
Emmett Tams
Senior Lecturer in Acting & Drama
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
DiscoverUCAS Code:
W410
Level:
Undergraduate
Duration:
Full Time: 3 years
Starting:
September
Fees UK 24/25:
Full Time : £9,250
Fees International 24/25:
Full Time: £15,200
Location:
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
Entering the Acting profession as a working stage and screen actor requires high-level skills and knowledge, which the Acting BA (Hons) programme at the University of Northampton is designed to help you develop.
You’ll spend 30 hours per week for 30 weeks in practical training, showing your dedication and commitment to the Acting course, which is recognised by both Equity and Spotlight, ensuring that the training provided is relevant, current and of an excellent industry level standard.
We follow the ethos of craft, artistry and performance application while encouraging the continual journey of self-discovery, curiosity and the employment of your imagination in truthful characterisations.
Updated 20/11/2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
A typical offer for BA Acting is:
in conjunction with an extensive audition.
We welcome applications from a range of non-traditional education or professional qualifications.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
Acting BA (Hons) will be holding auditions for September 2023 entry on the following dates:
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
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).
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.
Find out more about a range of student experiences on Acting BA at UON:
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.
Each year Martin Lawrence MBE sponsors The Martin Lawrence Acting Award which helps to fund the best actor and best actress from the programme into the profession.
As part of the training you have the opportunity to receive your Level 1 and 2 Estill Voice Certification, putting you a cut above the rest. You also have the opportunity to gain beginners, intermediate and advanced stage combat certification with the APC (Academy of Performance Combat), recognised by Equity and Spotlight, adding to your employability prospects on graduation.
Senior Lecturer in Acting & Drama
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Acting & Drama
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
DiscoverAssociate Lecturer (Acting & Drama)
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
DiscoverSenior Lecturer in Acting & Drama
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
DiscoverOur Acting BA (Hons) graduates go on to work in all forms of performance, No.1 Touring companies, No.1 Venues such as Nottingham Playhouse, Royal and Derngate Theatres, Feature Films, radio drama, commercials, BBC Drama and more. Equally our graduates know how to create work for themselves to create their own opportunities.
Specialist facilities and features include: