Study Acting, why & how to study

Acting degrees equip you with performance skills ready for stage and screen. See what it’s like to study Acting and if a career in the field is for you.

CHOOSING A COURSE POSTGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE

Stephanie Butler 16 Feb 2024

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What’s Acting?

Acting degrees help you train for professional work within the performing arts industry. As a student, you’ll hone your performance skills, learn different techniques and explore creative ideas.

Courses often involve lots of focus on the stage, the screen, collaboration, rehearsal and textual analysis. They also include work with industry professionals and organisations.

You’ll cover areas like voice training, script analysis, character development and improvisation. There will be plenty of practical experiences and opportunities to build your portfolio and network.

Take a look at the Arts, Drama & Music institutions league table.

What Acting degrees can you study?

Acting degrees on offer in the UK are usually awarded with a BA (Bachelor of Arts). As well as straight Acting degree courses, options include:

Acting for Stage and Screen BA

You can tailor your studies for acting skills specific to theatre, film and TV. You'll learn different live and on-screen performance techniques, and develop skills, like auditioning.

Find Acting for Stage and Screen courses.

Acting and Performance BA

Performance courses may incorporate other performing arts, such as dance and physical theatre. Your work may be more experimental, where you'll explore influences and create your unique style.

Search for Acting and Performance courses.

Drama, Theatre and Acting BA

If you’re interested in dramatic production, you can focus your degree on the various elements of theatre. You’ll develop skills in areas such as playwriting, directing and staging effects.

Find Drama, Theatre and Acting courses.

Other options

Several options offer an integrated foundation year. This helps you to prepare for undergraduate-level study. Some universities might offer industry placements or study-abroad opportunities.

What do you need to get onto an Acting degree?

Most undergraduate Acting courses ask for around 48–120 UCAS points. Not every university will base an offer on UCAS points. Some courses may have lower or higher requirements.

A Levels: BBB–CC
BTECs: DMM–MMP
Scottish Highers: BBC–DD
International Baccalaureate: 32–25
Universities will usually ask for experience in performing arts, but this doesn’t have to be from school or college

Good subjects to have studied include:

Performing arts
Drama
Music
English literature
Theatre studies
Media studies
History

Experiences that would look good on your application:

Membership of an amateur theatre group
Watching and reading plays and performances
Acting classes
Volunteering backstage
Being an extra in a film or TV

Other requirements for this subject include:

Three GCSEs at grade C and above (or equivalent), ideally with one in an acting-related subject
You’ll usually be invited to an audition and show a portfolio

What topics does an Acting degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

Movement
Voice
Music and singing
Contextual studies
Theatre and culture
Composition
Ensemble practice
Accent and dialects
Audition technique
Acting for camera

How will you be assessed?

Depending on your modules, you could be assessed through:

Performances
Academic essays
Presentations
Workshops
Show reels
Voice reels
Literature reviews
Portfolios
Final-year dissertation

Why study Acting?

Courses often have partnerships with local theatres and work with successful actors, directors, playwrights and other industry professionals.

Career-specific skills:

Performance
Storytelling
Character creation
Speech and movement
Stamina
Set and design

Transferable skills:

Presentation
Teamwork
Time management
Self-awareness
Communication
Analysis
Research

Professional accreditations:

Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Acting?

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants to encourage diversity. It’s worth seeing if you're eligible, how to apply, and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

Read about university scholarships and bursaries.

What do Acting graduates earn?

When starting as a graduate actor, you can expect an entry-level salary of around £19,000, or £11 per hour.

The average salary for an actor in the UK is around £23,500. Salaries can be higher than £45,000 for those with lots of experience.

Read more on what graduates do and earn.

What jobs can you get as an Acting graduate?

Graduates go into different creative industries, including theatre, film, TV, radio and digital media. They work for organisations like the National Theatre, BBC, Royal Opera House, Amazon Prime and the West End.

Examples of roles that graduates go into: