Course overview
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.
Accredited by:

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.

ARRI
ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film, broadcast, and media industries. The ARRI Certified Film School accreditation is awarded to institutions that meet rigorous standards of technical excellence, creative education, and professional development.
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.
Financial support
& scholarships
Tuition fees - 2024 entry
UK students:
- MA course - £10,500
EU students:
- MA course - £10,500 (see fee discount information)
International students:
- Integrated International Pre-Masters course (30 weeks) - £17,500
- Integrated International Pre-Masters course (15 weeks) - £8,750
- MA course - £18,000
Further information
The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to please see our fees and finance pages.
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
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.
You'll find everything you need to know for your level of study on our scholarships page.
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.
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Black Box studio, UCA Farnham
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Acting & Performance space, UCA Farnham
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Digital Media suite, UCA Farnham
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Library, UCA Farnham
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
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 your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. 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 your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. 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 your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. 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 chcek 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:
Our
staff
Apply now
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