Acting - MA / PgDip
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Main deadline date for our Acting courses is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time) – please note that applications submitted after the main deadline date will still be considered for the 2025 intake The PG Dip/MA Acting course is designed for graduates who wish to undertake advanced studies to further their knowledge and widen their experience of acting in order to take up a professional acting ...
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MA / PgDip
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location Bournville
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
[00:00:03] Danielle I decided to join the MFA course because I felt like something was missing in my acting. I was doing things, but it just felt like I was missing a piece. I decided to kind of refine my training and figure out what that missing piece was.
[00:00:20] Danielle Hey.
[00:00:21] Friend Hey.
[00:00:21] Danielle You ready for speech?
[00:00:22] Friend Yes.
[00:00:23] Danielle My favourite part is the community aspect in that. There's never a time where I feel, like, forgotten or I feel left out.
[00:00:32] Friend Do you remember the play that you did for the first time?
[00:00:35] Danielle I played like an old, famous actress, and I had, like, big sunglasses. And my mom loves telling the story. How when she saw that play, she cried because she knew that I found what I wanted to do.
[00:00:49] Danielle I think you should never let fear stop you from trying it, because you then will always have that regret of what if I just went for it? My biggest aspiration as an actor is to be a part of the RSC. I know that's going to be a lot of hard work, and this could be a lot of steps to get there, but that's the dream.
[00:01:17] Danielle I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken.
[00:01:24] Friend Woo!
[00:01:26] Danielle All right. So. Is that okay?
[00:01:30] Friend Yeah. Sure.
[00:01:32] Danielle Yeah.
[00:01:33] Danielle When you know you've achieved what you set out to do, you gain confidence making the next step less scary and more exciting. I came here wanting to flourish as an actor, and I have I've worked on my weaknesses. I've put all of the techniques into practice, and now I know this is just the beginning for me.
[00:02:07] Danielle I've come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken. Your spirits relax. And for what? Words. Words, words.
Main deadline date for our Acting courses is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time) – please note that applications submitted after the main deadline date will still be considered for the 2025 intake
The PG Dip/MA Acting course is designed for graduates who wish to undertake advanced studies to further their knowledge and widen their experience of acting in order to take up a professional acting career upon graduation.
The course seeks to create independently minded performers and practitioners who are able to apply a variety of methodologies to their creative work. Its aim is to inculcate forward thinking practitioners able to create real employment opportunities for themselves, both in finding work and creating work.
This laboratory programme provides opportunities for students to enhance their experience and understanding of acting by focusing on the repertoire of the British and European traditions. Students form an acting company and each exercise, workshop or production is designed to challenge the student actor and to progressively develop the imaginative, intellectual and creative skills required for acting.
The delivery of the course is based on the conservatoire model which requires an intensive taught delivery of a minimum of thirty to forty hours per week over a minimum of thirty weeks per year. Its focus is practice-based learning through which the student is enabled to develop the requisite intellectual, imaginative and physical skills of the professional actor.
What's covered in this course?
The MA Acting course is a full-time programme delivered intensively over one year (4 terms – September to September) that provides a fast track to entering the industry in the UK. Whilst there is a specific focus on entering the UK industry, the focus of work within the repertoire is, initially, European, and later widens to include repertoire from World theatre. Studies focus on the ensemble, the tools of Psychological Realism, and the demands of classical texts, professional preparation, and personal research.
Delivered through a series of exercise, workshop and performance opportunities the programme also includes acting for the camera and voice over work, and for MA students culminates in a showcase, a final production and a practice-based research project.
Students are supported through this highly intensive course by a robust pastoral system led by personal tutors who will support students throughout the course. Students can seek tutorials with specific tutors or their course director at any time. Each student receives an individual tutorial on their progress and development every term. This also provides an opportunity for them to speak about their experience of the course and raise any areas of concern.
Students are also given more formal opportunities to feedback on their course through the formal BCU structures. In addition to these, the Course Director holds debriefs for the group after the completion of every performance module and a termly meeting is held in which the cohort can express any areas of concern they may have about the course and its delivery.
Why Choose Us?
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire staff have vast experience, both within the UK and internationally. Staff have worked with well-known individuals, projects and companies such as the BBC, the RSC, the NHS, British repertory and festival theatres, and much more.
- To ensure high quality tuition, we normally have a maximum of 16 students enrolled onto the course each year.
- By joining Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, you will also be part of Birmingham City University, meaning you’ll have access to all the University’s state-of-the-art facilities, including TV and radio studios and a green screen, all of which you’ll have the opportunity to experience.
- Our graduates include Nicola Coughlan, who have gone on to perform in prestigious shows such as Bridgerton and Derry Girls.
- One of the most unique things about our programme is the solo performance project, performed as part of our yearly MA FEST.
