220 UCAS points [18+]
• BA Hons Degree top up year after your 2 years HND course 

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

For the BA Hons Degree course top up year.

For more information: http://www.addictdanceacademy.co.uk/addict-dance-academy/

The Brighton Academy 

Dance | Musical Theatre

15+ 18+

• SQA Advanced Certificate , 1 year course [15+]
• Foundation [15+]
• 3 year Professional course [15+] 
• BA Hons Degree in Musical Theatre or Performing Arts [18+]

For more information: https://www.thebrightonacademy.com/

CAPA College   

Musical Theatre | Dance | Stage & Screen | Production Arts, Theatre, Film & Media

16+

• A 2 year course giving you the following qualifications: level 3 diploma [=2 A-levels] and 1 A-level

For more information: https://www.capa.college/

Creative Academy    

Dance

18+ 

• Diploma in Dance [18+ and hold ISTD Intermediate Qualification in Ballet, Tap and Modern.]
• BA Hons Degree in Dance [18+] 
• MA in Dance

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

and through Advanced Learner Loans.

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: http://www.creativeacademy.org/

Jelli Studios Theatre Arts College  

Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 18+

BTEC 2 year Level 3 Diploma [16+] Equivalent of 3 A-levels. Fully funded

HND 2 year Diploma [18+] Entry requirement 112 UCAS points

For more information: http://www.jellistudios.co.uk/home/4587441916

KS dance  

Ballet course | Versatile Dancer’s Course

16+

• 3 year Diploma

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA)

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: http://ksd-online.co.uk/

Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts 

Dance | Musical Theatre | Acting | Singing and a number of other performing arts related courses.

18+

• Foundation 
• BA Hons Degree in a number of different pathways 
• MA 

This school offers funding through the Higher Education Funding Council

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.lipa.ac.uk/

Liverpool Theatre School  

Acting | Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 19+

• BTEC in Musical Theatre [equivalent to 3 A-levels] 
• 3 year Diploma in Acting [19+] 
• 3 year Diploma in MT [16+]
• 2 year Diploma in Professional Dance / Contemporary Dance

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA)

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.liverpoolcentralstudios.com/

Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama 

Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 

• Foundation course in Dance or Musical Theatre [3 days / week] 
• 3 year Diploma in MT  [Validated by Trinity College London] 
• 3 year in house Diploma in dance or MT

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://maddcollege.co.uk/

PPA Academy   

Musical Theatre | Acting

18+

• Foundation [1 year intensive in Musical Theatre or Acting
• 3 year Diploma in Musical Theatre
• BA Hons degree in Musical Theatre or Acting for stage and screen

For more information: https://ppacademy.co.uk/

SLP College Leeds  

Dance | Musical Theatre

• Foundation 
• 3 Year Diploma in MT or Dance [validated by Trinity College London]
• 1 year post graduate course

This school offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) 

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.slpcollege.co.uk/

Tiffany Theatre College 

Dance | Musical Theatre

• 2 year Diploma in performing arts with a 3rd top up year in a chosen pathway [Commercial or MT]

Scholarships and fee assisted funding are available

For more information: https://www.tiffanytheatrecollege.co.uk/

The Hammond 

Drama |  Music |  Dance Pathways

11+ 16+ 18+

• Lower School [From year 7] 
• Upper School [2 A-levels and a Btec]
• 3 year Diploma in Dance or Musical Theatre 
• BA Hons in Musical Theatre

This school is a private school but offers Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs)  

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.thehammondschool.co.uk/

THE MGA Academy 

Dance | Acting | Musical Theatre

18+

• Foundation Dance for Commercial Performance, Musical Theatre or Acting
• BA Hons in Dance for Commercial Performance, Musical Theatre or Acting

This school offers Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) funding and Higher Education Student Loans.

This school is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

For more information: https://www.themgaacademy.com/

Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts   

Dance | Musical Theatre

16+ 18+

•  2 year BTEC 
• BA Hons Degree in Musical Theatre

For more information: https://wilkesacademy.co.uk/