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Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

BA (Hons)Acting and Performance

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Starting in2024
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UCAS code: WW47
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why 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.

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  • 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.

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 UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Recognised by:

Spotlight logo

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.

Solent 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.

Olivia Squires performing

Olivia Squires

Graduate

Meet 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.

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