10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
APPROVED
BA (Hons) Acting Awarding Body University of the Arts London College Central Saint Martins Programme Performance (L035) Course AOS Code 10108 FHEQ Level Level 6 Degree Course Credits 360 Mode Full Time Duration of Course 3 years Teaching Weeks 99 weeks Valid From September 1st 2019 QAA Subject Dance, drama and performance Benchmark UAL Subject Performance and design for theatre and screen Classification JACS Code W410 - Acting UCAS Code W410 PSRB N/A Work placement No offered Course Entry The standard entry requirements for this course are Requirements as follows:
One or a combination of the following accepted full level
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
3 qualifications:
2 A Levels at grade C or above Pass in Foundation Diploma in Performance (Level 3 or 4) and 1 A Level at grade C or above Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma Pass at UAL Extended Diploma Access to Higher Education Diploma Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
And three GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*- C).
Entry to this course will also be determined by audition.
APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
Related academic or work experience The quality of the personal statement A strong academic or other professional reference
OR a combination of these factors.
Each application will be considered on its own merit but cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English Language Requirements
IELTS level 7.5 or above, with at least 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English Language requirements webpage).
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Selection Criteria We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:
Stage presence Ability to work as part of a group Ability to respond to direction Useful balance between emotional and intellectual engagement and spirit of enquiry Storytelling ability Knowledge of the demands and the realities of the profession An examination of your knowledge of theatre, your professional aspirations and your understanding of the realities of the profession A genuine interest in Drama Centre London and its particular approach to training Ability to select and understand appropriate material.
What we are looking for
We are looking for:
Students who are ready to take on an extremely demanding profession, who are mature and self-confident, and who are willing to take criticism and turn it to their advantage while preserving a sense of humour. Above all, we look for people who can express themselves freely and with confidence.
Potential student actors who are committed, sensitive, imaginative, curious and resilient, with a passion for acting and a serious approach to the art of acting in the classical tradition.
People who are not afraid to take creative risks, who respond to stimuli and who are excited by the idea of being in an ensemble, working generously and openly with others.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Awards and Percentage of Scheduled Learning Year 1
Percentage of Scheduled Learning 52
Awards Credits
Certificate of Higher Education (Exit Only) 120
Year 2
Percentage of Scheduled Learning 58
Awards Credits
Diploma of Higher Education (Exit Only) 240
Year 3
Percentage of Scheduled Learning 44
Awards Credits
Bachelor of Arts 360
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Course Aims and Outcomes
The Aims and Outcomes of this Course are as follows: Aim/Outcome Description The course aims to provide a conservatoire training for actors. By 'conservatoire', we mean a training designed to produce professional performers with a flexible range of creative, behavioural and technical skills that will equip them to work in a wide range of theatrical genres, and in the wide variety of media available in the 21st Century, including television, film, radio, Aim gaming, recorded voice and internet platforms. It is a rigorous and intensive programme that will challenge the student to develop their creative, critical, physical and emotional capacities to the full. It will therefore also produce graduates who can apply what they have learned to other professions that require inventiveness, resourcefulness, excellent communication skills and the capacity for sustained effort and collaborative working. Function successfully as an actor in a professional environment, Outcome understanding how you might contribute to creative projects, including innovative practice and original ideas. Engage critically and practically with theatrical traditions, Outcome particularly Western performance practice relevant to contemporary industry requirements. Demonstrate embodied expertise in the acting approaches Outcome currently taught through the course, while acknowledging the value of alternative approaches. Identify creative and practical problems and investigate them Outcome through enquiry, analysis and experimentation both autonomously and in an ensemble. Apply self-discipline, resourcefulness and creativity to Outcome challenges specific to the job of an actor, to related careers and/or post-graduate study.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Distinctive Features BA (Hons) Acting at Drama Centre offers a prestigious and highly-regarded conservatoire training for professional theatre and recorded media. It 1 provides an innovative and methodological approach to developing the actor's unique talent. A very small cohort ensures maximum individual attention and world-class education and training for life. The course teaches the technique of Character Analysis, developed by 2 founding teacher Yat Malmgren. You'll be guided by a core team of dedicated and highly gifted teachers whose work is adventurous, modern and international. Our actor training is a 3 unique blend of Character Analysis, contemporary Stanislavsky, and Vakhtangov's 'Fantastic Realism'. You'll benefit from close links with the MA Directing Course at Drama Centre 4 and from the vibrant artistic culture of Central Saint Martins and the University of the Arts, including designers, artists, and film-makers. You'll benefit from strong contacts with the profession, including regular visits 5 from distinguished practitioners, alumni, visiting professors and freelance directors. Our Agents Showcase opens doors to professional opportunities during the 6 later stages of the course: in recent years students still in training have secured prestigious professional engagements. Five minutes walk from St. Pancras International, we are at the heart of 7 dynamic, multi-cultural London, the theatre capital of the world.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Course Detail
BA Acting prepares you to compete for work as a professional actor. The course includes a wide variety of classes, including acting, character analysis, movement, music, singing, voice, speech, play analysis and cultural and contextual studies. This combination of classes will equip you with the skills needed for the acting profession and will situate the actor in a wider context. The classes are inter- connected and designed to address your individual needs and aspirations.
