Hollywood’s global influence often makes the acting industry seem centred in the U.S., which can discourage aspiring actors elsewhere. However, Australia boasts several prestigious acting schools that deserve recognition, offering high-quality training for those passionate about the craft.
Whether you're just starting or already pursuing an acting career, Australia has top programs that can help you succeed as a professional actor. Let's explore the best options available to jumpstart your journey in the performing arts.
The Best Performing Arts Universities in Australia
Discover your love of acting, earn an education that states your credentials, build your network of distinguished professionals and batchmates, and get exposure when you attend an acting program at a University in Australia!
| School | Location | Offers | Notable People |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) | Kensington, NSW | BFA (Acting) Short courses for kids, teens, and adults | Alumni: Cate Blanchett, Susie Porter, Hugo Weaving |
| The Victorian College of The Arts (VCA) | Melbourne, VIC | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy) | Alumni: Alison Bell, Geoff Paine, Jonny Pasvolsky |
| Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | Brisbane, QLD | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) | Alumni: Conrad Coleby, Gyton James Grantley, Deborah Mailman |
| Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) | Perth, WA | Bachelor of Arts (Acting) Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) Bachelor of Performing Arts Diploma of Acting Diploma of Musical Theatre Diploma of Screen Performance Certificate IV in Aboriginal Performance | Alumni: Hugh Jackman, Jai Courtney, Heath Ledger, Frances O’Connor |
| Actors Centre Australia (ACA | Leichhardt/Sydney, NSW | Bachelor of Performing Arts (Stage and Screen) 20-week Accessible Acting Program | Alumni: Hugh Jackman, Jason Clarke, Ursula Brooks |
| Sydney Drama School | Sydney, NSW | Workshop-style classes Courses | Current Teachers: Andy (Andrew) Ryan and Gabriella Maselli McGrail |
| JMC Academy | Melbourne, VIC Sydney, NSW Brisbane, QLD | Diploma in Creative Arts (Acting) Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) with Specialisation in Music Theatre High school workshops Short courses | Alumni: Mel Jarnson, Fayssal Bazzi, Deborah An, Alec Ebert. |
| National Drama School | Kilda, VIC | Advanced Diploma of Acting Foundations In Acting course Short courses for kids, teens, and adults | Alumni: Geraldine Quinn, William Ewing, Keith Brockett |
| Australian Theatre for Young People | Dawes Point/Sydney, NSW | Workshops Youth theatre productions Weekly drama classes Work experience | Staff: George Kemp, Jacqui Cowell |
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
NIDA, a renowned Australian institution for acting and performance arts, has been based in NSW since 1958. It offers various Fine Arts degrees, such as a BFA in Acting, along with short courses for children, teens, and young adults.
Some famous alumni actors from NIDA include Cate Blanchett, Susie Porter, and Hugo Weaving.
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
WAAPA offers a variety of Bachelor programs and certificate courses in acting and performance art-related subjects.
Pursue a Bachelor of Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Performing Arts, Diploma of Acting, Diploma of Musical Theatre, Diploma of Screen Performance and/or Certificate IV in Aboriginal Performance.
Notable alumni from WAAPA include Hugh Jackman, Jai Courtney, Heath Ledger, Frances O’Connor.
University of Melbourne - The Victorian College of The Arts (VCA)
VCA offers degrees like a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), and even a Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy). You can also pursue single-subject study, breadth subjects, and short courses for more experience and education.
Notable alumni from VCA include Alison Bell, Geoff Paine, and Jonny Pasvolsky.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
QUT offers a highly regarded Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) degree which offers students superb facilities and small groups to train with - making it an ideal and less daunting learning environment for those looking to improve their acting techniques over time. Notable alumni include Conrad Coleby, Gyton James Grantley, and Deborah Mailman.
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The Best Acting Schools in Australia
If you want to take a shorter course, you can seek out enrolment at an acting school instead of a university. Many actors go on to have successful careers without a degree, so if you feel the calling and have the chops, getting some formal education and direction from a certification program can be all you need to forge ahead into the world of professional acting.
Actors Centre Australia (ACA)
The ACA offers both a three-year Bachelor of Performing Arts (Stage and Screen) degree and a 20-week Accessible Acting Program. The Accessible Acting Program is a great choice for people who don’t have the time and money to dedicate three years to education! Notable alumni of the ACA include Hugh Jackman, Jason Clarke, and Ursula Brooks.
Sydney Drama School
Learn with experienced acting instructors in weeks-long courses with small class sizes at the Sydney Drama School. Current classes are being taught by actors Andy (Andrew) Ryan and Gabriella Maselli McGrail.
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JMC Academy
JMC offers a Diploma in Creative Arts (Acting), a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) with Specialisation in Music Theatre. They also have high school workshops and short courses to explore. Notable alumni include Mel Jarnson, Fayssal Bazzi, Deborah An, and Alec Ebert.
National Drama School
Located within the National Theatre Complex in Melbourne, the National Drama School (formerly the National Theatre Drama School) is Australia’s oldest training school for actors. There are a few options for education here, including the Advanced Diploma of Acting and the Foundations In Acting course. Workshops and classes for children, teens, and adults are also available. Notable alumni include Geraldine Quinn, William Ewing, and Keith Brockett.
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
Aimed at school-aged kids and teens, ATYP offers a wide variety of classes, workshops, and even work experience for those interested in theatre and drama. Participate in weekly classes or become part of the cast for a youth production at this foundation dedicated to bringing the performing arts to kids!
Study Acting Across the Globe
If you want to broaden your horizons (literally) by studying in other countries, especially those with thriving global theatre presence, check out the best schools for acting in the world.
