BA (Hons) Acting

The BA (Hons) Acting degree course at UCA Farnham is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the acting industry. The course focuses on practical training and performance-based learning, with collaborations with industry partners and networks.

Course Entry Options

BA (Hons): Our standard three-year undergraduate degree for those who meet the entry requirements for higher education.
BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year: A four-year degree program, including a foundation year to help develop your creativity before you embark on year one of a degree.
BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year: A four-year program, which sees you spend an entire year gaining valuable industry experience prior to your final year of study.
BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year: A five-year course, including a foundation year to help develop your creativity before you embark on year one of a degree, and a year on a professional placement gaining valuable industry experience prior to your final year of study.

Standard Requirements

112 UCAS tariff points
Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level
Four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

Foundation Year Requirements

32 UCAS tariff points
Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
Pass, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
32 new UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
24 points from the International Baccalaureate
Four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

What You'll Study

Integrated foundation year (if undertaken)
Year one:
- Acting, Voice & Movement
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Professional Practice
- 20th & 21st Century Theatre
- Screen Acting
- Individual Performance Project
Year two:
- Elizabethan & Jacobean Theatre
- The Conscious Practitioner
- Audio, Visual & Video Game Acting
- Writing, Producing & Directing
- Elective units (e.g., Physical Theatre, Acting Through Song, Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Music and Theatre, Film Production, Cinematography, Script Writing)
Year three:
- Live Performance
- Screen Performance
- Final Major Project – Practice as Research

Facilities & Equipment

On-campus performance space and study spaces for group working, tutorials, seminars, and technical workshops
Partnership with the Farnham Maltings and the larger performances are housed there

Career Opportunities

Industry links with the National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, British Film Institute, Spotlight, Equity UK, Farnham Maltings, and British Actors’ Equity
Career paths in theatre, TV, radio, film, corporate films, live role-play in business training, forming a company to create and stage your own work, commercials, voicing computer games and animations, creating original material for Image Capture projects, community projects such as theatre in schools

Fees & Financial Support

UK: £9,535 (BA course), £9,535 (Integrated Foundation Year)
EU: £9,535 (BA course), £9,535 (Integrated Foundation Year)
International: £16,950 (BA course), £17,500 (BA course with Professional Practice Year)
UCA scholarships and fee discounts available
Additional course costs for books, printing, project materials, and travel/accommodation during Professional Practice Year

Entry & Audition Requirements

UK applicants: In-person audition
International applicants: Online video audition
Requirements vary depending on the type of audition

English Language Requirements

Varying requirements depending on the country and type of qualification
Some countries' qualifications are accepted as proof of English language proficiency
IELTS test scores required for some countries and qualifications

International Students

Information for international students available on the UCA website
Country guides, English language support, entry requirements, and more

Study Abroad

Opportunities to study abroad at UCA partner universities
Information on study abroad options available on the UCA website

UCA Graduate Company

A tuition-free initiative for UCA graduates
Opportunity to further develop skills and continue journey into the creative industries

Specifications

Course information 2025/26 entry
Course information annex for Integrated Foundation Year 2025/26 entry
Student regulations

Gradshow

Online showcase of graduate work available on the UCA website

Staff

Charles Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Acting
Keir Burrows, Senior Lecturer in Acting
Annelies Lovell, Senior Lecturer in Acting
Andrew Pritchard, Programme Director in Performing Arts
Dr. Gabriela Curpan, Senior Lecturer in Acting
James Taylor-Mémé, Tutor Technician in Acting

Related Courses

Acting BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham
Composition for Screen BMus (Hons) at UCA Farnham
Design for Theatre & Screen BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham
Music & Sound Production BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham

Program Outline

Acting BA (Hons) - UCA Farnham

Degree Overview:

This practical and performance-based BA (Hons) degree provides students with the tools and training necessary to excel on stage, on screen, and in digital media. It features rigorous practical learning and collaborations with a wide range of industry partners and networks, including the National Theatre and British Film Institute. The course is accredited by Spotlight and Equity UK.

