Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in profile
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a university. Profile, courses, entry and funding at a glance.
About RADA
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is a university, founded in 1904.
It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so its degrees are nationally recognised. It holds a Gold award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. It is based in 62-64, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6ED.
Numbers & facts
The key facts about RADA at a glance.
Entry is by audition or portfolio
Places at RADA are decided by audition or portfolio as well as your qualifications. Apply through UCAS Conservatoires or directly, and expect earlier deadlines than a typical university.
Applying from school or college
Alongside your audition or portfolio, RADA will look at your academic qualifications. Preparation and practice matter as much as grades. Check the specific requirements for your discipline early.
Applying from outside the UK
International applicants audition for RADA too, often by recorded video or online, with an English-language qualification and international fee status.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Programmes at RADA
2 programmes at RADA. Search live or filter by subject, level and study mode:
| Course | Award | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Acting | BA (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Technical Theatre and Stage Management | FDA | Business & Management |
No course found. Browse courses at every UK university.
Complete programme list for RADA; full-time, part-time and delivery variants are grouped (2 programmes, 2026).
Campus & locations
RADA is a campus-based university in London.
Teaching runs on campus: lectures, seminars and labs alongside libraries and study spaces, with a student community of societies, sport and events around them. The day-to-day exchange with tutors and coursemates is a big part of the experience.
Typical campus facilities; the university’s own pages are authoritative.
Students & campus life
Who you’d study alongside at RADA in London. The student body in numbers, from official HESA data.
Ethnicity of UK-domiciled students (HESA); international students not shown here.
Is RADA right for you?
A particularly good fit if you …
- want a recognised UK degree with student finance eligibility
- like the idea of student life in London
- prefer campus teaching with societies, sport and people around you
Less suitable if …
you need a fully flexible, distance-learning degree alongside a job. Check whether the individual programme offers online or part-time study.
For parents
The questions parents ask most about RADA, answered briefly.
A recognised UK degree
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art awards its own degrees and is regulated in the UK higher-education framework. Its degrees are nationally recognised and a basis for postgraduate study.
Regulated fees & student finance
For eligible undergraduate courses at English providers, the 2026/27 standard cap is up to £9,790 a year. If you normally live in England, eligible tuition and maintenance loans can cover costs up front; repayment starts only above the income threshold.
Independently quality-assessed
Teaching quality holds a Gold award in the Office for Students’ TEF, an independent national assessment of teaching, learning and student outcomes.
Support from day one
Personal tutors, wellbeing and careers services accompany students from enrolment to graduation.
Career prospects
Graduate outcomes are tracked in the national Graduate Outcomes survey. Every course page here shows real earnings and employment data where available.
Structure & campus life
A fixed term rhythm in London with in-person teaching, exchange and campus life gives structure and motivation.
Accreditation & recognition
How to read RADA’s formal standing, the seals and what they mean:
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art awards its own degrees, which are accepted nationally and are the basis for Master’s and doctoral study.
Independent national assessment by the Office for Students of teaching, the learning environment and student outcomes (TEF 2023).
Courses at recognised providers may qualify for tuition and maintenance support; eligibility depends on the student, course and home-nation system.
Admissions & entry routes
Fees & funding
For eligible undergraduate courses at English providers, the 2026/27 standard cap is up to £9,790 a year. Eligible students who normally live in England can apply for student finance; students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence body. Check the course page for the exact fee. The main routes:
Tuition Fee Loan
Eligibility and the maximum depend on ordinary residence, course and provider nation; paid directly to the university when awarded.
Maintenance Loan
Helps with living costs; the amount depends on household income and where you study.
Scholarships & bursaries
University-specific awards for grades, subjects or circumstances. Check the university’s funding pages.
Repayment
Starts the April after graduation, only above the income threshold, and is written off at the end of the plan term.
Tuition fees vary by course and fee status (Home vs International). Please check the university's own course page.
Frequently asked questions about RADA
Is RADA officially recognised?
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What can I study at RADA?
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