BA (Hons) Acting and Performance

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Got a passion for acting and performance? Do you dream of treading the boards in the West End or starring on the Hollywood big screen? By combining practical skills with theoretical study, Solent’s BA (Hons) Acting and Performance degree will provide you with the techniques and knowledge to help you launch your performance career.

On this course, students are immersed in a stimulating programme of study, and will explore a whole host of themes, from performance techniques through to body and voice skills and approaches to stage and screen acting.

On the practical side, students have the opportunity to gain vast experience through various recorded and live performance projects, helping to develop acting and directing skills in a supportive environment. Alongside creative practice students build essential skills such as audition and interview techniques.

In their final year, students have the chance to participate in our London Showcase, providing the perfect opportunity to present themselves to the industry and develop professional networks that will help launch their career in the performing arts.

Drawing on our close industry links, students have the chance to get involved in live briefs and work/audition opportunities with professional theatres, including The Point Theatre, Eastleigh and the Nuffield Theatre. There is also the chance to work on student and professionally directed film projects to develop screen acting skills and produce a varied showreel. Students will also benefit from the broad knowledge and expertise of our course team.

Solent’s collaborative culture encourages performance and television and film production students to work collaboratively on recorded and live performance projects, including working with Solent TV, the University’s student-run online TV station.

A career in the performing arts demands versatility. Training in both screen and stage techniques will help equip you with the necessary skills needed to step up to the challenges of the industry and move into the ever-growing multi-media and mixed reality productions in the contemporary marketplace..

The course offers a balance of practical and theory to help ensure students develop skills and techniques through physical exploration alongside academic studies. Students have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of recorded screen performance projects alongside live performance practice to develop acting and directing skills.

What does this course lead to?

The broad nature of this degree opens up career opportunities in stage and screen acting, arts marketing, film and television production, creative arts teaching, television presenting, arts management, writing and direction.

Who is this course for?

This course is the ideal for aspiring actors and performers who wish to further develop their performance techniques and gain a broad knowledge of the industry.

Optional units also allow students to specialise in a specific branch of the performing arts.

Tuition fees

The 2019/20 fees are not yet available. For guidance, the 2018/19 fees were:
UK, EU and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
International full-time fees: £12,500 per year

For more information, please visit our tuition fees page.

Other 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 2019/20 other costs are not yet available. For guidance the 2017/18 costs were:

Optional costs:

Year one: Optional UK study trip £385
Year two: Optional European study trips £715
Yer three: Optional USA study trip £1,100

Compulsory costs:

Trip to London – Surviving Actors Conference - £50
Movement clothing - £40

Bursaries and scholarships

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.

Graduation costs

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2018, 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.

112 UCAS tariff points from A-levels or equivalent

A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D* or equivalent.
UK applicants are required to attend an audition.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send electronic auditions.
Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course.
Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
Additional entry is available through the Performance Foundation Year

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. Applicants who are not in possession of the minimum entry requirements but are able to demonstrate aptitude, enthusiasm and motivation will be considered on an individual basis and may be admitted subject to satisfactory interview and/or portfolio. Please contact us for further details.

English 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 19 in each individual 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.

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.

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...

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.
Transferable skills

Students learn a range of transferable skills including writing, creative thinking, problem-solving, presentation, research and self-evaluation.
Assessment

The course has a strong focus on practical assignments, including performances (live and recorded) and presentations. There are also written assignments, including essays and journals.
Study abroad

The Erasmus+ programme may give you the opportunity to spend between a term and a year of your course studying abroad at one of our partner universities, or undertaking a work placement for a company in Europe. For more information visit www.solent.ac.uk/exchange If you are a student at one of our Erasmus partner...

Study abroad

The Erasmus+ programme may give you the opportunity to spend between a term and a year of your course studying abroad at one of our partner universities, or undertaking a work placement for a company in Europe.

