Acting
W410Join a lively community of like-minded people to explore the full breadth of acting skills from singing to stage fighting.
It’s a competitive industry so you’ll need to be up for the challenge, but over three years you will get to enrich your imagination, build resilience and consolidate your own working methodology. In short, you’ll develop the artistic skills to forge a successful career as an actor.
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Course overview
This is a highly vocational programme with a conservatoire-style intensity of focus. It is delivered by our talented teaching staff who have worked around the world as actors, directors, stage managers, and technicians.
The course combines elements of traditional actor training with specialist content in community and theatre-in-education work alongside outdoor and site-specific performance. So as well as mastering body, voice and movement skills you may find yourself performing in schools or at summer festivals.
You will work in a variety of genres and repertoires, from classical to contemporary, and take part in regular performances so that you graduate ready for professional life on the stage, screen and radio.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
On campus, Winchester
Course length
- 3 years full-time
Apply
W410
Typical offer
96-112 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Join a lively community of like-minded people to explore the full breadth of acting skills from singing to stage fighting
- Enjoy opportunities to act, direct and devise performance work across a broad range of contexts for stage and screen
- Gain core skills in communication and team building valued in a variety of employment contexts including the theatre, the creative industries, education and beyond
- Benefit from excellent working partnerships with local venues, festivals and theatre companies
Course details
There are excellent studio and training facilities on campus, including purpose-built rehearsal, movement and performance spaces. You’ll also have access to two HD TV studios with green screens, a computerised radio studio and film-making equipment. And you will receive excellent career development and support during your study, including preparation for agents, casting directors and auditions.
Our existing relationships with ‘Playing to the Crowd’ (Theatre Royal Winchester/Hat Fair), The Point Eastleigh, Anvil Arts and The Mayflower offer you a variety of production and professional engagement opportunities to enrich and enhance your experience.
Work Placements
Students have the opportunity to work in local venues or with graduate and associate companies. Student placements are also available in the fields of drama, theatre in education, and applied and community contexts.
Field Trips
We organise incursions and excursions to see performances; some tickets are free, other ticket costs are kept to a minimum. Sometimes travel costs to travel to theatre will need to be paid by the student.
Learning and Teaching
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 480 hours
Independent learning: 720 hours
YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 492 hours
Independent learning: 708 hours
YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6): TIMETABLED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITY*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 492 hours
Independent learning: 708 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)*:
36% coursework
0% written exams
64% practical exams
YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)*:
36% coursework
0% written exams
64% practical exams
YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)*:
63% coursework
0% written exams
37% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module will introduce students to a range of twentieth/twenty-first century ensemble and solo theatre forms of actor-training, through physical and vocal explorations of action and composition. Sessions will consist of a combination of workshops and occasional viewings of performance work. Students will be expected to engage with a range of set readings which offer context and critical analysis of the practices with which they will be engaging across various forms of actor training that will be undertaken in the workshops on the module. The workshops will take the form of different voice and body training practices, such as ensemble and solo forms of movement improvisation, usually aligned with the work of particular practitioners and will explore what is the practical research of the actor. Assessment for this module is primarily practical but will also involve a short reflective written piece.
This module aims to offer students the opportunity to explore and develop their vocal and physical apparatus and practice in order to develop a free, flexible, and healthy voice, capable of responding to the different demands of text and performance. Through an exploration of the relationship between Posture, Body, Breath and Voice, you will develop an understanding of the difference between the ‘developed’ voice and the ‘habitual’ voice. Students will explore the physiology of the voice, alignment, breath support, resonance, pitch and placement. Students will explore the ‘need’ for speech, impulse, and its relationship to our imagination and language. You will begin to explore the relationship between voice and text. Assessment for this module practical, at the end of the module there will be a short performance, and students will be expected to submit a reflective journal.
This module will introduce students to ways of exploring, classical and/or Early Modern drama texts in processes of rehearsal and performance. Students will engage in a series of workshops and practical classes that will cover the following according to the needs of the project in a given semester: movement; vocal work; improvisatory and devising strategies; character work. Students will also have lecture/seminar input on the plays being explored (which may be drawn from Ancient Greek Drama; Shakespearean Drama; Renaissance/Early Modern Tragedy in a given semester) and will be introduced to ways of reading/engaging with the plays in ways that are designed to support the actor in practical research and exploration processes in preparation for contemporary performance. Students will be given regular tasks to offer opportunities for creative problem solving in the rehearsal room and will be assessed through a group performance and process-portfolio of contextual and reflective materials.
This will introduce students to ways of exploring, a range of Modern(ist) Drama texts in a range of related production contexts, and then in processes of rehearsal and performance. Students will engage in a series of workshops and practical classes that will cover the following according to the needs of the project in a given semester: movement; vocal work; improvisatory and devising strategies; character work. Students will also have lecture/seminar input on the plays being explored (which may include contemporary adaptations of Modern Drama classics) and will be introduced to ways of reading/engaging with the plays in ways that are designed to support the actor in practical research and exploration processes in preparation for contemporary performance. Students will be given regular tasks to offer opportunities for creative problem solving in the rehearsal room and will be assessed through a group performance and process-portfolio of contextual and reflective materials.
Modules
In this module students will extend their range of experience of solo and ensemble theatre practices experienced at Level 4, with a further set of practical trainings for the actor. Through extended physical and vocal explorations of action and composition, practices might include object work; spatial dynamics; stillness; mask work; states of tension for example. In the second semester, students will engage with digital/recorded media forms, including acting for camera. Sessions will consist primarily of taught workshops. Students will be expected to engage with a range of set readings which offer context and critical analysis of the practices they will be exploring across various forms of performer training that will be undertaken in the workshops on the module. Assessment for this module is primarily practical but will also involve a short reflective written piece.