The Juilliard School
Location: New York, NY
Alumni: Robin Williams, Adam Driver, Viola Davis, Alan Tudyk
Yale University - David Geffen School of Drama
Location: New Haven, CT
Alumni: David Ackroyd, Mamoudou Athie, Angela Bassett, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o
New York University (NYU) - Tisch School of the Arts
Location: New York, NY
Alumni: Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin
American Conservatory Theater (ACT)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Alumni: Denzel Washington, Nicholas Cage, Annette Benning
Cours Florent
Location: Paris, France
Montpellier, France
Bruxelles, France
Bordeaux, France
Alumni: Isabelle Adjani, Gad Elmaleh, Pierre Niney, Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet, Audrey Tautou
Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd)
Location: Chiswick, London, England, UK
Alumni: YungBlud, Lashana Lynch, Omari Douglas
Italia Conti
Location: Surrey, England, UK
Alumni: Layton Williams, Naomi Campbell, Sir Noel Coward
London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
Location: London, England, UK
Alumni: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brian Cox
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA)
Location: London, England, UK
Alumni: Ralph Fiennes, Jessie Buckley, Ben Wishaw, Kenneth Brannagh, Gemma Arterton
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Alumni: Ncuti Gatwa, Billy Boyd, Colin Firth
Waterfront Theatre School
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Alumni: Angela Killian, Nadine Suliaman, Dominique Maher
École Philippe Gaulier
Location: Etampes, Paris, France
Alumni: Sacha Baron Cohen, Emma Thompson, Mark Feuerstein
| Name of School | Location | Famous Alumni |
|---|---|---|
| The Juilliard School | New York | Kevin Spacey |
| Tisch School of the Arts | New York | Felicity Huffman,Alec Baldwin |
| Yale School of Drama | New Haven, Connecticut | Meryl Streep, Paul Newman |
| American Conservatory Theatre | San Francisco | Nicolas Cage |
| London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts | London | Donald Sutherland, John Lithgow, Jim Broadbent, Swoosie Kurtz and Brian Cox |
| Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts | London | Anthony Hopkins, Mike Leigh, Peter O’Toole |
| National Institute of Dramatic Arts | Kensington, Australia | Baz Luhrmann, Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Judy Davis |
| Cours Florent | Paris | Guillaume Canet, Daniel Auteuil, Isabelle Adjani |
| Royal School for Performing Arts | Madrid | Monica Cruz |
| National School of Drama | India | Priyanka Chopra |
| Waterfront Theatre School | Cape Town | Roxanne Hayward |
Why Should I Study Drama?
Going through a proper university course is a fantastic opportunity for you to develop your performance abilities. It will really push you as a student to get familiar with performance as an experience. You will find out what talents you ought to focus on, develop your artistic personality and sharpen your acting style thanks to expert mentoring.
Studying Performing Arts will enable you to enhance your natural talents as well as develop new ones. Teachers will often tell you that a successful career in acting requires equal parts talent and practice with a bit of luck thrown in.
What should be said is that not every famous actor goes to drama school, so you don't have to go to drama school to be a famous actor (however it certainly does help).
And it's not just the training. Drama schools give you the contacts, the exposure, and the experience to get you to where you want to be. For example, talent agents often attend final performances looking for promising rising graduates. It's very difficult to get this opportunity by yourself.
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How to Begin Studying Drama
From community colleges to performing arts schools to four-year universities, there are numerous educational paths for prospective actors.
In Primary and Secondary School
Some children are naturally drawn to acting. Parents can help their child explore this interest, perhaps developing it into a lifelong pursuit, by getting their child involved in school and community theatre. Most schools from kindergarten through Year 12 have a drama club that will host auditions, arrange practices and rehearsals, and put on a fun show at least once or twice per year.
The Australian Education Curriculum includes 3 subjects regarding Performing Arts Education: Dance, Drama, and Music. Classes relating to these subjects are typically available from Foundation to Year 12. If it fits into your schooling schedule, you can elect classes relating to acting to get a taste of the art!
Acting classes and clubs are a great way to find out a little bit about what it’s like to prepare for auditions, memorise lines, and understand more about acting as a whole. It can be a fun hobby for a short time, or it can inspire you and give you a foundation for more serious acting studies.
In University
Although a university education is certainly not mandatory to succeed as a professional actor or actress, it does boost one’s chances to stand out in a very competitive world. Classes will not only improve skills but will help aspiring actors understand what happens behind the scenes, such as contracts and business dealings.
Moreover, acting classes Melbourne might include theatre history, acting methodology, stage production, dance, music and the like. Graduate university productions sometimes give aspiring actors a chance to be seen by agents and producers who may be looking for promising new talents.
While it's helpful to pursue and obtain a degree or certification from an Acting School, technically, you don't need it in order to become a famous and successful actor!
Acting and Performing Arts Schools
Dedicated acting schools are designed exclusively to teach aspiring actors. Students work closely with experienced actors, theatre directors, and producers whose role is to show the ropes and skills students need to find or have to stand out during casting calls.
Performing arts schools are perfect if you already know you want to work in the performing arts, yet haven’t quite decided how. You will be able to choose between classes designed for actors, dancers, choreographers, singers, comedians and more.
Community Colleges
Some community colleges and trade schools offer associate degrees or certificates in theatre, drama and other performing arts fields.
Ready to start gearing up for your auditions for an acting program? You can seek out assistance from a professional acting coach or acting tutor to help you prepare your lines and nail your audition right here on Superprof!
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