Acting BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
HNC/HND courses
Three actors on stage, the centre one in a dramatic stance, the other two smiling on either side in the background

The BA (Hons) Acting degree, in partnership with the world-famous Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, aims to produce proactive professional actors.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 year - Degree
2 year - HND
1 year - HNC

Course code

W410 / W412 / W141

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Contact us

The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

The Stephen Joseph Theatre (SJT) is a professional producing theatre, was Britain’s first theatre in the round, and has premiered over 80 of the plays of acclaimed playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

In this unique partnership, CU Scarborough students will work with SJT professionals at points throughout the programme - including mentoring, observation of professional rehearsals, and participation onstage in a professionally-directed piece for theatre.

Students completing the course will leave with a full suite of skills, experiences and contacts that will allow them to be fully industry-ready.

Why CU Scarborough

We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and most of our courses cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.

Partnerships

This course is delivered in partnership with the following bodies.

SJT logo

Stephen Joseph Theatre

The Stephen Joseph Theatre offers a unique, intimate experience in their renowned theatre-in-the-round as well as the more traditional end-on McCarthy theatre and cinema. Home to first-class drama, music, films, comedy and live streaming, the SJT are known for their commitment to new writing, including Alan Ayckbourn’s 80+ world premieres. In this unique partnership, students will work with SJT professionals at points throughout the programme - including mentoring, observation of professional rehearsals, and participation onstage in a professionally-directed piece for theatre.

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What you'll study

The course is dedicated to making acting an accessible and rewarding occupation for all, regardless of background.

Over the three years, you will acquire a secure grounding in the skills needed to replicate human behaviour at a realistic level, insight into research-informed performance versatility, and a familiarity with recorded media.

Upon graduation, you should have a comprehensive portfolio of experience and knowledge, enabling you to be ‘industry-ready’ at a high level.

Within the first year, you'll learn in turn to move, speak, plan and then perform. At this stage the course aims to give a practical grounding in physical movement and in the use of an actor’s voice, both drawing upon the work of influential practitioner Rudolf Laban. You will gain a foundational understanding of your personal methods and styles of communication, helping to locate yourself as an expressive human. Students who complete year one are awarded a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Acting.

Modules

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

In the second year, the course broadens to include training as a facilitator working in a range of settings, and also expands to include acting for recorded media. Performance project work covers different venues and students will encounter a variety of audiences. At this stage you will develop more sophisticated story-telling skills and will be able to draw on your deepening awareness of communication skills to become more versatile as a performer. The second year will culminate in a performance at the SJT. Students who complete year two are eligible for a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Acting.

Modules

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

In the final year you will explore contemporary contexts of performance, creating work for public presentation and working on a project as a producing theatre company, creating a public performance to test your ability to manage your own learning. You'll create online professional profiles and explore issues related to self-employment. The course will culminate in a graduation showcase for invited industry professionals. You will be able to synthesise theoretical aspects of acting with practical work, ensuring you can graduate with a command of skills at a professional level while recognising the need to continue developing as an actor throughout your career. Students who complete year three are awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Acting.

Modules

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

  • Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of a working environment.

You can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and include, practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block.

Course Breakdown:

  • Coursework
  • Presentations

Job ready

On completion, you should be able to:

  • Understand your personal methods and styles of communication, and apply them to the process of acting.
  • Effectively market yourself as a professional in a versatile range of contexts including commercial live theatre, recorded media, and educational and community settings.
  • Understand research-informed performance versatility, and a familiarity with recorded media.
  • Apply a comprehensive portfolio of experiences and knowledge, enabling you to be industry-ready at a high level.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Acting Higher National Certificate (HNC)

64 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents).

Acting Higher National Diploma (HND)

80 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents).

Acting BA (Hons) Degree

104 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents). All courses require at least two A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

The Audition Process

This will be a physical audition at one of the CU campuses in Scarborough, London or Coventry. You will not be charged to audition, but you will be required to cover your own travel costs.

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Are you eligible for the CU Support Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background.

CU Support Scheme

Acting Higher National Certificate (HNC)

64 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents).

Acting Higher National Diploma (HND)

80 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents).

Acting BA (Hons) Degree

104 UCAS tariff points. All courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English (or level 2 equivalents). All courses require at least two A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

The Audition Process

This will be a physical audition at one of the CU campuses in Scarborough, London or Coventry. You will not be charged to audition, but you will be required to cover your own travel costs.

CU Scarborough welcomes international students from all around the globe. If you are an international student and are interested in applying for a Foundation Year, HNC or Degree course you can do so by completing our online application form.

Once your application form has been processed you will receive the outcome of your application via your given email address.
Please be aware you will need the following information in order to make your application:

  • All academic transcripts
  • Copies of degree/diploma certificates or work reference if employed
  • One academic reference
  • Be trained to English language proficiency level IELTS 6.0 and no less than 5.5 in each component
  • Your personal statement
  • Copy of your current passport

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Fees and funding

We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £7,950 per year Not available
International £18,300 per year Not available

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

We’ve spent £14 million on a brand new campus building. It’s a purpose-built, state of-the-art development that is one of the most modern facilities in the UK.

It includes a library, IT suites, mock law court, engineering and science labs, cafe and lots of individual and group study spaces. Next to us is Scarborough’s new leisure village. The complex includes an Olympic legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all weather pitches and the new Scarborough Athletic football ground.

Careers and opportunities

The collaboration with the SJT ensures that employability is embedded from the outset and exposure to creatives and industry professionals will facilitate high-level networking, enhancing professional opportunities and prospects following completion of the degree.

The course provides skills training in the art of acting and the business of acting, in a versatile range of contexts including commercial live theatre, recorded media, and educational and community settings. From a business perspective students will be introduced to business concepts including marketing, budgeting and entrepreneurship, in order to ensure that graduates are able to market themselves as professionals.

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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