Acting and Performance - BA (Hons)

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.
• Engage with current industry professionals and organisations.

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. You will complete a range of modules each year as outlined.

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’.

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

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

• Audition and Showcase
• Honours Performance Project
• Creative Entrepreneurship
• 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
• Devised Physical Theatre
• Performance Art Practices

NB The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2023) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2024. Please check back here for any updates.

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.

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.

International: 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 £18 or £59 (depending on the level of clearance required) and is the responsibility of the student. Please note that the cost is subject to change.
• 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 QMU. 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 our 2024/25 Entry Terms and Conditions (Undergraduate).

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