Overview

Gain the skills and confidence to perform across screens and stages as you enhance your ability to engage audiences through voice, movement, and innovative performance techniques on this BA (Hons) Acting course.

With an emphasis on practical learning, you’ll develop a unique acting approach across various mediums—from live performances to digital content creation. You'll have access to industry-standard facilities, from film, television, and theatre studios to motion capture and augmented reality, providing you with the ideal environment to refine your skills.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a diverse range of roles in film, television, theatre, games, and more, with the ability to bring a variety of stories to life.

Course highlights

Learn from experienced professionals and researchers and collaborate with your peers to create innovative and thought-provoking work
Gain a solid foundation in the fundamentals of Acting, including voice, movement, and devising
Perform in our flagship White Swan Studios and 1024�˹��'s Victorian theatre, New Theatre Royal
Develop your creative and critical thinking through a range of modules
Work on a major project in your third year that will showcase your skills and knowledge
Have the opportunity to perform your work in a public setting
Develop the skills you need to succeed in a range of careers in the creative industry

Top 30

for student satisfaction

(Times Higher Education, 2024)

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Acting entry requirements

Typical offers

A levels - BBC-BCC
UCAS points - 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.(calculate your UCAS points)
T-levels - Merit
BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DMM
International Baccalaureate - 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - .

Selection process

All applicants will be asked to attend an on-campus workshop and interview or provide a video submission.

English language requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Facilities

White Swan Building

Our drama and theatre hub was developed with 1024�˹��’s esteemed New Theatre Royal, with all you need for stage and performance productions: from rehearsal to final act.

Explore Building

New Theatre Royal

With integrated facilities bridging it and White Swan Building, New Theatre Royal is the space for drama, music, and theatre students to grow their talents in a professional environment.

Press & Media; 1024�˹�� locations; 15th July 2019

Discover the Theatre

Careers and opportunities

With this degree, you'll have the skills and knowledge to work as an actor across the creative industries.

You'll have the ability to contribute creatively critically and to meaningfully entertain audiences. You'll know how to act independently and within teams. You won't have to wait for the phone to ring, you'll be the one starting projects and making calls.

Graduate roles and destinations

You'll be able to audition for work as an actor on stage and screen, but also in immersive experiences, mixed reality, games, and more. You'll also be able to network and form relationships with other creatives to become an indispensable part of professional projects. Some students might seek further study in acting and related disciplines, such as teaching. Some may form their own companies to begin making work before graduation and be ready with examples of creative work to enter the industry.

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

What you'll study

Core modules

Making Theatre – 20 credits
Voice and the Actor – 20 credits
Movement for Performance – 20 credits
Devised Project – 20 credits
Performance and Society – 20 credits
Performance Criticism and Analysis – 20 credits

Core modules

Critical Contexts – 20 credits
Performance Histories – 20 credits

Optional modules

Advanced Scene Study – 20 credits
Advanced Scene Study: Musical Theatre – 20 credits
Musical Theatre Skills – 20 credits
Musical Theatre: Laboratory – 20 credits
Screen Acting and Production – 20 credits
Theatre Skills – 20 credits

Core modules

Applied Theatre for Young Audiences – 20 credits
Alternative Theatres – 20 credits
Theatre Studies and Industries – 20 credits
Major Academic Project – 20 credits

Optional modules

Applied Theatre: Workshop Skills – 20 credits
Musical Theatre: Special Topic – 20 credits

Boost your employability by taking an industry-based work placement year with a relevant organisation.

This is an amazing opportunity to put everything you’ve learned so far into action in a real workplace. We’ll help you find and secure an exciting placement opportunity within an appropriate company or organisation to help you boost your future career.

This is a Connected Degree

We're the only university that gives you the flexibility to choose when to take a work placement. Take it after your 2nd year, before returning to finish your studies. Or after your final year, connecting you into the workplace.

If you're not sure if or when to take your placement, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to settle into your studies and explore your options before making your choice.

Find out more about Connected Degrees

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

workshops
projects
collaborative work
lectures
seminars
collaborative work

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

practical productions
presentations
portfolios
written work
interviews

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all assessments so you can improve in the future.

Teaching staff

Staff who teach on this course include:

Dr Nik Wakefield

Senior Lecturer

Nik.Wakefield@port.ac.uk

PhD Supervisor

Dr Matt Smith

Reader in Applied Theatre and Puppetry

Matt.Smith@port.ac.uk

School of Architecture, Art and Design

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.

You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
understanding and using assignment feedback
managing your time and workload
revision and exam techniques

If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.

Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.

During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.

Support is available for skills including:

University study
Getting into the right study mindset
Note-taking and note-making skills
Referencing
Presentation skills
Time management, planning, and goal setting
Critical thinking
Avoiding plagiarism

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,535 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
EU students – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – (may be subject to annual increase)
International students – £17,200 a year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Apply

Ready to apply?

To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

the UCAS course code – W410
our institution code – P80

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our .

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the 1024�˹��, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.