Stage and Screen Acting BA (Hons)



Our Stage and Screen Acting course has a 93% student satisfaction rate.
National Student Survey, 2024

Overview

Ambition is everything and this inspiring degree provides contemporary vocational actor training, in a variety of styles, media and venues, with direct entry into year three.

BA (Hons) Stage and Screen Acting is a full-time course studied over two years, and is designed to provide a credible vocational training for applicants who have completed two years of Higher Education.  

Our aim is to create an exciting pathway for the many people who have completed HND, Foundation Degrees, Associate Degrees or two years at the Higher Education level in any subject area (for unrelated study, practical acting experience is required) and want a training course that is of equal value to more traditional conservatoire courses. 

Our close ties with Scotland’s only Screen Academy (housed at Edinburgh Napier University), and Edinburgh Napier’s expertise in actor training, close links with the industry and, our proximity to, and involvement in, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival give this course a context that cannot be matched elsewhere in the UK.

Our students have worked with such companies as National Theatre of Scotland, The National Theatre, Starz Television Network, Netflix, Traverse Theatre, Channel 4, Lyceum Theatre Company, Royal Shakespeare Company, Visible Fictions Theatre Company and Bard in the Botanics.
Edinburgh Napier student acting with their hand held up to the sky as they speak

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

2 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

W411

Course details

The Degree works in two phases: students begin with a year of intensive teaching, then move gradually toward more independent work in their final year: forming companies, working with playwrights, screenwriters and film makers, having the opportunity to produce and be mentored through a potential run at the Edinburgh Festival. Along with this career-launching run, students leave with a show reel and significant experience in acting for screen.
The degree is designed to help students make the transition from student learning to independent freelance artist as smoothly as possible.

Given our Edinburgh location, you’ll be working in some exciting venues, with professional directors and teachers, and the course culminates in the opportunity of a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    In both years there will be particular focus on style and the ability to adapt performance to specific medium. Through intensive study of the similarities and differences between the demands of stage and screen acting, you'll gain a critical understanding of your own acting process and confidence in your ability to work in both areas.

    Year 3
    • Intensive training in voice, movement and acting
    • Approaches to sustained performance and theories of performance
    • Stage and screen performance technique
    • Advanced techniques for performing classical texts
    • Entrepreneurial business skills appropriate for a freelance career in the entertainment industry
    Year 4
    • Professional standard productions on stage and screen
    • Critical approaches to acting and performance
    • The integration and practice of skills in public performances
    • The application of acting techniques appropriate to a particular style of performance
    • The development of a personal portfolio showcasing the individual’s work
    • Workshops and auditions with industry professionals
    • Festival performance

Additional mandatory costs

Recommended for the start of the course:

  • 'Mastering the Shakespeare Audition: A Quick Guide to Performance Success' by Donna Soto-Morettini (£17)
  • 32GB USB pen drive which (around £15)
  • Women: A rehearsal skirt (£10-£20) and character shoes (£10-£25)
  • Men: dark rehearsal suit jacket (second hand is fine- £10-£30) and dark-coloured hard-soles shoes (£10-£30)

Year 4, trimester 2: you will need to get a professional head shot (ranging from £50-£150 depending on the photographer)

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Stage and Screen Acting?

As part of the application process, after initial screening of your application by the Admissions Team you may be asked to send in an audition video. You can find more information on what we would ask for as part of this process here.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.


Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass HND Acting and Performance or HND Musical Theatre with grade B in all SCQF graded units.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with 6.0 overall and no element below 5.5.  For guidance on the acceptability of other English Language tests please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level. 

 

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2025/26 2026/27
Scotland £1,820 £1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,535 £9,790
Overseas and EU £17,520 £18,220
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

What can you do with a BA (Hons) Stage and Screen Acting course?

This intensive course is designed for aspiring actors which will enable them to step into the spotlight and embrace the thrill of performance, making their mark on both stage and screen. Through a dynamic blend of theory and practice, you'll develop the skills and versatility needed to captivate audiences in a variety of theatrical and cinematic contexts. You will gain the skills necessary to work in the performing arts, as well as a wide range of transferable skills you can take into employment in other fields. Our graduates have moved onto:

  • Stage and screen acting
  • Producing
  • Directing
  • Managing and launching small theatre companies
  • Theatre company management
  • Arts administration
  • Various roles in the entertainment industry which require initiative and creativity
  • Teaching

You'll delve into a wide range of acting techniques and approaches, from textual analysis and character development to screen acting and audition preparation. Through practical rehearsals, scene studies, and on-camera workshops, you'll gain hands-on experience bringing characters to life and mastering the nuances of performance in front of both live and live and recorded audiences.

This course will help you to emerge as a confident and skilled actor, ready to pursue a career on stage, screen, or both. Whether you aspire to perform in classical theatre productions or explore the exciting world of television and streaming media, our BA (Hons) in Stage and Screen Acting will provide you with the training and opportunities to turn your passion for acting into a successful and rewarding career.

What does an Actor do?

Stepping into the spotlight as an Actor means harnessing your passion for performance and creativity to bring a wide array of characters to life on both stage and screen. This role involves immersing yourself in the essence of each character, delivering depth, emotion, and authenticity with every portrayal.

Your work will include interpreting scripts, developing character motivations, rehearsing scenes, and collaborating closely with directors and fellow cast members. Imagine diving into diverse roles, from historical figures to fantastical beings, and meeting the challenge of portraying their complexities with skill and nuance.

Whether performing live in theatres or acting in front of cameras, you'll captivate audiences with your ability to evoke a range of emotions. Your versatility will shine through whether you are on stage, filming on location, or lending your voice to animated characters. The journey of an Actor is one of continuous growth and exploration, constantly pushing the limits of your craft and embracing new roles and genres.

Edinburgh Napier University students acting