For more information visit www.solent.ac.uk/exchange

If you are a student at one of our Erasmus partner institutions in Europe, then you may have the opportunity to come to the UK and study performance units at Solent for either a single term or a full academic year as part of your degree programme.

If you’re studying outside Europe, then you may be able to study with us as an exchange student if there is a partnership agreement in place. If you are studying at a university which does not have a partnership agreement with us, then you could apply to study at Solent under our Study Abroad programme.
The industry

Music, performing and visual arts was one of the fastest-growing areas of employment between 2011 and 2015, with an increase of 34%, according to recent figures released by the UK Government in June 2016, and the creative industries as a whole are now worth almost £10m per hour to the...

The industry

Music, performing and visual arts was one of the fastest-growing areas of employment between 2011 and 2015, with an increase of 34%, according to recent figures released by the UK Government in June 2016, and the creative industries as a whole are now worth almost £10m per hour to the UK economy according to GOV.UK figures released in January 2016.
The growth in the study of performing arts continues, with overall applications for further education in drama growing by 2.26% in the 2015-2016 academic year. The growth in mixed-media and multi-media is presenting new, exciting opportunities and challenges for the sector.
Student support and services

Student welfare - Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and...

Student support and services

Student welfare - Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and general student advice. Find out more about our approach to student welfare.

University facilities - You will have access to a modern, comfortable and efficient study environment, including the Mountbatten library and learning resource centres. Solent offers a wide variety of sports halls, gyms and sports equipment, plus superb IT, media, and cutting-edge specialist facilities. Find out more about our first-class facilities here.

Living in Southampton - Southampton is a modern, vibrant student city brimming with arts and culture, top high street brands, green spaces and a buzzing nightlife. Studying at Solent means that you’ll be at the very heart of it. Find out more about being a student in Southampton.

Solent Students’ Union - Run by students for students, Solent Students’ Union is on hand to offer independent advice and support while you’re at university. Visit the Students’ Union website for more information.

Study location

East Park Terrace

Got a question about this course?

Contact our Ask Solent team:

admissions@solent.ac.uk 023 8201 5066

How to apply

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 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 June. The UCAS code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.

Please click the links below to apply through UCAS:

Mode of study	Duration	Apply
Full-time	3 years	Apply

Performance Foundation Year route:

Mode of study	Duration	Apply
Full-time	4 years	Apply

How to apply

Core units

Performance Histories – Ancient Ritual to Modern
Approaches to Stage and Screen Acting
Core Skills: Body and Voice
The Self and Text 1
Performance Practices and Techniques
Screen Practice and Performance

Core units

Global Spotlights on Stage Performance
Global Spotlights on Screen Performance
Stage & Screen Productions
Self and Text 2
Professional Performance Skills - Live Brief

Options

Creative Arts in Education
Performance and Well-being
Directing Performers
Music Theatre
Performance in the Digital Age

Please note: Not all optional units are guaranteed to run each year.

Core units

Major Stage – Live Brief
Creative Industries Research Project
Screen Projects
Careers in the Creative Industries

Options

Creative Arts in Education
Performance and Well-being
Directing Performers
Music Theatre
Performance in the Digital Age

Please note: Not all optional units are guaranteed to run each year.

Programme specification document

Web-based learning

Solent's virtual learning environment provides quick online access to assignments, lecture notes, suggested reading and other course information.

The Student Hub

The Student Hub is a central space where you can access all of the information and support you need during your time at University.

Professional and experienced staff can help resolve any query, and if they cannot answer the question themselves they will find the person who can.

Career support

The Alexander Technique is an educational process that is taught to students to give them the ability to avoid mental and muscular tension and realign posture.

Russell White Head of Subject View profile

Maggie Tarver Course Leader View profile

Matt Fletcher Senior Lecturer View profile

Richard Inverne Senior Lecturer View profile

Annie Sanger-Davies Associate Lecturer View profile

Michael Goron Associate Lecturer View profile

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.

