Acting BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

  SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  All three years on Acting BA (Hons) have the core acting, vocal and movement pathways central to them; Year 1 tackles key concepts and core skills and equips you with the fundamental tools you need to be successful in the industry. Year 2 introduces new skills such as acting for TV, Film and Radio alongside beginning to hone your artistry and apply the craft you learned in Year 1 towards public performances.

  The final year will see you further develop your artistry with more autonomy as you define your artistic identity and take part in 5 different performance projects with professional directors, culminating in the opportunity to be part of a final showcase* at a London theatre with an invited industry audience. We always strive to produce artists who contribute meaningfully to the industry whilst moving the craft of acting forwards.

  The first stage of your studies focuses on the fundamental craft of acting, vocal and movement techniques including; character analysis, scoring the text, improvisation, Estill voice training (only one of 9 institutions in the world with accreditation), singing, pure movement, animal study and stage combat.

  Year 1

  In Year 1, you have the opportunity to gain certification both in stage combat with the APC (Academy of Performance Combat), recognised by Equity, and Estill voice training which can be added to your Spotlight CV, putting you a cut above the rest. You will be involved in one main production and small studio-based performance tasks throughout the year.

  Year 2

  Stage two develops your performance range and artistry, including acting for the camera and radio, including voice-overs for commercials and animation and radio dramas. In addition, you will deepen your core acting, vocal and movement strands in exploration of; movement psychology, classical acting techniques, accent and dialect work, rhetoric skills, mask work and further pure movement skills, acting through song and you will continue your stage combat classes in which you will have the opportunity to take a higher level certification. You will perform in a public Shakespeare performance which will be professionally directed at the end of the year.

  Year 3

  The final stage begins with refining your core skills and supplementing them further with guidance in how to write and produce your own work with the opportunity to take it to a professional fringe festival*. You will learn the nuancing of multi-rolling through vocal and movement skills to truly embody multiple characters. From here you switch from studying acting to preparing for all aspects of employment. You will perform in 5 performances throughout the year including forming your own theatre company as part of the annual Flash Theatre Festival. We will teach the key aspects on preparing for life as a professional actor; acting CV, headshot, showreel, self-taping, website, and meetings with professional agents and casting directors.

  At the end of the Acting course, you may be invited to perform at our London Showcase in front of agents and other key industry representatives.

  *by invitation only

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 23/24. The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.

  • Stage 1
    • Acting Methodologies 1 (40 Credits)
      Module code: ACT1001

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to explore the body and voice together as one expressive and creative tool. The module provides students with the opportunity to explore some of the basic elements of actor training which are necessary to master before the craft can be developed further.
    • Vocal Technique for Actors 1 (30 Credits)
      Module code: ACT1002

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop an actor?s core vocal skills both technically and artistically. It's a blend of practical and critical analysis of voicework and designed to allow the voice to release the actor and their creativity. Students learn to use their voice safely, appropriately and artistically.
    • Actor's Body and Movement 1 (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACT1004

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is provide a basic introduction to actors body and movement training. Students will be led through a programme of movement training that focuses on physical health, strength, awareness and neutrality. These will culminate in a creative exploration in performance.
    • Theories and Histories of Acting (10 Credits)
      Module code: ACT1005

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide a foundation in the study of theatre and performance history and theory, especially in relation to the craft of acting. The module will develop students' skills in theories and analysis of performance and the relationship between theory and practice.
    • Improvisation for Actors (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACT1007

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to explore the skills and techniques of improvisation when working with extant or devised scripts.
  • Stage 2
    • Vocal Technique for Actors 2 (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACT2002

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to develop and apply their vocal practice artistically, critically and socio-politically within the demands of performance material. Students will be expected to demonstrate further autonomy and complexity in both research and practice.
    • Acting Methodologies 2 (30 Credits)
      Module code: ACT2007

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to engage students in deep textual analysis with classical and Shakespearean and occasionally contemporary texts, enabling students to realise those complex texts through rehearsal and performance.
    • Actor's Body and Movement 2 (10 Credits)
      Module code: ACT2008

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to engage students in movement training, and to encourage them to move into deeper and wider investigations into the craft of movement for the actor, allowing opportunities for these explorations to begin to integrate within performance.
    • Working with a Director (30 Credits)
      Module code: ACT2018

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to learn about the relationship between an actor and a Director and how to respond to directorial demand through working with a professional director on a studio-style production at a professional venue.
    • Media Acting (30 Credits)
      Module code: ACT2019

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to explore practically the skills required by performers working in screen and radio. It will develop appropriate performance skills and techniques and develop an understanding of the actor's professional role in media performance processes.
  • Stage 3
    • Industry Preparation (20 Credits)
      Module code: ACT3001

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to prepare students for a career in the professional performance industry, focusing on the essential business and administrative requirements of the acting profession.
    • Vocal Technique for Actors 3 (10 Credits)
      Module code: ACT3008

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to apply nuanced extended vocal work to performance. Students are provided skills in practical application and critical analysis to widen their understanding and practice. Students will be expected to demonstrate further autonomy and complexity in both research and practice.
    • Actor's Body and Movement 3 (10 Credits)
      Module code: ACT3010

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students to deepen their skills in movement for performance and to refine their ability to create nuanced characters with detailed and situation specific movement languages.
    • Negotiated Project (40) (40 Credits)
      Module code: ACT3011

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to create an independent practical project, resulting in the creation of work that is relevant for fringe venues.
    • Acting Methodologies 3 (40 Credits)
      Module code: ACT4003

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to give students opportunities to work with professional directors in order to realise industry standard levels of performance.

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• Entry Requirements

  A typical offer for BA Acting is:

  • BBC at A-Level or,
  • DDM at BTEC or,
  • M at T Level

  in conjunction with an extensive audition.

  We welcome applications from a range of non-traditional education or professional qualifications.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Audition Dates 2023

  Acting BA (Hons) will be holding auditions for September 2023 entry on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 11 January 2023
  • Wednesday 25 January 2023
  • Wednesday 8 February 2023
  • Wednesday 22 February 2023
  • Wednesday 8 March 2023
  • Wednesday 22 March 2023

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• Fees and Funding

  2023/24 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International: £14,750

  Additional Costs

  • Show Reel: £120 (approx)
  • Head shots: £70 (approx)
  • Spotlight membership: £100 (not compulsory)

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International: £14,000

  Additional Costs

  • Show Reel: £120 (approx)
  • Head shots: £70 (approx)
  • Spotlight membership: £100 (not compulsory)

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time Acting degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught on Acting BA (Hons)?

  Classes are largely studio-based and practical in nature stretching you physically and personally whilst preparing you professionally. You will have over 30 hours of practical sessions per week. The acting industry is competitive and we aim to equip you for it by teaching you a wide range of skills. You will also work with inspiring and creative professional directors who are active in the industry.

  How will I be assessed?

  This Acting course is mainly assessed through practical work, performances and presentations, worth 80% of your final grade, but there is some written work in the form of reflective sketchbooks, journals and industry relevant tasks such as character studies and funding applications, worth 20% of your final grade.

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