Short Courses FAQs

We offer courses for different ages and levels of experience. Each course page explains who the course is for, what it covers and any entry requirements. If you are new to a subject or returning after a break, look for Beginner, Level 1 or Introduction courses.

Many courses are open to all experience levels. Some advanced courses require an application, details of your experience or an audio or video recording. Check the course page before booking, and contact us if you are unsure which level would suit you.

The age range is shown on each course page. Participants under 18 can only join courses specifically advertised for their age group.

Our adult courses have no upper age limit. We welcome adults of different ages and backgrounds, although we cannot guarantee the age range of a particular group. Contact us if you would like to discuss whether a course would suit you.

All our courses are taught in English. To get the most from your course, you should be able to understand your tutor, follow instructions, and take part in discussions. If your course includes written work or more challenging reading materials, you will also need a confident level of reading and writing in English.

We recommend at least B2 English on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), broadly comparable to IELTS 6 or above. For courses that involve complex texts, such as Shakespeare, we recommend C1, broadly comparable to IELTS 7 or above. These are guides to suitability; we do not ask for proof of an English-language qualification.

The CEFR English self-assessment grid can help you assess your level. Translation assistance is not available. Contact us before booking if you are unsure whether your English is suitable for a particular course.

International participants are welcome to book our courses, provided they meet the age range and any entry requirements. Course fees are the same for UK and international participants and are shown on each course page.

If you plan to travel to the UK to attend a course, please read the International Travel section below before making any arrangements. You do not need UK immigration permission to take an online course from outside the UK.

Please note that international transaction fees may apply if payment is made in a different currency.

We aim to use dates that fall within common school holiday periods. School calendars vary, and room availability and other operational requirements can also affect the dates we can offer. Please check the published course dates against your own school calendar before booking.

Most courses can be booked directly through the Book Now link on the course page. Complete the booking form with the participant's details and make payment through our online booking system.

If a course requires the participants to make an application first, this will be explained on the course page, together with details of how to apply. Please follow the application process.

Once your payment is complete, you will receive an automated confirmation email. If it does not arrive, please check your junk or spam folder. If you are unsure whether your booking was successful, contact us before trying again. Joining information is sent separately before the course starts.

Online payments are made through a trusted third-party service. The data sent between the School and those payment service providers includes identification information, payment requirements and details of whether the transaction was successful. No financial information (debit/credit card details or bank details from your payment service provider account) is shared with Guildhall School. Please note, there may be extra charges when paying online, depending on the method of payment selected. Any charges are clearly displayed before completing your payment.

Please check the deadline on the individual course page. Deadlines vary, and courses that require an application may close earlier.

Places on directly bookable courses are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. A course may close before its advertised deadline if it reaches capacity, so early booking is advisable.

The course page shows the current booking status. If booking is open and places are available, you can use the Book Now link. When a course is full, the page will say so and provide a waiting-list option.

If booking has closed or you cannot see a booking link, check the information on the page. Contact us if the status is unclear.

If a course is full, you can join the waiting list through the course page. When a place becomes available, it is usually offered to people on the waiting list in order, although we may sometimes need to consider course requirements or other practical factors. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee a place.

If we are able to offer you a place, we will contact you by email with instructions on how to book and a deadline for accepting the offer and making payment. The time available to respond may vary depending on how close we are to the course start date.

Please check your inbox and junk or spam folder regularly. If you do not complete your booking by the deadline, we may offer the place to another person on the waiting list.

Yes, provided the dates and times do not clash. For courses with several levels, we recommend taking the levels in sequence. Contact us if you would like advice on combining courses.

Places are only confirmed once payment has been received. We cannot reserve or hold a place on a course without payment. Where an instalment option is available, the course page will explain the payment schedule and booking process.

Submitting an enquiry or starting a booking does not reserve a place. If you need to discuss payment arrangements, please contact us before the booking deadline.

Most courses require full payment at the time of booking. Instalment options are available for a limited booking period on selected summer schools, including Acting Summer School for Ages 18+, Acting Summer School for Ages 16–17 and Residential Drama Summer School for Ages 13–16.

Where offered, the fee is split into two equal payments of 50%. Check the course page for availability and payment dates, or contact us to find out more. All fees must be paid by the stated deadline and before the course starts.

We sometimes offer discounts on selected courses, including offers for returning participants moving from Level 1 to Level 2. We email eligible participants when an offer is available.

