Acting BA(Hons)
Push boundaries to become a progressive actor in a highly creative and collaborative environment. Based in a vibrant, supportive community, you’ll develop an in-depth range of practical acting techniques for theatre, performance and recorded media.
Key details
| Location | Penryn Campus |
|---|---|
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| UCAS code | W410 |
| Contact | 01326 254350 |
Apply now
Introduction
Throughout this innovative acting degree, you'll learn the skills needed to succeed as a 21st Century performer in a fast-moving industry. Supporting you will be practicing staff, who'll nurture your individual talents, encourage self-reflection and guide the creation of your own work.
You will:
- Access cutting-edge green screen and motion capture facilities
- Collaborate with students specialising in film, television and games, gaining industry-relevant training
- Showcase your work at the AMATA Festival at the end of your third year
- Benefit from AMATA's year-round performance programme, which attracts world-class artists and performers, such as Anne McNulty, Gecko Theatre, Matthew Dunster, Michael Grandage Company, Prodigal Theatre and WildWorks
- Enhance your employability as we prepare you for a professional career in the acting industry
Covid-19 update
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages
What our students do
What our graduates do
Our graduates have gone on to work in film, digital media, national theatre companies, advertising, radio, and performance companies of all sizes.
Course details
What you'll learn
Focusing on practical skills, you'll learn from working industry professionals while studying voice and speech, textual analysis, physical expression and behaviour, and imaginative and real interactions with space, set and design. You'll also study collaborative and ensemble approaches to creative acting and performing.
During your first year, you'll study physical, vocal and textual techniques, develop character creation skills and storytelling, and learn acting and performance theories and practices. In this way, you'll prepare for studio-based and context-based acting rehearsals and technical instruction.
Modules
The Actor's Instrument
Performance, Culture & Contexts
Acting & Story
The Expressive Actor
Contemporary Performance Practices & Concepts
Acting & Character
You'll improve your physical and vocal skills with practical acting training, and grow your conceptual and critical skills in research and performance theories. As well as working on a group production, you'll have the chance to learn skills for media, such as digital, radio and voiceover. Following this, you'll use film and television scripts to pursue advanced acting for camera techniques.
Modules
Performing in Recorded Media
Acting & Contemporary Performance
The Integrated Actor
Acting & Classical Performance
Screen Acting Skills
Acting and the Audience: Production 1
Tackling a full-scale screen-acting project, you'll produce high-production-value material for your showreel. You'll turn research and core techniques into a solo performance project, and put on a full-scale public performance to be shown at the Academy of Music & Theatre Arts (AMATA) festival.
Using your knowledge of both practice and theory, you'll produce an essay about your acting and performance interests. You'll also grow your industry knowledge through masterclasses, guest speakers and practitioners.
Modules
Screen Acting Project
Show in a Bag: Solo Performance Project
The Thinking Practitioner: Student-Led Research
Professional Preparation
Acting and the Audience: Production 2
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details.
We are making changes to our curriculum framework for courses starting in 2022. Modest amendments to our course module structure will provide you with new opportunities to collaborate and co-create with students from across disciplines during your studies.
This course page will be updated when these changes have been finalised and applicants will be notified.
How you'll learn
This acting degree has a strong focus on practical work, so you'll perform from the first year onwards. You'll gain first-hand experience from workshops with international practitioners, cross-departmental collaborations with film, TV and games courses, and regular residencies and performances from new and established companies, ensembles and performers.
Core vocal and physical training, approaches to acting, and intensive production projects will help you explore and grow as an actor and performer.
You'll spend an average of 15-18 hours per week in study and in contact with staff, with extended hours during productions, and extra time dedicated to student-led rehearsals. And you'll share lectures and group seminars on acting and performance theories and practices with BA(Hons) Theatre & Performance.
How you'll spend your time
Year | Timetabled teaching and learning activity | Guided independent study |
|---|---|---|
1 | 29% | 71% |
2 | 35% | 65% |
3 | 31% | 69% |
How you'll be assessed
Year | Written exams | Practical exams | Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0% | 62% | 38% |
2 | 0% | 62% | 38% |
3 | 0% | 75% | 25% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
Practical assessment includes:
- Showings
- Performances
- Workshops
- Studio-based practice
- Showreels
- Voicereels
- Final-year major performance showcase
Written assessment includes:
- Literature reviews
- Essays
- Portfolios
- Final-year dissertation (extended essay) on a research or practice-based topic of choice
Staff
You'll be trained, developed and supported by leading actors, directors and scholars, learning from their experience working in the UK industry, as well as in America, Asia, Australasia and throughout Europe. Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.
Terrie Fender
Terrie trained as an actress at the Drama Centre, London, and spent ten years working in the...
Danielle Meunier
Danielle Meunier's origins lie in classical singing and voice & speech with a BMus (Canada) and MA...
Agnieszka Blonska
Agnieszka Blonska is a theatre director and performer based in the UK since 2003. For the last 18...
Elaine Claxton
A degree in French followed by a post-graduate year at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art....
Dr Misri Dey
Misri is a theatre practitioner and director, working across contemporary theatre performance of a...
Gareth Farr
Gareth trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to work at the...
David Greeves
Background; born in Redruth, Cornwall, April 1966, working worldwide in Opera, Bollywood, large...
Klaus Kruse
Klaus Kruse is a director, scenographer, performer, poet and songwriter based in the UK since 2002...
John Macneill
John Macneill trained at the (Royal) Central School of Speech & Drama on the three-year acting...
Simon Harvey
Simon is a producer based in Truro, Cornwall. He has produced three feature length films; The...
Paul Joines
Since graduating in ‘Broadcast Studies’ from Falmouth College of Arts in 1996, Paul has spent over...
Paul Farmer
Since January 2014 I have worked as an Associate Lecturer and now a Lecturer in...
"We were impressed by the availability of Falmouth's BA(Hons) Acting students in the work, their attitude to exploring techniques that were completely new to them, and the intelligence of their questions and responses throughout. As a company we are used to working in conservatoires and we are very excited to see the standard of students and their training at Falmouth's AMATA which is itself a really impressive centre."
Alister O'Loughlin, Prodigal Theatre
Facilities
- 11 high-specification performance and rehearsal studios.
- Two large, flexible theatres with state-of-the-art lighting and sound resources.
- Smaller rehearsal studios.
- Three dance studios with Harlequin sprung floors.
- Recording studio complex.
- Technical resource store.
- Professional theatre venue hosting visiting companies and artistes.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below.
- University code: F33
- Course code: W410
Apply now
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
Application advice & interview information
We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
UK applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration)
Late applications will be considered if there are places available.
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Can vocalise text, vary tone, and respond to material.
- Physically engages with their environment.
- Is lively and responsive.
- Thinks independently.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU
£16,000 per year - full-time international
£9,250 per year - full-time UK
£16,950 - full-time EU
£16,950 - full-time international
Typical course costs
- Public Programme season tickets (student rate) costs found: amata.org.uk/livepass
- Students must come prepared with suitable loose warm clothing appropriate for all practical classes (acting, devising, voice, movement, rehearsals). Approx £70/year
- General Materials, such as scripts or a rehearsal skirt (when identified). Approx £70/year
- When identified by a Module Leader: rehearsal skirt and character shoes. Approx £50
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page
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