Program Overview

Foundation Course in Acting - Foundation

Overview

This course allows you to learn the secrets of a successful audition, alongside voice, movement, dance and acting classes. The Foundation Course in Acting will give you a broad foundation in performance techniques and methods, and will be invaluable to anyone wanting to go to Drama School or take up a place on a performance course at University. It is also available to those who want to expand their experience in acting before applying. Former students have gone on to train at a variety of drama schools in the UK and in the USA.

Why Choose Us?

• A course aimed at committed and enthusiastic young people, who have a passion for acting and who want to improve their experience level.
• Studying on the foundation year will guarantee an audition for our BA Acting course at no extra cost.
• The University is the largest producer of creative professionals outside the South East.
• Former students have gone on to train at a variety of drama schools in the UK and in the USA.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• No previous qualifications are necessary.
• Applicants will need to complete an audition for this course; see audition arrangements below.

Audition arrangements

• Applicants will be required to successfully pass an initial and recall audition.
• For full details and advice about auditions and interviews, please visit the Acting Auditions and Interviews section of the Conservatoire website.

Mature students

• Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.

International qualifications

• EU / International students
  • Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.
  • In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: Foundation
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 20 weeks
• Fees: £7,000 in 2026/27

International students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: Foundation
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 20 weeks
• Fees: TBC

Course in Depth

Full time

• The 20-week full-time programme includes two terms of 10 weeks.
• The course is made up of a combination of classes, workshops and projects, in addition to external masterclasses and workshops.

Classes

• Acting Technique
  • These classes form an introduction to the application of the principles of character creation and application in performance.
• Acting Through Song
  • An introduction to the creation of character and performance in the medium of song through exploration of repertoire.
• Audition Preparation
  • Coaching on auditioning for drama schools and individual work on audition pieces in small groups.
• Improvisation
  • An opportunity to access the creative imagination and explore the uses of improvisation as a rehearsal and performance tool.
• Movement and Dance
  • Exploring the use of the body as a tool for the creation of character and the telling of dramatic stories.
• Singing
  • An introduction to the mechanics of the singing voice and individual work on solo songs in small groups.
• Stage combat
  • Work in both armed and unarmed combat for the stage.
• Text Analysis
  • An introduction to the analysis of a script to discover the dramatic relationships and character clues.
• Voice
  • An introduction to one of the actor’s most important tools, whilst developing the mechanics and safe use of the voice.

Projects

• You will also work on two projects per term – four in total across the 20 weeks – which usually include Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Improvised Storytelling and Modern Playwrights.

Workshops

• The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has the good fortune to be within easy reach of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• You may have the opportunity to visit Stratford and experience workshops with the RSC actors.
• We also attend The Globe Theatre as part of the course to undertake workshops, usually including work on the Globe’s stage.
• You will also undertake mock audition panels with industry professionals including agents and casting directors who also offer workshops.

External Visits

• The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is surrounded by a great variety of theatres and performance spaces; we may have the opportunity to visit several of these and examine the many performance styles offered by different spaces.
• Access to London and its empire of theatres is also extremely easy and visits may be organised to watch plays relevant to the work undertaken on the course.

Employability

• While many students will want to move on to train for careers in performance, the course offers a unique experience and transferable skills that will be useful in many walks of life.
• Some students have gone on to gain places at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to continue their training, while others have gone on to a host of other UK and American drama schools, including:
  • Bristol Old Vic
  • Guildford School of Acting (GSA)
  • East 15
  • Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
  • Rose Bruford
  • Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
  • LIPA
  • Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Theatre School)
  • ALRA
  • Oxford School of Drama
  • American Academy of Dramatic Art
  • Stella Adler

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

• Foundation Acting students are primarily based in the idyllic location of Bournville, south Birmingham, near to Cadbury World, Stirchley, and the student community in Selly Oak.
• Facilities include rehearsal and teaching spaces, a resource room with a range of plays, and a student common room.
• You will also have the opportunity to perform your final showcase at an external performance venue. This will vary each year dependant on availability.

Our staff

• Danièle Sanderson
  • Head of Undergraduate Studies (Acting); BA (Hons) Acting Course director
  • Danièle started life as a Drama student, training at the Drama Centre, London.
  • She followed her interest in the body and actor by training in Physical theatre both in London and in Paris.
  • After working for 10 years as a freelance actor and movement director, her interest turned to directing and she gained a Masters in Theatre Directing from...