“I knew I always wanted to be a performer but university gave me opportunities to explore the industry I want to go into.”
BA (Hons)Acting and Performance
Apply on UCASWhy study an acting and performance degree at Solent University
Whether it’s treading the boards, or taking your mark in front of a camera, our acting and performance degree gives you the freedom to follow your dream, with real-world experience in the industry.
- 0%positivity score for academic support (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for assessment and feedback (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for teaching on the course (NSS 2024)
- Solent is in the top 15 for student satisfaction for drama, dance and cinematics studies, out of 94 institutions. (Complete University Guide 2025)
- Solent is ranked 12th in the UK for student experience in drama, dance and cinematic studies, out of 94 institutions. (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
- Perform two live public shows in your second year and be part of a season of new plays at a local theatre in your final year.
- A creative, multi-disciplinary environment for world-leading research in media, culture and the arts – you will learn from experts in their field.
- You’ll have access to a wide range of resources to support your learning including professional HD cameras, radio suites, multi-camera studios, and professional theatre venues.
- Access to a range of facilities including rehearsal rooms and a 64-seat theatre on campus.
- Feature in an end-of-year industry-standard video performance showcase accessible to industry professionals.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Course overview
This exciting course gives you the chance to get some key professional acting skills, gain theoretical knowledge of stage and screen acting (with no formal exams), and build a performance portfolio to showcase your talents in a supportive learning environment. You'll learn essential acting techniques for stage and screen, as well as body and voice skills, approaches to the history of performance, and theories of performance.
You will be able to perform in film projects and theatre productions in public venues, and learn from an experienced, welcoming, and helpful teaching team who have been professionally engaged in stage and screen acting and directing.
Optional modules in your final year also enable you to specialise in areas such as directing, performing arts in education, stage combat, or music theatre, further broadening your career pathway.
Thanks to the course team's links with industry, you’ll have the chance to gain practical experience working with local institutions on live briefs. Our industry links can create exciting partnerships with professionals - guest tutors include actors, directors, and career guidance professionals who will share their unique insights.
Spotlight, the leading casting platform, and Equity, the actor’s union, worked together to create guidelines for drama school and university courses. Our course has been recognised as fulfilling these guidelines allowing our third-year students to become both Spotlight Graduate members and obtain Equity’s full membership.
During your studies you will be eligible for Student Equity membership at a much-reduced rate and Equity’s full membership upon graduation. This will allow you to access essential career resources such as information on casting, contracts, pay, and to create a personal profile on their website.
As a Spotlight Graduate Member, you can receive tailored events to help nurture your transition from training to the industry, as well as discounted membership for the first two years of your career.
During the third year of the course, one student is nominated by course staff to compete for the Spotlight Prize, with a chance to win a cash prize and perform at an industry event in front of an expert panel of judges.
In the final year, you can participate in an industry-standard performance showcase in London, providing the perfect opportunity to present yourself to the industry and develop professional networks that will help launch your career in the performing arts. Our showcase is listed on the Spotlight Performance Calendar, making it visible to casting directors and agents.
As an acting and performance student you will have opportunities to access a range of resources to support your learning, including HD cameras, radio suites, multi-camera studios, motion capture studio, and professional theatre venues.
You will be presented with the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular student-directed film projects which will develop your screen acting skills and provide additional footage that could be added to your showreel which is created as part of your industry ready marketing material.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Recognised by:
Course features
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Who is this course for?
Solent’s Acting and Performance degree is ideally suited to students with a passion for performing arts and a desire to work in a performance related area. Strong communication and team building skills make our students highly desirable for employers across of range of industries. Applicants ideally will have some previous experience and/or qualifications in drama and will be required to present an audition.
What does this course lead to?
