NIDA Open

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) was founded in 1958 as Australia's first professional theatre training school, established by the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust (AETT) in partnership with the University of New South Wales. Teaching began in 1959 with the first graduating class of 23 students in 1960, and over its more than 65-year history NIDA has grown into one of the most prestigious performing arts institutions in the world — consistently ranked among the top drama schools globally alongside peers like RADA, Juilliard, and the Yale School of Drama. NIDA's alumni have collectively won approximately 1,000 awards including 8 Oscars, 9 Golden Globes, 10 Emmys, 48 Logies (Australian television awards), 18 BAFTAs, 5 Olivier Awards, and 5 Tony Awards — a concentration of international success that has been featured on CBS '60 Minutes' exploring why such a disproportionate amount of Hollywood talent comes from Australia. Notable alumni beyond Cate Blanchett (two-time Academy Award winner), Hugo Weaving ('The Matrix,' 'Lord of the Rings'), and Baz Luhrmann (director of 'Moulin Rouge,' 'The Great Gatsby') include Mel Gibson (1977 graduating class), Judy Davis (Emmy winner), Toni Collette ('Hereditary,' 'Knives Out'), Sarah Snook (Emmy winner for 'Succession' in 2024), and Sam Worthington ('Avatar' franchise).

NIDA Open is the school's short course and professional development division, offering over 900 courses annually across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as well as online delivery to students and professionals worldwide. Unlike NIDA's full-time Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree programs — which require competitive auditions, multi-year full-time commitment, and significantly higher fees — NIDA Open provides access to the institution's world-class training methodology through short courses, intensive studios, and residencies that range from single-day workshops to multi-week programs. NIDA Open serves students from age 2 (through Creative Play programs) through adult learners, with the adult professional development courses being the most relevant for actors seeking to train with NIDA without enrolling in a full degree program. The online offerings bring NIDA's craft-focused training approach to a global audience, maintaining interactive elements including live sessions, peer collaboration, and instructor feedback that distinguish them from passive pre-recorded content. In 2024, NIDA Open added new Essentials courses including self-tape technique and television commercial performance, reflecting the institution's responsiveness to evolving industry demands.

Getting started with NIDA Open involves browsing the course catalog on open.nida.edu.au and selecting from the range of available programs. Online short courses typically range from AUD $195 to $300 and can be enrolled in directly through the website without auditions or prerequisites — these are the most accessible entry point for international students who want to experience NIDA's training approach. More intensive Studio programs — such as the Singing and Acting Studio (AUD $3,225, audition-based) and the Actors Studio Extension (AUD $5,215, audition-based) — require an audition for admission and represent a deeper, more sustained training commitment that approaches the rigor of NIDA's full-time degree programs in a condensed format. A 10 percent discount is available for upfront payment on Studio courses. Courses are scheduled in both term-time and holiday periods, with summer courses (December through January in the Southern Hemisphere) particularly popular with international students. Online courses are delivered through live virtual sessions that maintain the interactive, feedback-driven approach that defines NIDA's educational philosophy, ensuring that remote students receive genuine instruction rather than merely observing pre-recorded content.

The NIDA Open educational experience is distinguished by the caliber of instruction and the institution's deeply refined training methodology, developed over more than six decades of producing world-class performers. Courses are taught by NIDA faculty and guest artists who bring extensive professional experience in the Australian and international entertainment industries — many instructors are working actors, directors, and designers who maintain active professional careers alongside their teaching. The curriculum reflects the same rigorous, craft-focused approach that defines NIDA's full-time degree programs, adapted to shorter formats that allow students to develop specific skills without the multi-year commitment of a BFA program. Acting courses cover screen acting technique, audition preparation (including the self-tape format that has become standard in Australian casting), voice and speech (including accent work for international markets), movement and physical performance, directing for actors, and dramatic writing — providing a comprehensive toolkit that addresses both artistic development and practical professional skills. The online format preserves NIDA's emphasis on experiential learning through live exercises, scene work, and immediate instructor feedback, creating a genuine studio experience rather than a lecture-based passive learning environment.