Students have full access to a variety of rehearsal spaces including rehearsal rooms and a dance studio with sprung floor, as well as an additional 200-seat flexi-form space on campus, which can be used for live performances. Final productions take place in a professional theatre venue. Performance students can also use the University's three multi-camera television studios with green-screen technology, additional television studio space and radio recording studios. The University is also in negotiations to further expand resources for the performance degrees by offering a high-quality professional space in the city.

Students will be able to use the University's extensive collection of musical equipment, including a piano, electronic keyboards and portable stereo systems, as well as technical equipment including Panasonic 151 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.

Students may have the opportunity to work closely with local professional institutions including The Point Theatre, The Nuffield Theatre and Solomon Theatre. Students will also be offered the opportunity to participate in a London and Southampton showcase in their final year of study to help launch their introduction to the industry.

360°Virtual tour

Previous graduates have gone on to work in a variety of roles:

Elita Granger and Jake Pervin are both teaching drama in schools in the West Midlands.
Kamilah Hassan has signed with a professional agent, auditioned for several feature films and the BBC, and has the female lead in an independent short film.
Jade Dredge worked as part of the FOH team at the Garrick Theatre, and currently works as Technical ASM at the Mill at Sonning Theatre.
Tom Kent is studying for an MA in Directing in London.
Jeradine Philippa Hume taught at Highbury College, Portsmouth, and is lead singer in a professional touring blues band. She has also performed in London as a Burlesque dancer.
James Brokenshire has worked in musicals and short films, playing several principal roles.
Tiffany Clark worked as a singer/dancer at a privately owned holiday park before working for Brittany Ferries and as an entertainments host. She works at Butlins as a children’s entertainer.
Paul Lawrence-Thomas went on to further training at Mountview Academy and has worked extensively in national theatre tours and the West End.
Zaira Sheikh presents for Hospital Radio Basingstoke and is a crew member for Breeze FM. She also does cultural dancing professionally at various events.

It was a great pleasure meeting your students. I was hugely impressed by their professionalism, their punctuality, timeliness and conduct during the audition process. It was outstanding and far surpassed any audition we have held in the last 13 years.

Forest Paget, Director, Solomon Theatre Co
The proposed new structure the Made to Stage model will be beneficial for equipping the students as it will not only focus on developing their artistic practice of making a piece of performance, but will also look at the logistics of producing it. The Live Brief posed by a professional performance company or venue will inform the students of the expectations and skills required from them when they graduate and enter the industry.

Hannah Bevan, Producer, Nuffield Laboratory
Attending Solent University was a great decision and one that has opened up many professional opportunities to me. The course lends itself to let you create work to benefit your craft. I gained a strong skill set during my time on the Performance Course and left feeling confident and well prepared. After completion of the course I was inspired to do a postgraduate Master’s Degree in Theatre Directing.

Tom Kent, Alumni

The course team works closely with their industry partners to ensure professional standards are aimed for and real industry feedback is obtained. The team work directly with the industry to make sure students get the most relevant and up-to-date training for the contemporary performing arts. Our staff offer a broad range of international and national industry experience to ensure that you benefit from professional expertise.

The team currently work closely with The Point Theatre, Eastleigh; The Nuffield Theatre and the Nuffield Lab in Southampton; and the Solomon Theatre, Hampshire.

Past students on performance degrees at Solent have benefitted from talks by industry speaks, such as Charlotte Bence, British Actors Equity; Hannah Bevan and Anthony Lau, Nuffield Theatre Laboratory (talk and auditions); Dirk Robertson, self-employed international actor; Tom Bell, Bectu; Sarah-Jane Buckley, self-employed actress; Stephan Perdekamp and Sarah Victoria, PEM; Chris Duncan, Nuffield Laboratory; Abigail Anderson, independent director; Forest Paget, Solomon Theatre (auditions); Louise Cooke and Martin Hancock, Casting Networks; Jeremy Fisher, international singing coach; and Owen Calvert-Lyons, The Point Theatre, Eastleigh.