- For the final part of the year, our students perform a solo project as part of MA Fest. These performances go on to venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe, Camden/Brighton Fringe, the Birmingham Comedy Festival and the Strawberry One Act Play Festival in NYC, where former students have won major acting awards.
The MA Acting course is the first anywhere to use the University’s new £62m TV production facilities at Parkside, Birmingham, of which Birmingham Conservatoire is a part. Recorded Media training will prepare you for work in film, television, radio drama and audiobooks.
Open Day
Join us on campus where you'll be able to explore our facilities and accommodation in person, and chat to staff and students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Next Open Day: 12 June 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Essential Requirements
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Admission is by audition, but we would normally require an undergraduate degree in Acting or a related subject, or a professional acting CV detailing your experience. |
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The course is also suitable for professional actors seeking a refresher course. |
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The MA option is designed for those with suitable academic abilities. |
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We ask that applicants only apply for one RBC postgraduate acting course in an application cycle. |
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For full details and advice about auditions and interviews, please visit the Acting Auditions and Interviews section of the Conservatoire website. |
English language requirements
- IELTS overall score 7.0 (6.5 in all components) or equivalent is required.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £14,600 in 2025/26
- Apply via UCAS
Award: PgDip
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 9 months
- £9,735 in 2025/26
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
How to apply
Please note when applying: you should only submit one application for either the MA or the PgDip Acting course, as you will only be considered for one of these courses and the audition criteria is the same for both. We ask that applicants only apply for one RBC postgraduate acting course in an application cycle, so you should not also apply for the MFA course in the same application cycle.
Please read our information on the audition process before making your application. We charge an audition fee of £46, which must be paid prior to audition and covers the entire audition process.
You can find guidance on how to prepare for an Audition by visiting the page below.
If you are applying from outside the UK/EU and are not able to attend an audition in the UK, you may wish to submit an online audition. Details of how to do this can be found here.
Completing your application
Further information on writing your personal statement can be found on the UCAS Conservatoires website.
Course in Depth
PG Dip
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
You will need a firm understanding of the basic core principles that support a successful performance and to practice those essential core technical skills of acting, voice and movement within a rehearsal and performance experience. Practising the craft of acting within the rehearsal environment allows for an understanding and practice of the theoretical elements of creating and communicating a character, as used by contemporary practitioners, whilst developing your imaginative powers,narrative and improvisational skills. You will be encouraged to take responsibility for your learning and required to begin to develop a personal working system and code of practice that will foster a professional attitude both in rehearsal and performance, with further time spent in evaluation and appraisal of their own system.
This module delivers practical class sessions in Movement, Voice, Singing and Acting in order that the student develops and embodies the highly specialized skills that form the basis of the actor’s ability to manifest interpretive and creative performance choices at an advanced level.
The work undertaken in these classes supports the intellectual, imaginative, creative and physical work taking place simultaneously in the modules Acting: Foundation; Workshop 1 and 2; and Production.
This module further develops the work undertaken in the module Acting Exercises.
To enter the profession, students need access to the relevant employment ‘gatekeepers’, such as agents, casting directors, artistic directors etc. It also allows students to develop appropriate interview/audition techniques and to prepare a portfolio of material for future auditions. The module gives students initial support in the transition into work.
For PgDip and MA students, this module enables students to prepare audition material and present it to a professional audience, normally both in Birmingham and London.
This module brings together all of the elements of the programme in two fully-staged performances. Students work to a fully professional model, as a member of an ensemble, playing as cast, in roles selected to provide them with opportunities to develop all of the requisite professional, imaginative and creative skills.
MA
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
You will need a firm understanding of the basic core principles that support a successful performance and to practice those essential core technical skills of acting, voice and movement within a rehearsal and performance experience. Practising the craft of acting within the rehearsal environment allows for an understanding and practice of the theoretical elements of creating and communicating a character, as used by contemporary practitioners, whilst developing your imaginative powers,narrative and improvisational skills. You will be encouraged to take responsibility for your learning and required to begin to develop a personal working system and code of practice that will foster a professional attitude both in rehearsal and performance, with further time spent in evaluation and appraisal of their own system.
This module delivers practical class sessions in Movement, Voice, Singing and Acting in order that the student develops and embodies the highly specialized skills that form the basis of the actor’s ability to manifest interpretive and creative performance choices at an advanced level.
The work undertaken in these classes supports the intellectual, imaginative, creative and physical work taking place simultaneously in the modules Acting: Foundation; Workshop 1 and 2; and Production.
This module further develops the work undertaken in the module Acting Exercises.
To enter the profession, students need access to the relevant employment ‘gatekeepers’, such as agents, casting directors, artistic directors etc. It also allows students to develop appropriate interview/audition techniques and to prepare a portfolio of material for future auditions. The module gives students initial support in the transition into work.
