Acting

BA (Hons) (Top-up)

Study Acting at University Centre Leeds

This is an exciting and dynamic 1 year course in professional acting training. Classes and performances are delivered and directed by industry practitioners and our local creative partners. It is an intense, full-time acting course for those wanting to become working actors in a range of disciplines and enhance their skills by producing their own work.

Starts: September 2025
Duration: 1 year
Venue: Quarry Hill Campus and Prime Studios
Fee: £9,250 full-time (per academic year for UK students)

International Fee: £14,000 full-time (per academic year) £3,000 Scholarship available
UCAS Course Code(s): W411
UCAS Institution Code: L21
Study Mode: Full Time
Validated By: The Open University

Entry Requirements

TYPICAL OFFER

Foundation Degree: Pass on the second year of a foundation degree in a relevant subject.

HND: Pass grade in a relevant subject.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

Mature applicants:We welcome applications from candidates who may not precisely match the academic criteria, but can demonstrate experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category will be auditioned to assess their suitability for the course and asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.

*21 years and over at the start of the course

RPL Claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)

Interview / Audition: All external applicants are required to audition and meet the Audition Criteria to ensure the student has the requisite practical skills for the programme.

Acting

The BA (Hons) Acting (Top-up) course has been created to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work within the acting industry or progress to further study on an MA programme.

The Top-Up will deliver technical training in acting techniques and processes to advance your skill set. You will hone your chosen specialism, such as singing, puppetry, stage combat and scriptwriting, and will continuously develop these skills in line with your aspirational career trajectory.

Additionally, you will work towards professional briefs to develop your technical and transferable skills, consider your own identity as a performer and prepare for professional work within the acting industry.

Throughout the programme, you will apply your knowledge and skills to real-world concepts, while drawing on relevant theories and concepts. There will also be opportunities for you to critically reflect on your practical and workplace experiences in a creative context.

This course emphasises independent learning and the development of critical thinking skills. In turn, you will become increasingly knowledgeable and reflective on your academic development and current practices in the acting industry.

This course is validated by The Open University

The Open University Logo

How To Apply

If you would like to apply for to study full time, please do so via UCAS.

The institution code for University Centre Leeds is L21.

The application fee for applying through UCAS is £28.50, unless you are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).

Apply via UCAS

How to Apply:

Register for an Account: Click the link below and use the "Create a New User" facility to register for an application account. An email will be sent to the address you provide, with a verification link.
Verify Your Email: Click the verification link in the email to confirm your account.
Complete Your Application: Once your account is created, you can start your application. You can save your progress and return to it later if needed. Your username will be the email address you used to register.

To access your account again and complete your application, use the second link provided in your verification email.

Apply Now: Direct Application Form

Need Help? For further information, please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk

Please note, if you apply directly, we are required to submit a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) application to UCAS on your behalf if your application is successful and you enrol.

If you are:

a current student with University Centre Leeds,
due to complete your Foundation Degree and
don't already have an application in UCAS for this cycle,

you can make an application directly to us for this course.

To make your application, use the below link and register for an application account via the Create a New User facility. You will then be sent an email to the email address you provided when registering for an account, on which you will need to click the link to verify your email address.

Once you have created an account, you will then be able to start and save your application, should you not be able to complete it all in one go. Please note that your username is the email address you provided when registering for an account.

To access your account again should you need to complete and submit your application form, simply use the second link provided in your verification email.

To register for an application account please use the following link and use the Create a New User facility:

Internal Students - Direct Application Form

For further information in regards to this please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk

Course Information

Our modules focus on skills development and may include:

Actor Specialism (20 credits) – Hone your chosen specialism in one discipline such as singing, puppetry, stage combat and scriptwriting, This Module completes in establishing your professional Spotlight page
Dissertation/Professional Performance (40 credits) – Take your performance skills to a professional level by working with Industry Directors on 4 projects all performed to public audiences throughout the year. The dissertation is mostly practical with a logbook reflection as the academic component.
Community Practice (20 credits) – Develop your skills in writing, delivering, and evaluating performance based workshop for a target group of your choice.
The Radical Actor (20 credits) – Bolster your appreciation of the power of live and recorded art to incite social change
Personal Project (20 credits) – Develop potential project ideas you can further develop after graduation

Tailor your practice to enable your skill development and career trajectory for your chosen specialism
Receive extensive support for your health and wellbeing, including mental health self care techniques for self-employment and industry critique
Develop dynamic relationships with local and national industry agencies, giving you a head start in your first year of work
Build essential workplace skills
Engage with local practitioners and companies to develop networking strategies and professional relations
Get personal introductions to industry professionals and potential future employers
Enjoy a full-time practical timetable that allows you to be ‘fit for work’ and ready for the pressures of working in the industry
Build close relationships with other students across our HE Creative Arts provisions, enabling future collaborative projects
Take advantage of work experience opportunities in TV/film, radio, animation and theatre
Emerge as a bespoke performer with a strong sense of self and own identity, with confidence in your performance skills and creativity

Assessments will be carried out through:

Practical performed assessments
Workshop learning
Student and tutor-led sessions
Personal and professional action planning, with a focus on tutor and peer-led reflective feedback

Mabgate Campus – featuring large rehearsal and workshop spaces, photography studios, Mac suites, make-up studios, a TV studio and studio spaces

TYPICAL OFFER

Foundation Degree: Pass on the second year of a foundation degree in a relevant subject.

HND: Pass grade in a relevant subject.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria.

*21 years and over at the start of the course

RPL Claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)

Interview / Audition: All external applicants are required to audition and meet the Audition Criteria to ensure the student has the requisite practical skills for the programme.

Further study such as a Masters degree or PGCE
Professional Actor
Practitioner

For the latest version of the programme specifications for this course please click here.

For the latest version of the course handbook for this course please click here.

For the latest version of The Open University regulations please click here.

Materials for specific projects
Trips or excursions including work experience opportunities
DBS checks for working with children and or vulnerable adults
Kits required as part of the course

Information for International Students

Applications are open for 2025 entry.

To apply directly to study at University Centre Leeds as an international applicant, please see the direct apply link further up this page or visit our 'How to apply' page and complete the steps.

You can also apply through UCAS.

For more information please visit our 'How to apply' page.

Course fees for Undergraduates are £14,000 (GBP)

Scholarship available £3,000 (GBP) all courses.

For more information about fees and scholarships, please click here.

Please see our entry requirements page for additional requirements as an international student

International students will study 5 additional hours on top of the regular timetable.

1 hour cultural studies
2 hours academic study skills
2 hours English studies

For more information about visa and immigration, please click here.

Go to International site

Unistats

Hear from our Performing Arts and Production Arts students!

Hear directly from our students at University Centre Leeds as they share their unique journeys, challenges, and achievements. In this video, they discuss what makes learning here special, from supportive tutors and hands-on learning experiences to the close-knit community that fuels their passion and ambitions.

Discover how University Centre Leeds has helped shape their confidence, skills, and career paths, bringing their goals within reach in a vibrant and supportive environment.