Guildford School of Acting (GSA) at the University of Surrey is one of the most highly regarded theatre schools in the UK with a vibrant community of performers, performance makers, applied theatre practitioners, creative practitioners and technicians graduating from our wide variety of programmes each year.

Building on a 90-year heritage and our reputation as arguably the leading musical theatre school in the world, we are passionate about helping our students develop the practical, interpersonal and intellectual skills needed in today’s highly competitive and ever-evolving creative industry.

GSA offers world-class training at Foundation (CertHE), Undergraduate, and Postgraduate levels, delivered in our state-of-the-art facilities or via online distance learning. We also offer short courses, summer schools, and professional development programmes.

GSA operates a pedagogic approach that utilises student-centred, practice-based learning. Every module has an ethos of nurturing and enabling employability and personal development opportunities for the students. Our learning environment grants our students the freedom to take risks and embrace spontaneity.

We keep our cohorts small to ensure you get personal attention and contact from our expert teachers, who have extensive first-hand experience in professional theatre all over the world.

We are ranked 1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, and 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

96.4% of our students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA).

1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025

Best University Careers Service award winner at the National University Employability Awards 2022.