For PgDip and MA students, this module enables students to prepare audition material and present it to a professional audience, normally both in Birmingham and London.
This module will provide MA students with the opportunity to rehearse and perform to the public in a complex professional-level environment .Students will further develop high standards in synthesizing technical, research, interpretative and specialist communication skills,informed by knowledge and understanding of contemporary acting theory.
This module spans the programme and the Major Project, delivered in Term 4, represents the culmination of your journey on the course. It is the point in the course when you have the opportunity to reflect on all you have learnt thus far in order to initiate lines of enquiry and personal strategies through which to develop your own ideas as a foundation for future work in the field.
Much of the work of the Major Project is self-directed. You are encouraged to undertake research-through-practice and create a performance-based major project. You may choose to include a written component by way of evaluating their practice or you may choose to perform and be examined through a viva voce examination. There are a range of options for submission, laid out below and in the module brief.
The MA in Acting operates as a one-year, full-time course. As a Master’s student, you will be expected to take a proactive attitude toward study with timetabled classes as well as time for self-directed study.
Throughout the course, you will be taught through a series of modules covering a different aspect of the acting field, teaching you a diverse, yet specialised combination of knowledge and skill. You will formulate a strong understanding of the importance of context to your work, maintaining an awareness of developments within the acting field.
Towards the end of your Master’s you will be expected to devise and present a research project. This project is designed to demonstrate an accumulation of the skills and knowledge you have developed throughout the programme. You will be expected to engage in independent study, researching a specific area of your theatrical interest.
Student stories - Danielle Pinnock
"I chose Birmingham School of Acting because I have always wanted to study abroad in England for as long as I could remember. I think the acting training in England really is special, because you are learning from tutors from all over Europe. I wanted to study acting, because I graduated with a directing emphasis from my undergraduate college, Temple University. I really wanted to sharpen and challenge my acting skills and I was able to do that and more at BSA. I am now in Chicago working at The Goodman Theatre on Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s new play ‘By the Way, Meet Vera Stark’. I am understudying for the role of Lottie.
Employability
Enhancing employability skills
This MA Acting course is designed to not only develop your practical performance skills but to help you expand your intellectual knowledge of the creative industries. You will finish this course with the skills expected of the contemporary actor, by studying the theory and practice of key acting processes. You will be able to engage critically and creatively, mapping out the performance possibilities of a production text.
You will have the skill to create and perform a believable character with authentic psychological and emotional truths. With knowledge of the demands and performance needs of genres, style and text you will be able to produce content that demonstrates depth, meaning and originality.
As a MA Acting graduate you will confidently be able to analyse performance scripts, applying the principles inherent in the Stanislavski system. You will learn how to make mature and advanced interpretations of a performance text, expanding your ability to analyse and synthesise theatrical work.
You’ll learn the skills and awareness you need will enable you to look out for auditions, leaving you with the best chance of succeeding in your acting career.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
In the past, we have welcomed students from international countries such as Norway and further afield. We encourage international students to study with us, as we feel you will benefit from experiencing a new culture and bringing your own perspective and flair to the programme.
As a University, we are one of Britain’s leading providers of creative, talented professionals. We have a range of visiting tutors, industry connections and innovative teaching. In Birmingham alone there are various performing arts programmes and venues, and with London just a train journey away, you will be surrounded by creativity and possibility.
The MA Acting course will be delivered in English, and the ability to speak and to write English with considerable fluency is a requirement for entry to the course. In most cases, a candidate whose first language is not English may be required to take a standard test in English in order to evaluate your level of comprehension, skills in conversation and writing. The result of this test will be necessary prior to being offered a place on the course.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
Location
Our Acting courses are based at Ruskin Hall in Bournville, although students can also benefit from a range of performance spaces around the city. As a part of the Arts, Design and Media faculty, we also have access to facilities at the Parkside Building, which boasts state-of-the-art radio and television studios, edit suites, photography studios, and much more.
Performances
Students regularly perform at professional theatres across the West Midlands, including The Birmingham Central Library Theatre; Crescent Theatre; Hippodrome Studio (Patrick Centre); The Old Rep Theatre and The Drum.
Our staff
Lise Olson
Course Director, MA in Acting
Lise is currently the Course Director of MA in Acting at Birmingham School of Acting. She relocated from Merseyside, where she trained actors for a decade at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Lise has been directing and training actors in the US and UK for 30 years.
More about LiseStephen Simms
Vice Principal - Acting, Professor of Actor Education
Stephen is the Vice Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting, one of the UK's leading conservatoires of acting, where he is also the Head of Acting. He is also Professor of Actor Education, the only person to hold this position in the country. He directs and teaches on the acting courses at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Recent...
More about Stephen