Skip navigation
Acting for Stage and Screen at Buckinghamshire New University - UCAS

Course summary

If you’re looking to break into the performance industry, this degree in acting is an excellent launch pad to help you get there. On this BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen course you’ll get to fine-tune and extend your acting skills, working on live briefs, networking with industry creatives, and taking part in diverse projects. Why study BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen at BNU? Best of both worlds While numerous acting programs predominantly concentrate on theatre, our curriculum uniquely prioritises both stage and on-screen acting. Recognising the substantial demand for roles in film, television, and online media in today's industry, our course ensure you are prepared for the many roles that make up the industry. Taught by the industry This BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen degree is led by a dedicated and experienced course team. Benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are industry-experts and alongside your lecturers, they’ll nurture your learning and professional development. As well as this we seek to bring your work into the wider world and to bring the world into the university. During your time at BNU you’ll have the opportunity to perform at external venues and take part in workshops with leading companies, both on and off campus. Previous theatre companies and practitioners include Paper Birds on devising theatre, Out of Joint on contemporary texts, Mark McGann on acting for camera, and Station House Opera on intermedial theatre. On occasion you could also find yourself using the professional venue at Wycombe Town Hall, which is less than two minutes from our campus. Inspiring facilities At BNU we ensure you have creative spaces to bring your ideas to life. On this course you’ll have access to drama studios. Each space brings with it unique features, from moving lights and fully equipped sound systems and projection to mirrors, a tiered seating bank and sprung floors. You’ll also have access to our props store where you can find everything you’ll need to bring your performances to life, from costumes and wigs, to lamps and even a coffin. You’ll also have access to high quality camera equipment, a greenscreen room and lighting rigs and sound recording facilities, all suitable for film and TV screening. We also understand that during your time at university, it is also just important to get involved with extra-curricular activities. Our Students’ Union offers a range of free societies and nights out for you to enjoy, from musical theatre society to our yearly festiball event, there is something for everyone. A degree for you During your time on this course, you will create your own performances, including your own shows, films and short scenes – and take things in the direction that interests you, whether that’s directing or devising, or focusing on a particular theory, piece of research or playwright. You’ll develop an understanding of what is required for acting on screen as well as stage, and will become a motivated team player able to think about the world around them. In your final year, you will manage your own significant screen or stage-based production, from conception, to venue booking, marketing and performance. You will also set up your own artistic company, and learn about all the elements involved in that, from budgeting and funding applications, to promoting yourself as a professional artist. Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

Modules

Year one Core Actor Training and Theory Acting Techniques 1 and 2: Voice and Movement Introduction to Production Movement for Screen Performer Training for Stage and Screen Opportunity 2 x 10 credit year one Opportunity modules Year two Acting Techniques 3 The Body and Performance Theatre and Film Production Optional Directing for Stage OR Directing for Screen 2 Year three Core Advanced Production Strategic Professional Practice: Marketing & Promotion Strategic Professional Practice: Work Placement Practical Dissertation

Assessment method

Assessment is varied, catering for different learning styles and enabling students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills. These include solo performance, group performance, group presentation, written project proposal, written reflection on creative work, and workshops. We're passionate about giving our students as many opportunities as possible so you’ll be able to work on a number of exciting projects. We know the importance of catering for different learning styles and enabling our students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills. We don't have any written exams and we encourage you to develop your own response to open briefs, giving you independence and creative control over your work. Throughout the course, an attempt is made to connect practical and critical work, with an understanding of the links between theory and practice evidenced in written work. Teaching methods may vary but will include workshops to develop practical and production skills, seminars and lectures, performances (some of which are formally assessed) where you will perform to an audience or be mediated (i.e. for camera) and study trips, giving you the opportunity to watch professional theatre. By the time you graduate, you’ll have become a thinking practitioner with a passion for all that acting can be. You will have the entrepreneurial flair, and strong grasp of both stage and screen work, to position yourself confidently as an inspiring and creative practitioner that people will want to work with.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
ACT1
Institution code:
B94
Campus name:
Buckinghamshire New University
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

For information about applying to Buckinghamshire New University as an International applicant, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/international

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://bucks.ac.uk/applying-to-bucks/general-entry-requirements

Additional entry requirements

Audition

All suitable candidates will be invited to discuss their work during an audition and interview that will last approximately 15 minutes. The interviewing tutor will be looking for: the ability to articulate your views on your own work a commitment and enthusiasm for the subject the potential for sustained professional development the ability to form and present opinions on other performing art work, either as a performer or audience member. Your audition piece At interview, you will be required to perform one short monologue (either modern or classical) lasting between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes. You should prepare your piece from a published play of your choice. The chosen piece needs to be prepared in advance of the audition so it is ready to be performed on the day. The audition is an opportunity to show your skills and development potential in these areas. However it is more important that you display the correct attitude, rather than aptitude. All candidates will also need to display their motivation, enthusiasm and work ethic. What you must bring with you For the audition please ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothes and footwear. Formal attire is not required. Information for overseas students Please note, students who live overseas and are unable to attend an interview/audition should submit a DVD or YouTube/Vimeo link in place of attending in person. The chosen piece needs to be prepared in advance, recorded and sent over to us electronically at least one week before your interview slot.

Interview


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
80%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £15150 Year 1
International £15150 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Sponsorship information

Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships

Acting for Stage and Screen at Buckinghamshire New University - UCAS