Acting BA (Hons) - 2025/6

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 6

Final award and programme/pathway title

BA (Hons) Acting

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
Ord Acting
DipHE Acting
CertHE Acting

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time URC13003 360 credits and 180 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Dance, Drama and Performance

Other internal and / or external reference points

N/A

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences - Guildford School of Acting

Programme Leader

BESSELL Jaq (GSA)

Date of production/revision of spec

12/11/2024

Educational aims of the programme

  • To foster an appreciation and understanding of diverse cultural experiences through the study of acting with a global view
  • To develop resilience and resourcefulness as part of a range of effective strategies to sustain a career within the creative industries.
  • To enable a deep embodied knowledge and experiential understanding of the practice of acting.
  • To enable an advanced knowledge of context, style and genre within the practice of acting.
  • To develop and demonstrate digital capabilities to enhance understanding, employability and creativity in acting and other areas of the creative industries.
  • To cultivate an ethos which values and supports the artist and person, as well as the actor-technician.
  • To provide an inclusive ensemble training environment for the development of professional acting skills, based on practical understanding and self-reflection.
  • To understand the shared responsibility of sustainability within the creative Industries, in personal and collective practice.

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Develop embodied skills in acting, movement and voice. KCP Employability, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop an embodied knowledge and understanding of key practitioners, theories, and practices. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Build a knowledge and understanding of a range of performance texts, through research and analysis. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Employ a range of rehearsal and performance techniques in live and recorded formats, including theatre, screen and recorded voice. KPT Employability, Digital, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop imaginative and embodied approaches to work across a range of contexts, styles and genres. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop an understanding of the responsibilities of the artist in the creative environment, and the need for sensitivity towards others. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop and apply self-discipline and consistency of approach in a professional context. PT Employability, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Communicate effectively in physical, verbal, written and digital formats. KCPT Employability, Digital, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Through self reflection, evaluate and articulate embodied knowledge. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Digital, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Demonstrate effective collaborative and autonomous working practices within a creative process. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Digital, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop intercultural awareness and informed views on sustainable practice and global, social and ethical issues within the creative industries. KCPT Employability, Global & Cultural, Digital, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Develop a resourceful and resilient approach to problem solving with the application of creative thinking and solutions. CPT Employability, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience
Establish an understanding of the individual's professional profile within the acting and creative industries. PT Employability, Global & Cultural, Digital, Sustainability, Resourcefulness & Resilience

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over three academic years, consisting of 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits and are either semester based or year-long. GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4

Module Selection for Year 1 - FHEQ Level 4

N/A

Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5

Module Selection for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5

N/A

Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6

Module Selection for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6

N/A

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics Y
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Other information

Digital Capabilities

Throughout the programme students will be required to engage with digital technologies to develop their digital literacy, to support their learning journey, and to explore and secure employment opportunities. Students will use specialist software to create digital and promotional content, and they will use a range of sharing platforms and social media to share this content with industry professionals and creative peers as appropriate. Students will also use traditional software and other digital technologies to undertake communication, administration, and planning.


Employability

The focus on employability is embedded in the teaching, learning and assessment activities throughout this programme to nurture career ready graduates that will be sought after by employers in the creative industries. Expert staff with practitioner backgrounds deliver authentic and practical modes of working from the studio, to rehearsal, to public performance mirroring professional practice. Students develop transferable skills including independent and collaborative working, creative, critical and reflective thinking, and problem solving. Students will engage with a range of industry stakeholders who are invited to observe classes and attend performances. GSA has a dedicated Director of Employability.


Global & Cultural Capabilities

Students will develop their global, social, historical, and cultural awareness, share experiences and knowledge from their own backgrounds and cultures, and appreciate, recognise and interpret diverse perspectives. With an open mind and a willingness to engage in discussion, students will develop awareness and appreciate, recognise and interpret diverse perspectives in the characters and communities they will be portraying as actors-in-training. Students will be able to make informed contributions to the current debates in the creative industries. GSA has a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Manager. Students may be signposted to the university's Disability and Neuro-Diversity Service if they have particular needs or are experiencing barriers to individual learning. GSA is committed to making a range of performances accessible.


Resourcefulness & Resilience

In this programme the learning journey is carefully structured so that performance and rehearsal skills can be learned, developed, and integrated resulting in the student acquiring a broad range of resources which they can continue to use throughout the rest of their training and in future employment settings. The nature of the work means the student will learn to navigate uncertainty, to deal with risks and challenges, and to take on board personal and professional responsibilities. The use of formative and summative feedback will enable the students to build a thorough overview of their individual process and progress. The training features independent and collaborative learning, problem solving, communication, perseverance, stamina, critical thinking, self-management, and an understanding of self-value. Mirroring industry standards students will undertake classes, rehearsals and performance schedules which are in line with expectations for a successful career in acting.


Sustainability

Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to reflect on the social, cultural, ethical, political, economic, and environmental impact of the work they do as individuals and collectively, and to recognise their shared responsibilities. Students will understand the impact on audiences of the values, perceptions, and actions of their own, of others and of characters they are portraying in rehearsal and performance. Students will be nurtured as future leaders in sustainability thinking and empowered to take informed decisions and responsible actions that promote the wellbeing of present and future generations. GSA has a strong commitment to working from the studio, to rehearsal, to public performance in the most sustainable way possible.

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.