The module aims to deepen student’s awareness of vocal and physical practice. You will continue to develop a healthy, free and flexible voice, and deepen your awareness of your own apparatus, exploring vocal physiology, alignment, breath support, centring, pitch and placement. Students will further extend their ability to respond to various more complex and demanding texts, exploring the use of rhetoric, sentence structure, and the use of both poetic and epic language. Students will explore the demands of differing roles and characters, texts, exploring the relationship between breath and language, including contemporary and rhetorical speeches and monologues, and continue their work on accents and received pronunciation. Students will also be expected to keep a reflective journal throughout both semesters. At the end of the module, they will be expected to submit a short piece of writing that summarises their personal development throughout each semester.
This module will introduce students to performance and production in theatre-in-education and/or applied contexts, developing an area of acting that embraces these concerns. It will consider the ways in which a range of performance companies in the UK and beyond have extended the parameters of acting in performance through making participatory or educative work which attempts to reflect and engage with the concerns of a specific community of interest. Drawing upon the practices of contemporary performance makers in these related fields, this module will see students directed in a production or take part in a facilitated devising process for audiences with particular concerns. For instance, the module may involve developing a show that tours schools, or delivering a production that address the concerns of an identified community.
This module will introduce students to Contemporary Devised Performance, developing an area of acting that includes immersive and digital performance. It will consider the ways in which a range of performance companies in the UK and beyond have extended the parameters of acting in performance through making site-based work which attempts to immerse the spectator in the performance, and which draws on other artistic practice such as installation art as well as exploring the opportunities that working with digital technologies can bring.
Modules
This module is intended to provide students with the opportunity to plan and implement an individual piece of practice-research. Students will be required to submit a formative research proposal for consideration before moving to supervised learning. The outcomes of this individual research project will be a either a 4,000-5,000 word written document combined with a practice-research outcome, or a practice-research output (e.g. performance; series of workshops; playtext; performative presentation) with a negotiated artistic statement. By arrangement the student may also undertake work-based learning. The module is supported by a series of lectures covering practice-research methodologies, and theoretical methods in drama, theatre and performance. Performance skills alone are insufficient to pass this module.
This module prepares students for the demands of a career in a variety of media such as Theatre, Film, Television, Radio/Audio. It introduces students to the essential elements of working as a freelance professional and enables students to prepare for workshops and auditions across these media. It explores the needs of potential employers, casting directors and agents, and prepares you for work in recorded media (studio/location work). The module also assists students in planning and preparing for future employment and self-promotion.
This performance project is designed to engage students in an in-depth exploration of recent/contemporary British plays, in processes of rehearsal and performance. Over the course of the semester students will engage in a series of workshops and practical classes that will cover the following according to the needs of the project in a given semester: movement; vocal work; improvisatory and devising strategies; character work. Students will also have lecture/seminar input on the plays being explored and will engage in contextual research and dramaturgical analysis of the forms/styles/content of works in ways that are designed to support the actor in practical research and exploration processes in preparation for performance. Students will be given regular tasks to offer opportunities for creative problem solving in the rehearsal room and will be assessed through a group performance and process-portfolio of contextual and reflective materials.
Students will work, with a Director/Directors, on two plays for this final year performance project intended for a public audience, taking (as far as possible) a larger role in one production and a smaller role in the other. This module is designed to enable students to work, as closely as possible, in a manner commensurate with professional employment in the theatre industry. Students will work as collaborators in the rehearsal and production process in ways designed to enable them to synthesise and demonstrate the full range of practice-research, performance and evaluative practices studied/practised throughout their 3 years of study, in 2 full-length, fully realised theatre productions.
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: CCC-BBC from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: MMM-DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Pass (C or above on the core) in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on the UCAS website which may be of interest.
Interview and Audition
Suitable applicants will be invited to attend a group workshop, audition and interview.
Upcoming audition dates:
- 19 January 2024
- 31 January 2024
- 7 February 2024
- 21 February 2024
- 28 February 2024
- 13 March 2024
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Oxford ELLT, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2024 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Trips: We organise incursions and excursions to see performances; some tickets are free, other ticket costs are kept to a minimum. Sometimes travel costs to travel to theatre will need to be paid by the student. Indicative cost is £30.
Headshots: We will be able to organise a photographer for professional headshots in your third year for those ready to pursue professional practice. Indicative cost £100.
Study abroad: Students have the option to study a semester abroad in the USA in their second year of study. Indicative costs for flights is £900-£1,200.
Disclosure and Barring Service: A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check may be required if you undertake a placement, volunteering, research or other course related activity where you will have contact with children or vulnerable adults. The requirement for a DBS check will be confirmed by staff as part of the process to approve your placement, research or other activity. The indicative cost is £40.
Mandatory
Core Texts for productions will need to be purchased by students, and can be bought second hand which can often reduce this cost. Indicative cost £20 per year.
Disclosure and Barring Service: Students will need to pay for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) fee if they chose an optional module where they carry out work in a school or other community context. This will either be in the second or third year of study. Indicative costs is £40 per check.
Printing and Binding: The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates from BA (Hons) Acting will be suitably prepared to begin a career as a performer. They will also be able to work more broadly in theatre and educational contexts given the skills they will have acquired. Jobs such a learning and participation officers in local venues would also be appropriate. Graduates may choose to start their own theatre companies or work as practitioners, work in Theatre in Education (TIE), community drama, applied contexts. Graduates could also go on to work in arts development, teaching and the media. Students can also progress to a wider variety of career destinations building on their core skills in communication and team-building. The programme also provides a firm foundation for further training.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment and/or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, HESA.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