Offers have limited availability and must be used when you book. They cannot be applied retrospectively, shared with someone else, transferred to another course or combined with another discount. Please check the conditions and deadline in the offer; offers may be changed or withdrawn.

Participation Bursaries cover all or part of the course fee on selected courses. To be eligible, you must be aged 11–19 on the course start date, be UK-domiciled and have no previous experience of higher education.

You must also meet at least one of these criteria:

• You are in care or are a recent care leaver, as defined in the bursary guidance.
• Your household receives income-assessed benefits.
• You receive means-tested financial support at Junior Guildhall or a Guildhall Young Artists / Centre for Young Musicians centre.
• Your residual annual household income is below £33,000 for a full bursary, or between £33,000 and £46,000 for a half bursary. Half bursaries are available for in-person courses only.

Read the Participation Bursaries page and guidance for the full criteria, income calculation, evidence required and eligible courses. Applications for Spring and Summer 2026 have closed; the bursary page will carry information about future application rounds. You can contact the Access and Participation Team at access@gsmd.ac.uk.

If you seek funding from an employer, charity or another organisation, check directly that its scheme covers short, non-accredited courses. Funding advertised for degree study may not cover a Guildhall short course.

Yes. An employer, sponsor or another organisation can pay for your place, but the booking must be made in the name of the person who will attend the course.

If your employer or organisation requires an invoice, purchase order or another payment arrangement, please contact us before booking. We will explain the process and any relevant payment deadlines.

Please note that requesting an invoice or discussing payment arrangements does not reserve a place on a course.

Yes. You can purchase a course place as a gift. When booking, enter the details of the person who will attend the course and make the payment yourself. Before booking, please check that they meet any age range and entry requirements and are available on the published course dates.

If you would like the course to be a surprise, you can use your own email address when making the booking so that the confirmation is sent to you. Before the course starts, please email us with the participant's email address so that we can send them their joining information.

We need someone we can contact if an emergency affects you or your child during the course. Please provide current details and tell us if they change.

We use this information to check that the participant meets the course’s age requirements. If you are booking for someone else, enter their age or date of birth, rather than your own.

Email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk as soon as you decide to cancel. Include the participant’s name, course title and booking reference. Please send your cancellation in writing even if you have already spoken to us by phone.

The refund depends on when you booked, when you cancel and whether the course has started. Under the published cancellation terms for bookings made for personal use:

• If you cancel within the 14-calendar-day cancellation period after booking and the course has not started, you receive a full refund of the course fees.
• If the course starts during that period and you then cancel within the period, a proportionate amount for the part of the course already delivered may be deducted.
• After the cancellation period, cancellation at least 21 days before the course starts qualifies for a refund of the course fees paid, less a 25% cancellation charge.
• After the cancellation period, cancellation fewer than 21 days before the start, or after the course has started, will not normally qualify for a refund. This does not override the cancellation-period provisions or your statutory rights.

Please read the cancellation provisions in the Short Courses Terms and Conditions that apply to your booking. Nothing in these FAQs affects your statutory rights.

If we cancel your course, you can receive a full refund of the course fees paid or choose an alternative course, subject to availability. If the alternative costs less, we refund the difference; if it costs more, the additional fee is payable.

We aim to give at least seven calendar days’ notice of cancellation, although circumstances may require a later decision. If we need to change the tutor, timetable, dates or location, we will give as much notice as possible. If we cannot run a session, we will make reasonable efforts to reschedule it or make up the hours in the remaining sessions.

Contact us if a change affects your ability to attend. Please read the Short Courses Terms and Conditions for the full arrangements, including any accommodation booked through the School. The terms distinguish course-fee refunds from costs you have paid to other providers, such as travel and external accommodation. Your statutory rights are unaffected.

If we make a significant change that materially affects the nature of your course and you do not wish to accept it, you may choose to move to an alternative course, subject to availability, or cancel your booking and receive an appropriate refund that reflects the circumstances of the change.

Under our current terms, a participant cannot transfer their course fees to another course or a later course date. If you can no longer attend, contact us; the cancellation terms for your booking will apply.

This is separate from the option to move to an alternative course if Guildhall cancels your course or makes a significant change that materially affects its nature. See the answer above and the Short Courses Terms and Conditions.

