Acting and Performance - BA (Hons)
This two-year BA (Hons) in Acting course for entrants from college draws on QMU’s highly respected teaching expertise within the performing arts. The rich and varied curriculum will provide a distinctive actor training in the conservatoire tradition.
The course gives graduates the skills necessary to work as an actor, on stage or on screen. You can also apply these skills to a wide range of other roles in the performing arts. This could include playwriting, community outreach, and theatre in education. On this course you can select from a range of optional modules that complement your training as an actor and will enhance your future opportunities.
The course is an articulation route for students who have already achieved an HND in Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre or who have completed two years of an appropriate degree.
Why QMU?
- Long history of providing actor training: QMU has been training actors since 1971.
- Ranked highly in the UK:  There is 93.8% overall satisfaction with our BA (Hons) Drama (National Student Survey 2024).
- Professional links: QMU is a member of the 
- Modern approach to learning and teaching: Our course is tailored to a modern era with a 50:50 split of theatre and film training.
- Community of creativity: You will be part of a large performing arts department, studying alongside students on our Costume Design and Construction, Drama, Film and Media, and Theatre and Film courses.
- Staff expertise: Many of our staff are active theatre/film makers, writers, voice practitioners and movement specialists and bring that experience to our rehearsal rooms.
- Holistic approach to learning and teaching: As a teaching team we work collaboratively to create an integrated curriculum, incorporating health and wellbeing, to ensure we train healthy, rounded, versatile actors.
- High Ranking: In the National Student Survey 2024, QMU’s courses in the Drama subject category scored above benchmark in 25 out of 27 survey questions. For example, we scored 11.7% above benchmark in the question ‘how often is the course intellectually stimulating?’.
Acting and Performance Graduate Showcase film
Acting and Performance (BA Hons): The course in brief
On this course you will:
- focus on intensive stage and screen actor training with additional options that allow you to expand your skills to include areas such as community theatre, playwriting, directing, devising and creative entrepreneurship;
- experience practical and practice-led teaching methods to explore the ways in which the skills you already have can be developed and enhanced to embrace the demands of theatre, media and performance;
- deepen your knowledge of the fundamental skills of acting, voice, movement, textual analysis and interpretation, examining the ways in which they are deployed and synthesised to create character and performance, on stage, screen and in media work; and
- engage with current industry professionals and organisations.
How will I be taught?
Structure
This course enables you to convert an appropriate existing qualification into a degree and is equivalent to years three and four of an honours degree.
All students enrol onto the honours degree, but you can choose to exit with an ordinary degree after Year Three.
Teaching, learning and assessment
A large portion of your course will be delivered through skills-based workshops. You will have the opportunity to undertake student-led research projects, perform in professional standard productions, prepare a personal portfolio to support your career after graduation and showcase your work to industry professionals. You will be assessed through a range of performances, viva, workshops participation, reflective portfolios and reports.
Teaching staff, class sizes and timetables
You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.
For more information, please also visit ‘How we teach and how you’ll learn’.
What will I learn each year?
Year Three
You will:
- build an expressive set of voice and movement skills;
- explore characterisation and in-depth character development;
- discover the dynamics and performative structures of a wide range of contemporary and historical texts; and
- understand and develop a range of film and media techniques for acting in front of, and working behind, the camera.
Modules
- Advanced Acting: Skills
- Advanced Acting: Text and Techniques
- Advanced Acting: Screen and Media
Year Four
You will:
- create an audition portfolio and audition for a range of industry specialists;
- create a showreel and a voice reel;
- perform in a piece of live theatre and make a film;
- perform in both a live and digital showcase; and
- learn about the industry and how to market yourself within it.
Modules
- Professional Performance
- Theatre Performance Project
- Creative Enterprise in the Performing Arts
- plus options 
Options could include:
- Playwriting
- Writing for Radio
- Creativity with the Community
- Drama and Education
- Directing, Designing and Performing Shakespeare
- Directing, Designing and Performing
- Contemporary Plays
- ÌýDevised Physical Theatre
- Performance Art Practices
NB The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2024) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2025. Please check back here for any updates.
Careers
Successful completion of the course gives graduates the skills necessary to work as an actor or to apply these skills to a wide range of other roles in the performing arts such as playwriting, community outreach, and theatre in education. Many of our students go on to establish their own creative business.
You can read about the careers of some of our drama and performing arts graduates on a dedicated section of our website.
Acting and Performance - BA (Hons): Entry requirements and application information
Entry requirements
Direct Entry: HND Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre with A in the graded unit for the second year. Foundation degrees in appropriate subjects considered. Two years of a relevant degree considered.
±õ²Ô³Ù±ð°ù²Ô²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²¹±ô: IELTS of 6.5 with no element lower than 6.0
Auditions: Final selection will be based on an audition.
Other requirements
A satisfactory criminal records check from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme will be required if you select the optional module Drama in Education later in your studies.
Other costs
- The cost of the PVG check is the responsibility of the student. For more information on this, visit the
- You will be expected to cover some additional expenses for equipment etc (circa £500).
Disability/health conditions
If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.
Terms and Conditions
The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in ourÌý2025/26 Entry Terms and Conditions (Undergraduate).
The course information on this page is correct at the time of posting (Feb 2024) but may differ slightly for entry in 2025.
Awarding body
QMU
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