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Acting and Performance

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 07/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Queen Margaret University

Course summary

This course is available for advanced entry into Year 3 only

This two-year course draws on QMU’s rich and highly respected teaching expertise within the performing arts and provides the training needed to pursue a contemporary career as an actor on stage and screen. It is an articulation route for students who have already achieved an HND Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre or who have completed two years of an appropriate degree.

Why QMU?

• QMU has been training actors since 1971 with 2021 marking the 50 year anniversary of our teaching in this area.
• QMU is a member of the Graduate Spotlight Scheme.
• Our course is tailored to a modern era with a 50:50 split of theatre and film training.
• You will be part of a large performing arts department, studying alongside students on the Costume Design and Construction, Drama, Film and Media, and Theatre and Film courses.
• Many of our staff are active theatre/film makers, writers, voice practitioners and movement specialists and bring that experience to our rehearsal rooms.
• You can select from a range of optional modules that complement your training as an actor and will improve your future.
• The rich and varied curriculum will provide a distinctive actor training in the conservatoire tradition and provide you with the knowledge and skills required for the diverse range of opportunities which the industries offer.
• QMU has an holistic approach to learning and teaching.

On this course you will:

• Focus on intensive stage and screen actor training with additional options that allow you to expand your skills to include areas such as community theatre, playwriting, directing, devising and creative entrepreneurship.
• Experience practical and practice-led teaching methods to explore the ways in which the skills you already have can be developed and enhanced to embrace the demands of theatre, media and performance.
• Deepen your knowledge of the fundamental skills of acting, voice, movement, textual analysis and interpretation, examining the ways in which they are deployed and synthesised to create character and performance, on stage, screen and in media work.
• Engage with current industry professionals and organisations.

This course enables you to convert an appropriate existing qualification into a degree and is equivalent to years three and four of an honours degree. You will complete a range of modules each year as outlined.

Modules

Year Three
•Advanced Acting: Skills
•Advanced Acting: Text and Techniques
•Advanced Acting: Screen and Media

Year Four
•Audition and Showcase
•Honours Performance Project
•Creative Entrepreneurial Project
•plus options that could include: Playwriting/ Writing for Radio/ Creativity with the Community/ Drama and Education/ Directing, Designing and Performing Shakespeare/ Directing, Designing and Performing Contemporary Plays/Devised Physical Theatre/ Performance Art Practices

Please check the website for any updates.

Assessment method

A large portion of your course will be delivered through skills-based workshops, you will have the opportunity to undertake student-led research projects, perform in professional standard productions, prepare a personal portfolio to support your career after graduation and showcase your work to industry professionals. You will be assessed through a range of performances, viva, workshops participation, reflective portfolios and reports.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W410
Institution code:
Q25
Campus name:
Queen Margaret University
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Direct Entry: HND Acting and Performance/ Musical Theatre with A in the HND graded unit. Foundation degrees in appropriate subjects considered. Two years of a relevant degree considered.

International: IELTS of 6.5 with no element lower than 6.0

Auditions: Final selection will be based on an audition.

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted

Scottish Higher - Not accepted

Scottish HND

HND Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre with A in the graded unit for the second year.

Qualifications considered: Higher National Diploma Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre with A in HND graded unit. OR Foundation degree in appropriate subjects. OR Professional Diploma in Stage and Screen Performance. OR two years of a relevant degree subject (Drama or English etc.).

Additional entry requirements

Audition
Auditions will be held between January and March.
Interview

English language requirements

IELTS with an overall score equivalent to 6.5 and with no individual component less than 6.0.

QMU English Language Requirements https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/english-language-requirements/

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820Year 1
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
International£9725Year 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

For the 2026 intake, students from England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Republic of Ireland will be charged for the first three years of study and the fourth year is free. For the 2027 intake onwards, tuition fees will be due to be charged for all four years of study.

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