The nature of this degree prepares students for a career in the performing arts. Our alumni have gone on to post-graduate studies, teaching, cruise ship entertaining, theatre and/or screen acting, theatre in education, children’s’ entertaining and more.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more storiesMeet the team
Course tutors are academic and/or industry professionals whose knowledge and contacts provide you with an invaluable resource for understanding contemporary trends and opportunities in the performing arts. In addition, visiting lecturers provide further insight into current workplace practice. Our focus on employability ensures that you leave us with the skills and confidence to realise your career ambitions.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Students have access to a variety of rehearsal spaces including rehearsal rooms and studios with sprung floors, as well as a 64-seat flexi-form space on campus, which can be used for live performances.
Students will be able to use the University's collection of musical equipment, including a piano, electronic keyboards and portable stereo systems, as well as technical equipment including HD cameras, rifle mikes, tripods and monitors, radio microphones, a mixing desk, and Dictaphones for interviews and research. Edit suites equipped with Final Cut Pro are also available for use. On-site library facilities include a range of industry specific books, articles, journals, DVDs and audio-visual resources to support research.
What you'll study
Core modules
Directed Production
Perform in a play in front of an invited audience. This module takes the acting skills and techniques that you have learnt learned during your First Year and puts them to work with a director and other actors.
Performance Practitioners and Techniques
Through this theoretical module you will explore the historical development of acting techniques and practitioners, study their impact on the performing arts, and explore their differences and similarities.
The Actor’s Body and Voice
Free, release, and develop your body and voice by focussing on the techniques of leading practitioners. This practical module teaches the fundamental physical and vocal skills needed by the modern actor.
Discovering Acting
This module begins the process of honing your acting skills to a professional level. It’s your opportunity to focus on advanced acting techniques using a range of popular and influential practitioners.
Performance Histories
This module helps you to understand where acting and theatre have come from. It explores the history of live performance from early ritual through to the 21st century, considering how audiences, performers, theatre spaces and play-texts have changed and developed over time.
Screen Practice and Performance
This module introduces you to a range of screen acting genres and styles whilst developing your awareness and application of the technical challenges associated with working on camera.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Individual performances
- Group performances
- Portfolios
- Workshops
- Quizzes
- Group presentations
- Devising
- Assignments
- Individual presentations
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreStudy support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
Work as an actor or performer varies enormously, from live stage performances of the classics, west-end shows and community theatre, to soap operas, radio work, television advertising and film parts. As well as providing entertainment, an actor's role may also involve education, training or therapy.
There are many opportunities across the film and theatre industries in the UK specifically. London theatre audiences have exceeded pre-COVID levels, with West End theatre attendances at £16.4m in 2022, more than 7 per cent higher than the £15.3m recorded in 2019. And spend on UK film and high-end TV production was £4.23bn in 2023. (Creative Industries Council).
At Solent, you can gain theoretical knowledge of stage and screen acting, build a performance portfolio to showcase your talents and collaborate with students across other courses such as Film and Television to hone your craft for your professional career.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“I knew I always wanted to be a performer but university gave me opportunities to explore the industry I want to go into.”
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
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UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes
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Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
MA Film Production
Got a passion for filmmaking? Want to improve your professional showreel and boost your employability? Solent’s MA Film Production programme is ideally suited to students who...
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 costs were:
Compulsory costs:
- Trip to London – Actors Pro Expo: £50
- Self-taping equipment: phone tripod stand £17, microphone £9
- Movement clothing - £70
Women: 1 pair black jazz shoes, 1 pair high impact trainers, black leotard with cap sleeves (or any style which conceals bra-straps), black fitted jazz pants or leggings (good quality, non-see-through).
Men: 1 pair black jazz shoes, 1 pair high impact trainers, black fitted T-shirt (round neck, short sleeves), black tracksuit bottoms.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D, T-Level Merit or equivalent qualification, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 104 UCAS points.
- Direct entry into year two or three may be considered for this course.
- UK applicants are required to attend an audition, live or recorded, two monologues.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send electronic auditions.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please contact admissions.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send electronic auditions.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at our 2023 course entry statement document.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years