Screen Acting & Performance at UCA

Expand and deepen your knowledge and skills in acting and performing in front of the camera on our MA in Screen Acting and Performance course at UCA Farnham.

While you don’t need any formal training in performance to join this course, we are looking for creative students who are keen to challenge themselves, experiment and push boundaries.

With the support of expert staff including Dr Sian Rees, Dr Harry Whalley and pioneering intimacy co-ordinator Pia Rickman, you will explore different aspects of performance and how it is consumed, as well as learning about presenting, developing your professional profile, extending your screen acting skills and completing an ambitious final project.

Course entry options

Select from the options below to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

Accreditations, partners and industry connections

National Theatre logo

National Theatre

The National Theatre has been sharing unforgettable stories for more than 50 years. In its role as the leader of theatre in the UK, it works tirelessly to bring theatre to audiences around the world and encourages the art of theatre through commissioned work, learning programmes and strategic partnerships.

British Film Institute (BFI) logo

British Film Institute (BFI)

The BFI is a charity and the UK’s leading organisation for film and moving image. It promotes and supports British film from newcomers to established makers, and cares for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive.

Spotlight logo

Spotlight

Spotlight is at the heart of the performing arts industry and connects performers with roles in theatre, television and film productions. Spotlight are recognised as the industry’s best, and work with its partners to find the right performer for the job, wherever they are in the world.

Equity logo

Equity

Equity is the UK’s performing arts and entertainment trade union, representing more than 47,000 performers and creative practitioners across the country, for more than 100 years.

What you'll study

What you'll
study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year. On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

Screen Acting
This unit will focus on your skills, giving you many practical exercises to hone your screen technique, including an introduction to the role of the intimacy coordinator.

Digital Performer
In this unit you will be studying on-line performance and how to market yourself within that industry. You will practice your creative response to the needs of the digital industry with industry relevant briefs and experiences.

Presenting
In this unit you will learn the skills of presenting for television, podcast, and most crucially, on-line platforms. Industry specialists will help you gain confidence in your on-line presence and practice at live (streamed) events will develop your skill set.

Critical Contexts 
The Critical Contexts unit will challenge you to think differently about the content you consume and make. You will explore the contemporary and historical perspectives of recorded and streamed performance. Different forms of content and their relationship to storytelling will be debated and you will gain a critical perspective on the new on-line and screen environments now available.

Final Major Project & Professional Practice
In your final unit you will focus on an area of your professional practice (e.g. acting for film, presenting for television or social media, comedy for social media) to create original content based upon an inquiry about an area of research which will make you an expert in your field. As part of this unit, you will also initiate and populate an online professional profile as you consider your career opportunities and options as an industry professional. You will also have opportunities to meet mentors who will help bridge the transition from the course into industry.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees

  • 2024/25 entry: £10,500

Tuition fees

Tuition fees

  • 2024/25 entry (MA): £18,000
  • 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 30 weeks): £17,500
  • 2024/25 entry (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - 15 weeks): £8,750

Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of your Course Information for details of the costs you may incur.

Facilities

This course has an on-campus performance space and study spaces for group working, tutorials, seminars and technical workshops. On campus there are digital media suites with Macs and PCs with latest programmes for film editing as well as general design work. There is also a modern library with a wealth of books, journals, special collections and online resources.

View 360 virtual tour

Black Box studio, UCA Farnham

Acting & Performance space, UCA Farnham

Digital Media suite, UCA Farnham

Library, UCA Farnham

Career opportunities

Career
opportunities

Graduates of this impressive course might find themselves going on to work in a variety of different roles within the creative industry. These might include:

  • Actor
  • Performing arts teacher
  • Director of drama in education
  • Studio manager

You may also wish to progress onto a PhD or MPhil research degree.

Entry & portfolio requirements

Entry & portfolio
requirements

MA course

  • A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline

and/or

  • Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.

Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see an audition for review. You'll be invited to submit your audition online via your Applicant Portal. Further information will be provided once you have applied.

MA course

The entry requirements will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see an audition for review. You'll be invited to submit your audition online via your Applicant Portal. Further information will be provided once you have applied.


MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course

  • A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see an audition for review. You'll be invited to submit your audition online via your Applicant Portal. Further information will be provided once you have applied.


English language requirements

To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:

Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?

You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:

Acting & Performance
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