Acting

Acting is a discipline rooted in the study of human behaviour, emotion, and storytelling, and a serious training in it demands as much intellectual rigour as physical and vocal skill. The craft of acting asks you to inhabit other lives truthfully, to respond in the moment with honesty and specificity, and to communicate complex inner states through the body and voice in ways that resonate with an audience. Understanding the history and theory of acting, and the diverse traditions and techniques that have shaped the craft, is as central to this training as the practical work on stage and screen.

At York St John University, this three-year, full-time degree develops your voice, movement, and performance technique alongside a critical understanding of acting's history and the diverse methods that practitioners from Stanislavski to Brecht have developed. You will build a distinctive identity as a performer, working in a variety of forms and contexts and developing the versatility and self-awareness that the contemporary industry requires. A sandwich year gives you the opportunity to gain professional experience in a performance or production environment before completing your degree.

Work placements embedded in the course connect you with industry partners, and a year abroad provides the chance to study acting in a different cultural and theatrical tradition. A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the programme's focus on aptitude and potential as well as prior academic attainment.

Acting graduates develop portfolio careers that typically combine performance with teaching, directing, devising, community arts, and related creative work. Destinations span theatre, film, television, radio, voice work, and the digital media industries. Many graduates also develop skills in writing, producing, or arts management over the course of their careers.

Postgraduate study in acting, directing, applied theatre, or performance practice is a further route for those seeking to deepen their expertise or pursue academic and research roles in the performing arts.