No. Bookings are personal to the named participant and cannot be transferred to someone else without prior written permission from Guildhall Short Courses. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this.

Most in-person courses take place at our London campus, in the Silk Street or Milton Court buildings. We occasionally use other local venues. Your joining information will confirm where to register and attend.

Silk Street Building: Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DT.

Milton Court Building: Guildhall School of Music & Drama, 1 Milton Street, London EC2Y 9BH.

Residential courses may take place at a separate site. Always check the location on the course page before arranging travel.

Online courses can be joined remotely. The course page and joining information explain which platform you will use.

We send joining information by email one to two weeks before the course starts. It includes the location or online joining instructions, timings and any preparation required. This is separate from your automated booking confirmation.

Check the inbox and junk or spam folder for the email address used for the booking. If the course is less than a week away and you have not received the information, contact us with the participant’s name, course title and booking reference.

If we accept a booking within two working days of the start, the information may arrive later than usual. Contact us if you have not received a response with joining details within 24 hours of that late booking.

Check the “Do I need anything for the course?” section on the course page for equipment, materials, texts or other requirements. Most courses do not need advance preparation. Where preparation is required, we send details before the course starts.

Read your joining information carefully and follow any instructions about clothing, footwear, identification or consent forms. Contact us before the course if you are unsure about a requirement.

Email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk as early as possible with your name, course and the session you will miss or arrive late for. This allows us to update the register and let the tutor know. If you already know you will miss part of a course, speak to us before booking about its suitability.

Attendance is expected at the scheduled sessions. Missing a class does not entitle you to replacement tuition, a transfer or a refund. Any resources or catch-up options depend on the course; please ask us what is available. Online sessions are not routinely recorded.

Absence may also affect eligibility for a certificate of attendance. Watching a recording, where one is available, does not replace attendance for the certificate requirement.

Participants who attend at least 80% of the scheduled sessions receive a digital certificate of attendance after the course ends. The percentage is based on the number of sessions attended out of the total number of sessions. For example, on a six-session course you need to attend at least five sessions.

The certificate uses the participant’s name on the booking form and records the course and period of attendance. Please check the name when you book. If your certificate has not arrived after the course, check your junk folder and contact us.

A certificate of attendance confirms participation. It does not award a qualification, grade or assessed level of attainment, and our short courses do not involve formal assessment. If you want to use the course towards another institution’s study requirements, you must agree this with that institution.

Some courses have separate continuing professional development (CPD) accreditation, including Introduction to Arts Evaluation. Any CPD accreditation is stated on the course page. This is distinct from an academic qualification.

Most courses are non-residential: accommodation is not included and you will need to arrange your own stay. The Residential Drama Summer School for Ages 13–16 is an exception, with accommodation and teaching taking place outside of London. Check the relevant course page for exactly what the residential fee includes.

For courses at our London campus, there are hotels, hostels and B&Bs nearby and further afield with public transport connections. Our alternative accommodation guide lists options. These providers are independent of Guildhall School, and we do not supervise participants in independently booked accommodation.

Check the provider’s cancellation terms before booking accommodation. We recommend suitable travel insurance; check whether it covers your course fees, travel, accommodation and cancellation circumstances. Refunds of Guildhall course fees are governed by the Short Courses Terms and Conditions. See International travel below for healthcare and insurance guidance, and Accessibility, welfare and under-18s for supervision arrangements.

Meals are not included unless the course page says otherwise. Please arrange your own food; there are shops and cafés near the London campus.

Residential courses have separate catering arrangements. Check the residential course page for the meals included in the fee and how to tell us about dietary requirements. For under-18s, please also check the lunch arrangements and permission to leave the premises in the course information.

Some parts of the School are restricted to authorised participants, staff and students. Please follow staff instructions about access and do not enter restricted teaching or performance areas without permission.

Short Courses staff can help participants, including young people, reach their classrooms. Parents and guardians should use the registration, waiting and collection areas described in their course information.

Participants must not photograph, film, make audio recordings or livestream teaching sessions, rehearsals, workshops or other course activities without prior written permission from Guildhall Short Courses. This includes recording on mobile phones and during online sessions.

If recording forms part of the teaching activity, follow the tutor’s instructions and the consent arrangements set by the Short Courses Team. A course recording activity does not give permission to record other sessions or participants.

