Places available for this September. Apply online or call 0330 123 2023.

Head and shoulders shot of three Acting students

BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen

UCAS CODE: ACT1 (Full-time) or ACT4 (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2023 and September 2024

You can also study this course:

Limited places are still available for this September. Call 0330 123 2023 or apply online.

If you’re looking to break into acting, this degree is an excellent launch pad. You’ll get to fine-tune and extend your acting skills, working on live briefs, networking with industry creatives, and taking part in diverse projects.

Unlike many acting degrees that focus primarily on the theatre, this course covers on-screen acting, too. With a lot of acting work coming from on-screen avenues, we’ll get you ready to capitalise on film, TV and online opportunities as well.

An award icon with a star in the middle.
No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
A trophy icon with a star in the middle of it.
No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
Pound symbol inside of a house icon
Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
A star sitting on top of a laptop in an icon drawing.
5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
A handshake icon.
Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Award 2023
Student filming for Humans in acting course
male student acting in humans show

Why study this subject?

Film, TV and theatre is a global industry with a rich history in entertainment and innovation. At BNU you’ll discover the skills and knowledge you’ll need to bring scripts to life to audiences worldwide. Whether you dream of being on the stage or in front of the camera, we will teach you the transferable skills you’ll need to be a successful acting professional.

Student performance

This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme. 

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

With a track-record of producing industry-ready alumni, BNU is the perfect place for you to kick-start your career.

As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the university with other courses, ensuring during your studies you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world. Previous joint projects have seen acting students working with film and TV production, creative advertising, audio and music, and even nursing students. We’ll support you to find an approach to acting that’s uniquely yours and alongside this set you up with the real-world skills you need to secure acting work when you graduate.

Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are specialists within the industry and with lecturers will nurture your learning and professional development throughout your time with BNU.

As well as this we seek to bring your work into the wider world and to bring the world into the university. During your time at BNU you’ll have the opportunity to perform at external venues and take part in workshops with leading companies, both on and off campus. Previous theatre companies and practitioners include Paper Birds on devising theatre, Out of Joint on contemporary texts, Mark McGann on acting for camera, and Station House Opera on intermedial theatre.

With London only a short train ride away, you are only a stones-throw away from the hustle and bustle of the world-renowned West End. 

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

female student acting in humans show
female student acting in humans show

What facilities can I use?

At BNU we ensure you have creative spaces to bring your ideas to life. On this course you’ll have access to three drama studios. Each space brings with it unique features to bring your performance to life, from moving lights and fully equipped sound systems and projection to mirrors, a tiered seating bank and sprung floors. On occasion you could also find yourself using the professional venue at Wycombe Town Hall, which is less than two minutes from our campus.

You’ll also have access to high quality camera equipment, a greenscreen room and lighting rigs and sound recording facilities, all suitable for film and TV screening.

We also understand that during your time at university, it is also just important to get involved with extra-curricular activities. Our Students’ Union offers a range of free societies and nights out for you to enjoy, from musical theatre society to our yearly festiball event, there is something for everyone. 

What will I study?

This course offers an equal focus on both screen and stage, and lots of opportunity to test out different performance styles and techniques. You will get to fine-tune and extend your acting skills, working on live briefs and diverse projects – and build the contacts and entrepreneurial ability essential to securing work as an actor.  

Through practical workshops, and looking at the relevant literature, we will take you through different acting styles and techniques, including method acting, physical theatre, postdramatic styles and more abstract approaches. Working with our professional experts, you will consider a range of acting methods from the last 100 years, and try out different styles and ideas you can integrate into your own performances. 

During your time on this course, you will create your own performances, including your own shows, films and short scenes – and take things in the direction that interests you, whether that’s directing or devising, or focusing on a particular theory, piece of research or playwright. You’ll develop an understanding of what is required for acting on screen as well as stage, and will become a motivated team player able to think about the world around them.