Outline:

This program focuses on developing skills through practical training. Students participate in workshops specializing in voice, movement, text, and character.

Year One:

Launch Week: Introduces studio etiquette, movement and voice work, and games leading to an informal presentation.
Acting Skills 1: Covers movement, voice, text and character, improvisation and devising.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Explores the role of equity, diversity, and inclusion in creative practice.
Screen Acting: Introduces the fundamentals of screen acting and film creation through a five-minute non-dialogue film project.
Opportunity - Stage Combat and Intimacy Co-ordination 1: Focuses on intimacy practices as part of stage combat training.
Approaches to Acting: Introduces the theoretical and practical approaches to creating a role, focusing on the Stanislavski system.
Professional Development 1: Introduces students to the world of marketing themselves as actors and performers.
Individual Performance Project: Combines the skills learned throughout the year in a live solo performance.
ATOM Activities and PLE Digital Outcome: Individual learning activities and a digital record reflecting on the learning journey through the first year.

Year Two:

Year 2 Launch Week: Continues to introduce studio etiquette and engagement in vocal workouts, energetic movement material, and drama games.
Staging Dissent: Explores the themes, subtexts, and metaphors within plays to interpret and translate intentions into performance.
The Conscious Practitioner: Prompts students to explore global perspectives and influences on creative practice and promotes values and attitudes to diversity and inclusion.
Acting Skills 2: Develops skills in screen acting, voice acting, scriptwriting, and social realist filmmaking.
Professional Development 2: Focuses on audition preparation and finding opportunities for work, with hands-on practice of audition techniques.
ATOM Activities: Continuation of individual learning activities.
PLE Digital Outcome: Building industry community and professional networking footprint with a digital evidence showcase.
Elective Units: Students choose two from a selection of specialized topics.

Year Three (optional Professional Practice Year):

Students may opt to complete a professional practice year within the creative industries to further develop their skills and CV.

Final Year:

Launch Week: Final year students assist new and Year 2 students in acclimation activities and bootcamp, learning to mentor new students.
Live Performance: Students work on a live staged performance directed by professional directors and senior staff.
Screen Performance: Students focus on film performance through scenes (and monologues) from commissioned or published screenplays.
Opportunity week - Professional Development 5: Intensive week of industry talks and networking opportunities, culminating in a one-on-one mentorship session for personalized career advice.
Final Major Project – Practice as Research: Students engage in sustained research on their chosen theme, exploring it through an essay, a performance project, and a viva voce.

Assessment:

Assessment will be continuous throughout the program. Methods will include:

Practical exercises and performances
Written assignments and essays
Oral presentations
Portfolios
Final Major Project

Teaching:

This program provides students with a hands-on learning experience, with regular practical workshops, individual project work, and opportunities to showcase work in performance and film projects. The program features dedicated staff with professional acting or directing experience and a network of industry professionals who contribute to the curriculum.

Careers:

This program prepares students for careers across theatre, TV, radio, film, and performance-related sectors. Careers may also include:

Acting in corporate films or live role-play
Forming companies for self-produced work
Casting for commercials
Voicing computer games and animations
Creating original material
Community projects and theatre in schools

Other:

This program is delivered at UCA Farnham and utilizes its state-of-the-art facilities, including recording, motion capture, and virtual production studios.
Partnerships with Farnham Maltings and other theatre venues offer students additional performance opportunities and exposure to live performance environments.
The UCA Graduate Company provides an audition-based opportunity for graduates to continue developing their skills and careers.
UCA offers various scholarships and fee discounts.

Note:

Fees may vary depending on home or international student status.
Entry requirements may vary depending on prior qualifications and international/home student status.

UK

Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
BA course: £9,250

EU

Integrated International Foundation Year: £9,250 (see fee discount information)
BA course: £9,250 (see fee discount information)

International

Integrated International Foundation Year: £16,950
BA course: £17,500