Any permitted photographs or recordings must be for personal, private and non-commercial use. They must not be published, shared online or otherwise distributed without the express consent of everyone featured, and any necessary permission from Guildhall Short Courses.

Ask the Short Courses Team first if you are unsure, particularly where children or young people would be included. These arrangements do not permit recording classes or end-of-course performances.

Audience members and participants must not photograph, film, livestream or make audio recordings of end-of-course concerts, performances or sharings unless expressly authorised by Guildhall Short Courses.

Where Guildhall makes a recording available, we will explain who can access it, how to view it and how long it will remain available. Recordings must not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed without permission.

Where a recording forms part of a course and is intended for distribution, written consent must be obtained from all participants before it is shared.

Course materials, recordings and other content provided as part of your course are for your own personal use, unless otherwise authorised by Guildhall Short Courses.

You must not reproduce, distribute or share course content, or another participant's personal information or creative work, without the necessary permission.

Course materials, recordings, photographs, performances, creative work and other content obtained through a course must not be used to train, develop, test or operate artificial intelligence or similar technologies without prior written permission from Guildhall Short Courses and any relevant rights holders.

To participate in online classes you will need the following:

• An email address
• A reliable internet connection
• A laptop/tablet/desktop computer with a microphone and camera (most have these included)
• Speakers/headphones (the speakers in your laptop/tablet/computer should be sufficient for most courses)
• A fully updated web browser able to use the most up to date version of Zoom, or a fully updated Zoom client

Some courses need additional software, materials, a set text, an external microphone or particular headphones. Check the course page before booking and test your equipment before the first session.

Online courses use platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Moodle. The course page explains which platforms are used, and access to these teaching platforms is free.

Courses include live teaching and may also use discussion forums or course resources. The combination depends on the course. These are live courses, so please plan to attend at the published times.

Use the Moodle link in your course information. Your username is the email address used to book the course. If you have forgotten your password, select “Forgot Password” below the login box and follow the reset instructions.

If you still cannot log in, email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk with the course title, the email address used for booking and a description or screenshot of the error. Do not send your password.

Check the joining instructions and use the latest link or login details we have sent. Check your internet connection, microphone and camera, and try closing and reopening the app or browser.

If you still cannot join, email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk with your name, course, session time and details of the problem. A screenshot of an error message can help; do not include passwords. If your course information gives a contact for support during the session, use that contact.

Our usual office hours are 9.30am–5pm UK time, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. We cannot guarantee an immediate reply outside those hours. Please test access in advance, particularly for evening courses. Support for personal equipment or internet problems is limited to the guidance provided with the course.

If your question is not covered here, or if a technical problem has caused you to miss a session, check your course information and contact us so we can discuss next steps.

Course times are given in UK local time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, GMT+1) in summer.

If you join from another country, check the local time for every session. The time difference may change during a course because countries change their clocks on different dates, or do not change them at all. See the UK clock-change dates.

Online sessions are not usually recorded. Where the course content calls for a recording, we tell participants in advance. Recordings made for reference are restricted to the course and are not shared outside it.

If we provide a recording for you to view, we will explain who can access it and for how long. Do not assume that a recording will be available if you miss a session. Viewing a recording does not count as live attendance for a certificate.

You must not record sessions yourself or share course recordings, links or resources with other people. Materials may only be downloaded where this is made available and permitted by the team, for your own personal, non-commercial use.

Our online classes are designed to be participated in live. It is important that our participants are able to engage with each other and the tutor.

If using a camera presents an access, health or other difficulty, tell us on the booking form or email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk to discuss what would help. You can contact us after booking if your circumstances change. During a session, you can message the tutor privately to explain that you need to switch your camera off.

Please ensure you have read through the PDFs you were sent ahead of the course, but if you don't see your issue addressed here, please contact us and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.

Please let the Short Courses Team know about any support needs or circumstances that may affect your attendance, participation, wellbeing or safety when you book, or as soon as possible afterwards. You are welcome to contact us before booking to discuss access to buildings, teaching spaces, online platforms or course activities.

We are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment and will consider reasonable adjustments where appropriate. We may contact you, or your parent or guardian where applicable, to discuss your requirements and understand how we can best support your participation.

Our courses are educational programmes and do not ordinarily provide specialist medical, therapeutic or one-to-one support unless this has been expressly agreed in advance.

