Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £16,655 per year
Teaching Quality
Sheffield Hallam University is amongst the top ten UK providers for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Develop high-level skills as an actor and performer.
- Research, plan and execute professional-standard performances across a range of media.
- Create a digital portfolio to showcase your work.
- Engage with communities and challenge real-world issues.
- Take part in our final-year degree showcase festival.
Hone your craft through specialist modules in applied theatre, acting with texts, or comic performance. You’ll master production processes and apply your learning by creating and starring in your own public performances. You’ll also work with our external partners, helping to challenge global issues, through our Change Makers Festival.
Find out more about acting and performance courses, facilities and student projects on the SHU performance website.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
You’ll take part in interactive lectures, seminars and practical workshops led by creative professionals, practitioners and expert academics. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with industry partners on ‘live brief’ projects. As you develop experience, you’ll create a professional portfolio designed to prepare you for a range of careers – whether that’s in the creative industries, drama education or postgraduate study and training.
You learn through
- acting and performing
- taking part in production projects
- practical workshops
- attending performances
- work-based learning
- independent study
- real-life projects for external clients
- interactive lectures and seminars
- extracurricular activities, including theatre and performance productions
Course leaders and tutors
Dr Tom Payne
Senior Lecturer, Course Leader BA (Hons) Acting & PerformanceSenior Lecturer in Performance Studies, Joint Recruitment Lead (BA Acting and Performance), Social Media Lead (BA Acting and Performance)
Applied learning
Live projects
We work with a range of local theatres, filmmakers, performance companies and arts organisations on live briefs and production projects. Recent industry collaborators include Sheffield Theatres, Forced Entertainment, The Sheffield Creative Guild, Theatre Delicatessen, Stand and Be Counted, DINA, John Godber and Doppelgangster.
Staff often produce performances for local and international festivals – and invite students to take part in them, giving you the chance to work alongside professionals. In recent years students have participated in Off the Shelf Festival, the Venice Biennale, The Melbourne Fringe Festival, Season for Change, and Woodland Trust’s Tree Charter. We also collaborate with Hallam’s Department of Film and Media Production to create additional screen acting opportunities for you to take part in.
Field trips
Throughout the course you'll have the opportunity to go on a wide range of trips. We're ideally located close to Sheffield Theatres and regularly see performances there. You'll also travel to see work in other cities in the north, nationwide and where possible internationally. In previous years students have attended international theatre festivals in Prague, Venice, Berlin and Paris.
Networking opportunities
We have excellent links to local actors, companies and venues – which we encourage you to take advantage of. These include Sheffield’s Equity Branch, the Making Room network at Sheffield Theatres and the Sheffield Creative Guild, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet, talk with and work alongside people from the industry.
Find out more about our Acting and Performance course, from opportunities and student experiences.
Future careers
Our graduates have gone on to rewarding and fulfilling careers in
- the acting profession
- the creative industries
- film production
- marketing, communications and media
- education
- community theatre
- creative arts facilitation
- the charity sector
- journalism
- public-facing professions such as HR, training and customer service
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- The Royal Shakespeare Company
- Sheffield Theatres
- Forced Entertainment
- Third Angel
- GrowTheatre
- Blowfish
- Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.
- Open House Pictures
- their own companies and creative enterprises – set up with support from the university
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You’ll have practical classes in our state-of-the-art theatre spaces at the Performance Lab. These spaces are fully equipped with lighting, sound, special effects, communications systems, changing rooms, shower, props, costume/set store, green room and iMacs. You’ll also have access to our digital learning environment and editing facilities at Aspect Court – where we have three dedicated recording studios.
On this course you work with
- industry-standard cameras and sound equipment
- sound recording booths and audio recording equipment
- audio and video editing software
- theatre lighting and sound
- digital design software
- creative online platforms
Entry requirements
All students
Normally you need a Level 5 qualification (Foundation Degree or HND) in Performing Arts, Drama, Theatre or a related discipline. If you have achieved it in the last five years you will not be asked to submit a piece of work as part of the selection process as we will be able to assess your application via your UCAS form.
If you have professional experience, rather than a Level 5 qualification, or you have achieved a Level 5 qualification more than five years ago, you will be invited to submit a piece of work as part of the selection process.
If English is not your first language you need an IELTS score of 6.5 or above with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Important notice: The structure for this course is currently being reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment are all likely to change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Once the changes have been confirmed, updated module information will be published on this page.
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Change Makers' Festival | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Advanced Acting Techniques | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Drama In Education & The Community | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Making Comedy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Performance Lab | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/2025 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/2024 is £9,250 per year.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Acting, screenwriting and film courses (PDF, 211KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
