Acting PgDip (Taught)

Do you already have a drama or theatre arts-based degree? Do you want to take the next step towards a career in acting? If so, our postgraduate Acting course is designed to help you further your knowledge and widen your experience of acting and put you in a position to launch a professional acting career when you graduate.

Our aim is to support you in becoming an independently minded performer and practitioner who can apply a variety of methodologies to creative work. We want you to leave us with a forward-thinking mindset and able to create real employment opportunities for yourself, both in finding work and creating work.

You will have opportunities to enhance your experience and understanding of acting by focusing on the British and European Acting traditions. Forming an acting company alongside other postgraduate students, each exercise, workshop or production is designed to challenge you and develop the imaginative, intellectual and creative skills required for acting. The focus of work within the repertoire is European initially and widens to include repertoire from World theatre as the course progresses. You will pay particular attention to the ensemble, the tools of psychological realism, and the demands of classical texts, professional preparation, and personal research.

What's covered in this course?

The course is based on the conservatoire model which requires an intensive approach to teaching and learning. Our focus is on practice-based learning, through which you will have the opportunity to develop the intellectual, imaginative and physical skills required of professional actors. Our MA in Acting course is a full-time programme delivered over one academic year (usually September to July) and provides a fast track to entering the industry in the UK. While there is a specific focus on entering the UK industry, our digital showcase will provide showreel material that can be used by graduates.

While this is a highly intensive course, you will be well supported by personal tutors throughout the course. You can request tutorials with specific tutors or your Course Leader any time. You will also have an individual tutorial on your progress and development every term, which also gives you an opportunity to talk about your experience on the course and raise any concerns you might have.

This course is based the School of Acting at Ruskin Hall in Bournville.

Please note: the main deadline date for our Acting courses is 14 January 2026, 18:00 (UK time) – please note that applications submitted after the main deadline date will still be considered for the 2026 intake.