Relevant information may be shared with tutors, Short Courses Assistants and other staff where reasonably necessary to support your participation, wellbeing or safety.

The Short Courses Team undertakes safeguarding training and holds enhanced DBS checks. The team includes qualified first aiders and mental health first aiders. Staff are available on site during course activity to help with welfare concerns, directions and general enquiries.

Participants receive safety and evacuation information at registration. Please follow staff instructions and the relevant code of conduct. Read the School’s Safeguarding Policy and the codes linked from our Short Courses Terms and Conditions page for further information.

If something concerns you, speak to a member of the Short Courses Team promptly. Under-18s and their parents or guardians receive further information before the course starts.

For non-residential courses, please follow the registration and collection times in the course information. Parents and guardians should make sure their child has registered with the Short Courses Team before leaving.

Tutors and course staff supervise scheduled activities. Short Courses Assistants are present on the School premises during breaks. The course information explains the lunch arrangements, where participants should remain and whether they have permission to leave the premises.

Parents and guardians complete consent forms before the course, including permission for their child to leave the premises unaccompanied. Participants who do not have this permission must sign in and out with the Short Courses Team each day.

Parents and guardians are responsible for travel and arrangements outside the supervised course day. We recommend that under-18s who travel to attend a non-residential course are accompanied by a responsible adult who can help if needed. Please arrange collection at the stated time and contact the team promptly if you are delayed.

Residential courses have separate arrangements for accommodation, evenings and other activities. These are explained in the residential joining information and code of conduct.

You can accompany your child to first-day registration and remain while they register. Staff will then take participants to their classroom or welcome briefing.

At the London campus, parents and guardians can wait in reception areas or in the Silk Street or Milton Court cafés when they are open. You may be asked to wear a visitor lanyard. Please do not enter restricted teaching spaces.

Collection is from the Silk Street reception area or the Milton Court box office area, as confirmed in the course information. Check the instructions for your child’s course, particularly if it uses another venue or is residential.

Short Courses Assistants are current Guildhall School students or recent graduates. They are DBS checked and receive safeguarding training.

Short Course Assistants support participants during the course and supervise them on the premises outside scheduled teaching activities, including breaks. They also help participants find their way around and can direct concerns to the Short Courses Team.

The wellbeing of all participants and staff is important to us. If you are feeling unwell, please consider whether attending the course is appropriate and whether you are able to participate safely and effectively.

Please contact the Short Courses Team at shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk to let us know if you are unable to attend, or if you have any questions.

If your child needs to reach you and cannot do so themselves, they should speak to the Short Courses Team. We will use the contact details on the booking form.

Please keep these details up to date. Email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk with your child’s name, course and the new contact information. For under-18s, please provide the parent or guardian contact numbers requested in the course documentation.

Speak to the Short Courses Team during your course, or email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk. Include your name, course and a brief explanation of the concern so we can look into it and discuss the next steps.

For an immediate welfare or safeguarding concern during an in-person course, tell a member of staff straight away. If you cannot discuss the matter with the tutor, you can contact the Short Courses Team directly.

The documents you need depend on your nationality, immigration status and travel plans. You may need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), while some travellers are exempt. An ETA is permission to travel; it is not a visa and does not guarantee entry.

Before booking travel, use the GOV.UK visa checker, read the ETA guidance and check the Standard Visitor rules for study. You are responsible for having permission that allows you to attend the course.

If you need confirmation of your course booking for a travel or visa application, contact the Short Courses Team to ask what documentation we can provide. Immigration decisions are made by the UK authorities. Further student guidance is available from UKCISA.

These requirements concern travel to the UK. They do not apply if you join an online course from another country.

We recommend appropriate travel and medical insurance for your visit. Check the policy’s cover and exclusions, including healthcare, cancellation, course fees, travel and accommodation.

Access to free NHS treatment in England depends on your circumstances and the treatment you need. Some services are free, while hospital treatment may be chargeable unless you qualify for an exemption or reciprocal healthcare arrangement.

Read the NHS guidance for visitors from abroad and check any arrangements with your home country before you travel. Reciprocal healthcare cover does not replace travel insurance.

No. We do not collect or drop off participants at airports or train stations. You must arrange travel to and from the course venue yourself.

For under-18s, parents or guardians must make suitable travel arrangements and follow the course’s arrival and collection instructions. Check the venue carefully: residential courses may take place outside London.