
What you'll study
Combining practical actor training with reflective, reflexive and critical skills, this intensely vocational and experiential course equips you for working in the industry as a professional actor.
Alongside developing the core disciplines of voice, movement and acting techniques in a studio training setting, students also have the opportunity to synthesise this learning in the final year of their course.
In your final year, you’ll be supported through working within a combination of both simulated and professional theatre, film, TV and radio settings, developing skills for real-world, working environments in these key graduate employment areas. These settings include film and TV sets, theatres/live performance venues and radio studios onsite in our Wigan campus, locally within the Greater Manchester area and also in London too.
A self-led performance-based final Personal Research Project empowers students to develop the creative and intellectual independence of artists who can shape the industry of the future.
You will have industry lectures on topics which ensure graduates are ready to work in the industry, ranging from keeping accounts to finding an agent, casting information and industry best practice.
We also encourage political and philosophical engagement with the world around us, enabling you to complete your training as a graduate with a range of flexible and transferable skills.
This course is ideal for learners who are wanting to act across all mediums of performance upon graduation. While students on this course will train to be confident performing on stage, the course also has a particular focus on actors wishing to develop specialist skills in acting for recorded and broadcast media, such as TV, film and radio.

Why choose this course?
Expert training
Actor training for stage, television, radio and screen led by professional staff and established practitioners. Training including specific preparation for securing agent representation, audition work and successful networking and relationship building with casting directors, producers, venues and other industry work-givers.
Excellent and spacious facilities
Unique actor training facilities, located in the grade-two listed Trencherfield Mill building. Multiple rehearsal studios, specifically designed for teaching specialist actor training skills, such as actor movement and Acting for TV and Radio, as well as the fully equipped and specifically designed Mill at the Pier Theatre.
Professional experience
You will take part in industry showcases as well as performing in a range of fully-staged public productions in professional venues. You will also perform on professional grade radio and screen settings, graduating with professional quality showreel and audio reel material for use in marketing yourself and securing employment. You will work with a combination of experienced resident tutors and industry professionals on these projects.
Unrivalled location
Undertaking your studies in Wigan (Greater Manchester) means that Manchester’s MediaCity is right on your doorstep; one of the world’s leading media and tech hubs. Wigan is a rapidly developing cultural hub – with neighbouring venues such as The Old Courts and local theatre company Thick Skin Theatre in receipt of the Arts’ Council’s National Portfolio Status, exciting, dynamic creative performance work is being made in the borough in which you will be studying.

Course breakdown
Course content is regularly reviewed, to make it relevant and current. Course modules are therefore subject to change.
Year 1
You will be introduced to the fundamental core skills and key acting concepts essential for the training actor to develop, as well as the core academic skills needed to undertake degree level study in this discipline.
You will cover the following key areas of study:
· Introduction to key acting skills and competencies for the mediums of both stage and screen
· Introduction to key embodiment skills and competencies for the actor – sung and spoken voice and body and movement skills
· Introduction to contextual studies – placing the key acting skills and competencies studied within the wider context of the industry from the outset of the course
· You will begin to synthesise the learning you are undertaking in all key areas of technical knowledge by putting these into practice through studying termly acting projects.
Year 2
You will deepen and further your knowledge and understanding of the key acting principles and competencies necessary for the actor to embody, and further develop their reflective, reflexive and critical thinking skills the training actor studying to degree level needs to possess.
You will cover the following key areas of study:
· Further development of key acting skills and competencies for the mediums of both stage and screen and introduction to and development of key acting skills needed for radio, including audition technique across these mediums
· Further development of key embodiment skills and competencies for the actor – sung and spoken voice and body and movement skills
· Contextual studies – continuing to place the key acting skills and competencies studied within the wider context of the industry from the outset of the course
· You will continue to synthesise the learning you are undertaking in all key areas of study by putting these into practice through undertaking termly acting projects.
Year 3
You will synthesise the studio training undertaken in Years 1 and 2 by putting this into practice through work in a series of simulated and professional settings across all mediums of study – stage, TV/Film and Radio. You will also undertake a final Independent Research Project, in which you will synthesise all of your learnings over the three years in terms of both acting skills and competencies, but also critical thinking and reflective and reflexive practises.
You will cover the following key areas of study:
· Live performance work – termly shows in the Mill at the Pier venue and/or other venues
· Acting showcases
· Filmed scenes for use in a professional showreel
· Recorded voice work for use in a professional audio reel
· Self-tape coaching
· Independent Research Project work – a chance to culminate your learning by working on an independent project of your choosing.
Teaching and assessment methods
· In your first year, you will complete work via a combination of scheduled learning and teaching activities and of independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment.
· In your second year, you will complete work via a combination of scheduled learning and teaching activities and independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment.
· In your third year, you will complete work via a combination of indicative scheduled learning and teaching activities and independent learning on projects, productions, placements or self-directed study. Assessment will be through Performances; Coursework, presentations and portfolios; Continuous practical assessment.
Your future career


We’re committed to getting you industry ready. You’ll receive support with career development during your studies, which includes:
- Performing live in public, fully-staged performances in a variety of venues
- Preparation for the voice acting industry via the development of an audio reel, including both audio drama and radio commercial/narration content
- Development of an acting showreel, ensuring you’re ready for film and TV industry opportunities
- Live showcases, introducing your work to the industry and agents
Rose Bruford alumni success
Lake Bell
What Happens in Vegas, No Strings Attached
Jessica Gunning
Fortitude, Pride
Maddy Hill
Imogen, EastEnders
Gary Oldman
JFK, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Paranoia
Hayley Squires
I, Daniel Blake; Collateral; Adult Material; Call the Midwife
Tom Hopper
Umbrella Academy, Game of Thrones
Giovanna Fletcher
Presenter, Actress, Winner of I'm A Celeb
Careers options
Studying an Arts related subject provides students with a wide range of skills. Recent graduates have progressed into the following occupations:
- Actors, artists entertainers & presenters
- Arts officers producers & directors
- Chief executives & senior officials
How to join
Institution code: R51
Course code: W411
64 UCAS points*
This is equivalent to two Cs at ‘A’ level or one Merit and two Passes at BTEC (QCF) National Diploma or equivalent.
*We offer places based upon your future potential. We may offer you a place based on lower UCAS points than shown here, or an offer that is not linked to UCAS points if we have evidence of your potential from your application or audition.For 2024 entry, there will be a £35 audition fee, unless you are eligible for an exemption.
FAQ's
Course Summary
Duration
3 years
Mode of study
Full time
Start date
September 2024
Course Type
Undergraduate Course
Qualification
BA (Hons)
Course Fees (2023 Entry)
Course fees for 2024 entry have not been published yet
UK/Republic of Ireland students (Fee per year)
£9250
International students (Fee per year)
£16675