Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £13,995 per year
Course summary
- Develop your skills as an actor and performer
- Create digital materials to showcase your work
- Research, plan and execute a wide range of performances at a professional level
- Use performance to engage with communities and challenge real-world issues.
You’ll be immersed in the creative process of making and presenting theatre and performance in a range of styles and across a range of platforms (such as stage, screen, audio and digital/new media). You will develop your acting skills and contribute to our own festival, The Change Makers Festival.
Find out more about acting and performance courses, facilities and student projects on the SHU performance website.
How you learn
On this practical course, you’ll take part in interactive lectures, seminars and workshops and have the opportunity to work with industry partners on live projects.At the end of your second year, you’ll travel abroad to see performances made and presented in a different context.
You learn through
- practical workshops
- working in an ensemble
- going to see performances
- independent study
- undertaking real-life projects for external clients
- lectures and seminars
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
Work placements
In your second year, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise idea.
You’ll work both independently and in groups, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.
Live projects
We work with a range of local organisations (theatres, film makers, theatre companies and arts organisations) on live briefs, with staff often producing work for local festivals. You’ll be invited to participate in these projects, giving you the chance to work alongside industry professionals.
Field trips
We are ideally located close to Sheffield Theatres and regularly see performances there. You’ll also travel to see work in other cities in the north and nationwide. In your second year you’ll be able to go abroad to experience –and sometimes participate in – an international theatre festival. For this trip, we pay for the flights, accommodation and event tickets and ask students to pay for their own food and drink.
Networking opportunities
We have excellent links to local actors, companies and venues, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and talk to people from the industry.
Future careers
Our students have gone on to rewarding and fulfilling careers in
- the acting profession
- the creative industries
- film production
- marketing, communications and media
- education
- creative arts facilitation
- the charity sector
- public facing professions such as HR, training and customer service
- and a number have set up their own companies
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- The Royal Shakespeare Company
- Blowfish
- Forced Entertainment
- Third Angel
- GrowTheatre
- Sheffield Theatres
Student success story
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of online lessons and face-to-face teaching with 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 | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
Most of our teaching is conducted in our two studio theatre space, the Performance Lab. These spaces are fully equipped with lighting, sound, special effects, a communications system, changing rooms, a shower, prop, costume and set store, a green room and iMac computers. We also have three dedicated recording studios.
On this course you work with
- industry-standard cameras and sound equipment
- sound recording booths
- editing software
- theatre lighting and sound
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 104
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BCC at A Level.
- DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Access - 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.
If you are made an offer, you will invited to a Course Open Day. At Course Open Days there will be the opportunity for you to come along to an open workshop to hear more about the course, meet some of the staff and, if you wish, you can perform for us. If we like what we see, we may be able to give you a lower offer.
We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 at the point of enrolment.
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. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
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.
You can take an optional placement in year three.
Year 1
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Acting Ensemble | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Media For Acting And Performance | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Performance Commission | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Acting With Texts | Credits: 40 |
Module: Bodies, Space, Performance | Credits: 40 |
Module: Ideas Into Action | Credits: 40 |
Year 3
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Change Makers' Festival | Credits: 60 |
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Advanced Acting Techniques | Credits: 20 |
Module: Drama In Education & The Community | Credits: 20 |
Module: Making Comedy | Credits: 20 |
Module: Performance Lab | Credits: 20 |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2021/22 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† 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 2021/22 is £13,995 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
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