BA Acting

Year overview

One year. One degree. Everything pointing at the profession!

BA Acting is for performers with strong training behind them who are serious about working in theatre, film and television.

This one-year, full-time course takes your HND to a full degree, validated by the University of the West of Scotland, and focuses on what happens next: advanced acting skills, audition technique, repertoire and a public showcase.

You'll train with staff who hold close links to the industry, and work directly with professionals through workshops, casting events and mock auditions.

Complete the BA and you can continue to BA (Hons) Acting with Creative Enterprise, also delivered here.

Entry

Who can apply
You'll need an HND in Acting and Performance, or an HND in a related subject such as Musical Theatre. Higher English or Higher Drama are strongly recommended but not essential.

Studied elsewhere
If you hold a relevant HND from another college, you're welcome to apply.

Your audition
Entry is by audition. You'll perform for a panel, take part in a practical acting workshop, perform a scene to camera and have a short interview.

We're looking at your technique, how you take direction and how you work with others, on stage and on screen.

What to prepare
We'll confirm what to prepare when we arrange your audition. If you'd like guidance on choosing pieces, just ask.

On the day
Wear something you can move in. 

Learn

The year is built around performance, with practical training backed by critical thinking and analysis.

Advanced acting skills
You'll push your technique further and work to professional standards across stage and screen.

Repertoire and audition technique
You'll build a repertoire you can walk into any audition with, and learn how to use it under pressure.

Showcase and performance project
You'll perform in a public showcase, the piece of work that puts you in front of the industry.

Business skills for performers
Acting is largely freelance, so you'll develop the skills to manage your own career, from self-promotion to understanding how the industry works.

Work with the industry
Through workshops, casting events and mock auditions, our students have worked with organisations and casting directors including the BBC, the National Theatre of Scotland, the Citizens Theatre, the Traverse Theatre, Bard in the Botanics, Cumbernauld Theatre, Visible Fictions, Vox Motus, Surge and Blood of the Young, alongside casting directors Orla O'Connor, Claire Catterson and Kahleen Crawford.

How you'll learn
Most of your time is practical. Lectures, seminars and small tutorial groups give you space to discuss and analyse your work, and you'll have access to our Learning Resource Centre for independent research and group projects.

Where can I go from here?

Graduates of this course will be able to go directly into the following courses:

• BA (Hons) Acting with Creative Enterprise