The London Acting Program with London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts, offered in spring semesters for BU students in the College of Fine Arts, is held in conjunction with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), one of the leading drama schools in the English-speaking world. Students enroll in LAMDA coursework designed specifically for this program; field trips to Stratford-Upon-Avon and West End theaters complement the curriculum. Students take classes at LAMDA in Hammersmith, a short Tube ride from the BU’s housing and academic center.
BU Abroad: Treading the Boards in <span>London</span>
BU Abroad: Treading the Boards in <span>London</span>
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Open to Boston University CFA students only
- Open to juniors and seniors
- Admission requirements for all programs
Curriculum
The courses for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts are for College of Fine Arts (CFA) Boston University students only.
Course Details
- CFA TH 312 Voice and Speech/LAMDA (3 credits)
- Students will develop an understanding of vocal anatomy and physiology (with particular reference to the organs of speech), an understanding of the International Phonetic Alphabet and Cardinal Vowels, as well as analysis of their own accents. In addition, students will develop knowledge and practice of Stage Standard English (Received Pronunciation), release of unhelpful vocal tension, develop an understanding of clear articulation, and the ability to phonetically transcribe nonsense words.
- CFA TH 324 Acting Restoration/LAMDA (3)
- Students in these courses will develop a sustained focus in class work, rehearsals and scene showings, while learning to translate feelings and experience into characterization. Emphasis is placed on awareness of weight, space, and time with respect to character, as well as liberated imagination, to develop freedom to explore a character. Improvisation and short scene study develop awareness of different classical styles of playwriting, with research and presentation of different social relationships. Creating and sustaining characters and action in European and British plays, especially those of Molière, Restoration authors, Chekhov, and Shaw. Emphasis on organic interrelation of acting, speech, and movement. The actor explores deeply the demands made by form and content of each script.
- CFA TH 322 Acting Shakespeare/LAMDA (3)
- Students in these courses will develop a sustained focus in class work, rehearsals and scene showings, while learning to translate feelings and experience into characterization. Emphasis is placed on awareness of weight, space and time with respect to character, as well as liberated imagination, to develop freedom to explore a character. Improvisation and short scene study develop awareness of different classical styles of playwriting, with research and presentation of different social relationships.
- CFA TH 332 Movement/LAMDA (3)
- This course will help students develop group interaction skills, focus skills, physical strength, and posture, while encouraging disciplined skills in free movement and suspend and fall. Students will work on stretching, extending, and strengthening skills, as well as retention and attention to detail in movement and dance. Further training involves complicit play and understanding of rhythms, interpretive movement improvisation, basic stage combat, technical movement in relation to mime, and comedic character movements. It explores various styles of movement. Further works in Alexander techniques and improvisation supplement the teaching.
- CFA TH 338 Historic Dance/LAMDA (3)
- Utilizing the foundation of movement, students will develop an understanding of the dances and social background of the Elizabethan period and the 17th through 19th centuries with sessions devoted to Flamenco. Students will develop spatial awareness, period empathy with respect to the techniques, poise, and deportment, as well as achieving a recognition of poor posture, muscular tension, and release of energy and anxiety levels in a constructive way. Styles of dance including commedia dell'arte, court dance, and other period forms will be explored.
Housing & Student Services
Program Residences
- Accommodations for the Fall and Spring semester London Programs are residence hall style suites in BU’s own housing. Bedrooms consist of doubles, triples, and quads and all bedrooms come with an en suite bathroom. Please note housing for Fall and Spring programs in London may differ from housing provided during London Summer programs, where students are generally commuting to both their classes and internships.
- Limited single rooms may be available for an additional charge.
- Fully equipped kitchens are available within BU housing. Kitchens are shared between approximately 6-14 students.
- Board is not included in this program. Students are responsible for budgeting their own cost of meals.
- BU London does not have dining hall facilities, but there are ample grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities in the immediate areas surrounding the residences.
- All buildings are within walking distance to local transportation, including the London Tube and bus systems. Students commute to their internships using public transportation.
- Card-operated laundry facilities are located in the basements of all residences. Cost of laundry is not included in the program fee.
- Students have access to the BU London Library for research and printing purposes. For recreational and social activities, students may take advantage of the BU London Social Programme as well as the clubs and societies of Imperial College London.
- Wi-Fi is available throughout all the BU buildings.
Program Dates
- Spring Semester: early January to late April
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline October 1
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2024/2025 Tuition and Fees: $40,434 per semester
Cost includes tuition, housing, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available