In your final year, you will manage your own significant screen or stage-based production, from conception, to venue booking, marketing and performance. You will also set up your own artistic company, and learn about all the elements involved in that, from budgeting and funding applications, to promoting yourself as a professional artist. 

By the time you graduate, you’ll have become a thinking practitioner with a passion for all that acting can be. You will have the entrepreneurial flair, and strong grasp of both stage and screen work, to position yourself confidently as an inspiring and creative practitioner that people will want to work with. 

You will be somebody with a clear vision of the sort of acting you want to do, with the skill set on how to achieve it and the knowledge on how it impacts on the world around you.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Assessment is varied, catering for different learning styles and enabling students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills. These include solo performance, group performance, group presentation, written project proposal, written reflection on creative work, and workshops.

We're passionate about giving our students as many opportunities as possible so you’ll be able to work on a number of exciting projects. We know the importance of catering for different learning styles and enabling our students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills.

We don't have any written exams and we encourage you to develop your own response to open briefs, giving you independence and creative control over your work.

Throughout the course, an attempt is made to connect practical and critical work, with an understanding of the links between theory and practice evidenced in written work. Teaching methods may vary but will include workshops to develop practical and production skills, seminars and lectures, performances (some of which are formally assessed) where you will perform to an audience or be mediated (i.e. for camera) and study trips, giving you the opportunity to watch professional theatre.

students laying on the floor practicing for a performance
A group acting on stage

BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required and a typical offer also requires GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

Applicants will need to complete an interview and/or demonstrate portfolio work, further guidance is given on the interview and portfolio advice pages.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Suitable candidates will receive an audition invitation

All suitable candidates will be invited to discuss their work during an audition and interview that will last approximately 15 minutes. The interviewing tutor will be looking for:

  • the ability to articulate your views on your own work
  • a commitment and enthusiasm for the subject
  • the potential for sustained professional development
  • the ability to form and present opinions on other performing art work, either as a performer or audience member.

Your audition piece

At interview, you will be required to perform one short monologue (either modern or classical) in English lasting between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes. You should prepare your piece from a published play of your choice. The chosen piece needs to be prepared in advance of the audition so it is ready to be performed on the day. The audition is an opportunity to show your skills and development potential in these areas. However it is more important that you display the correct attitude, rather than aptitude. All candidates will also need to display their motivation, enthusiasm and work ethic.

What you must bring with you

For the audition please ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothes and footwear. Formal attire is not required.

Information for overseas students

Please note, if you're overseas and are unable to attend an interview/audition should submit a YouTube/Vimeo link in place of attending in person. The chosen piece needs to be prepared in advance, recorded and sent over to us electronically at least one week before your interview slot.

Your audition piece can be emailed to admissions@bucks.ac.uk. A telephone or Skype interview will be conducted during your allocated slot. Please ensure that you email the contact details that will be used to carry out your interview to admissions@bucks.ac.uk.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

This course has Opportunity modules.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£15,000 per year

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

Contact our Enquiries Team:

0330 123 2023

advice@bnu.ac.uk

What are my career prospects? 

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. Our Careers and Employability Team also help you find employment after graduation.

By the time you leave us, you’ll be in a strong position to go after acting work. You could work in acting for theatre or films, set up your own performance company, work in education or outreach groups, or across a range of areas in the cultural industries, undertake further professional study or pursue research through a master’s degree.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:

  • Actor/ Actress
  • Playwright
  • Screenwriter
  • Performance Company owner
  • Teacher.

You may also wish to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study our full-time or part-time Postgraduate Courses.

Course leader

A head shot of a smiling Jeremy Kelly looking face on directly into the camera stood against a grey background
Dr Jeremy Kelly
  • Senior Lecturer
Read full profile
Magdalena Mosteanu staff profile photo
Magdalena Mosteanu
  • Lecturer
Read full profile
A head shot of a smiling Catriona Craig wearing a blue top stood facing directly into the camera against a grey wall
Dr Catriona Craig
  • Senior Lecturer
Read full profile
BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen
with Foundation Year