NIDA Open serves a diverse student body that includes aspiring performers exploring their interest in acting, working actors seeking to refine specific skills or expand their range, international students who want to train with a world-class institution without relocating to Australia, industry professionals from adjacent fields (directors, writers, producers) who want to deepen their understanding of performance, and returning learners who trained at NIDA decades ago and want to refresh or update their skills. The 2025 partnership with Australian International Film (AIF) to support Australian actors' Hollywood ambitions reflects NIDA's recognition that its graduates increasingly build international careers and need training that addresses global industry standards, not just the Australian market. Recent rising alumni including Remy Hii and Mia Healey demonstrate NIDA's continued relevance as a pipeline for international screen talent. The institution's Equity Subsidy, introduced in 2024, provides a 50 percent discount on NIDA Open courses for Equity members, alongside the existing First Nations Subsidy — these accessibility initiatives reflect NIDA's commitment to making world-class training available beyond the economically privileged students who can afford full tuition.

NIDA Open pricing varies by course format, duration, and intensity level. Online short courses — the most accessible option for international students — range from AUD $195 to $300 (approximately USD $125 to $195 at current exchange rates). In-person short courses at NIDA's Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane campuses are priced similarly. The intensive Studio programs represent a significant step up in both commitment and cost: the Singing and Acting Studio is AUD $3,225 and the Actors Studio Extension is AUD $5,215, with both requiring audition-based admission and offering a 10 percent discount for upfront payment. Shorter holiday workshops and specialized single-day courses may be available at lower price points. NIDA's Equity Subsidy provides a 50 percent discount for Equity members, and the First Nations Subsidy provides equivalent support for Indigenous Australian students. Compared to NIDA's full BFA programs (which involve multi-year tuition commitments), NIDA Open courses provide access to the same institutional quality and methodology at a fraction of the cost and time commitment, making them an accessible option for actors worldwide.

NIDA Open is an exceptional option for serious actors anywhere in the world who want to train with one of the most respected performing arts institutions on the planet without the commitment and relocation required by a full-time degree program. If you are an Australian actor, NIDA Open should be a cornerstone of your professional development — the institutional reputation, industry connections, and training quality are unmatched in the Australian market, and the Equity Subsidy makes courses remarkably affordable for union members. If you are an international actor curious about the Australian training approach that has produced so many globally successful performers, start with an online short course to experience NIDA's methodology before considering the more intensive and expensive Studio programs. Prioritize courses that include live interactive components over any pre-recorded content, as the real-time feedback and instructor interaction are where NIDA's educational value is most evident. If you are looking for comprehensive, ongoing online acting education rather than short-term workshops, a subscription platform like MasterClass or ActingStudioOnline may provide more sustained value, and NIDA Open can supplement with periodic intensive experiences that provide the institutional quality and pedigree that subscription platforms cannot match.

Check the NIDA Open catalog at the start of each term and holiday period, as new courses are added regularly and popular offerings can fill quickly — international students should pay particular attention to the Southern Hemisphere summer courses (December through January), which are specifically designed to accommodate global participants. Apply for the Equity Subsidy if you are an Equity member (Australian or international) before enrolling — the 50 percent discount makes NIDA courses among the most affordable world-class training options available anywhere. If you are considering the intensive Studio programs, request to speak with a NIDA Open advisor about audition preparation and program fit before investing the audition and travel costs — the advisors are genuinely helpful and will give honest assessments of whether the program is appropriate for your current level. Time zone planning is essential for online courses — calculate the Australian Eastern Standard Time equivalent of your local time to ensure you can attend live sessions comfortably, and communicate any scheduling constraints to the course coordinator before enrollment. Use NIDA Open courses strategically as concentrated skill-development experiences that punctuate your ongoing training rather than as a substitute for sustained local instruction — a NIDA online workshop every six to twelve months combined with regular local training creates an ideal balance of institutional quality and ongoing practice.