The teaching approaches used at Drama Centre have evolved from both Russian and American methodologies. The learning materials used for classes include a variety and styles and genres, including naturalism, realism, expressionism and heightened verse drama. You will be actively encouraged to identify links between the great theatre of the past and the contemporary world. In addition to working on classical and modern plays, you will have the opportunity to devise original projects as part of your analysis work. The range of teaching ensures there is a balance between the requirements of stage performance and the demands of screen acting and recorded media.
The course will deepen your awareness of the realities of a professional acting career. It will help you to learn how to manage its risks, rewards and inherent instability. BA Acting encourages its students to see themselves as creative people who can make a different to their society and community. As such, it provides an inspirational learning experience for people who go on to work in a wide variety of fields.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Course Units
In order to develop your own approach to acting, you will study the core disciplines of acting, physical and vocal skills and rehearsal exercises. Many of the activities in these disciplines are concerned with finding your voice as an actor. Through practical exercises, theoretical seminars, workshops and rehearsals, you will engage in a dialogue between you own personal view of the creative process and inherited tradition.
Stage 1
Unit 1: Introduction to Study in Higher Education Unit 2: Foundation, Exploration and Work on the Self Unit 3: Rehearsal Methods for Realism Unit 4: Analysis 1: Archetypes and Storytelling
In Stage 1, you will be introduced to the principles that underpin the whole of your training. You will begin to undertake the systematic study of the essential skills of an actor. This will occur through a series of practical classes in acting, voice and movement, together with an introduction to the theory of character analysis, also known as movement psychology. From the beginning of the course, you will be encouraged to think of the actor as part of the society in which you live and function. You will be expected to read widely, to visit exhibitions, theatre, film and other performances and to engage with current events.
Unit 3 consists of three rehearsal exercises, which are practical investigations of a play text. These are designed to develop the actor's ability to apply a methodological approach. Unit 4 will provide a contextual framework for the study of theatre and acting as an art form. You will acquire a solid, practical grounding through the research, construction, participation in and observation of project work. You will also have seminars, workshops, tutorials and discussions.
Stage 2
Unit 5: Expansion, Consolidation and Work on the Role Unit 6: Character Analysis and Composition Unit 7: Rehearsal Methods for the Classical Actor Unit 8: Analysis 2: Renaissance, Realism, Internationalism
In Stage 2 you will continue to participate in practical classes in acting, voice, speech and text, movement, ballet, music and singing. You will now develop your ability to be at ease in front of the camera and to understand technical functions in the television studio. You will also be introduced to the opportunities and demands of voice-recording. There is an increased emphasis on the demands of the classical stage and the expressive use of heightened dramatic text both in verse and prose.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
You will look at the identification of form and the acting choices it leads you to make.
Stage 3
Unit 9: The Skilful Actor Unit 10: The Professional Actor
In the final stage of the course, you will demonstrate ownership of your acting process. You will continue to refine your technical skills through productions and projects. Additional, text-specific skills will be developed for public performances during the year. Your ability to integrate skills into fully achieved, assured performances, both on stage and in front of the camera and your confident presentation of yourself to the profession are at the centre of this part of the course. There will be opportunities to test out audition skills in front of outside professionals and in mock audition workshops for television and theatre. You will also collaborate with MA Directing students on their projects.
Mode of study
BA Acting runs for 99 weeks in full-time mode. It is divided into three stages over three academic years. Each stage lasts 33 weeks.
You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study.
Credit and award requirements
The course is credit-rated at 360 credits, with 120 credits at each stage (level).
On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons degree).
Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications the stages for a BA are: Stage 1 (Level 4), Stage 2 (Level 5) and Stage 3 (Level 6). In order to progress to the next stage, all units of the preceding stage must normally be passed: 120 credits must be achieved in each stage. The classification of the award will be derived from the marks of units in Stages 2 and 3 or only Stage 3, using a dual algorithm.
If you are unable to continue on the course, a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) will normally be offered following the successful completion of Level 4 (or 120 credits), or a Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) following the successful completion of Level 5 (or 240 credits).
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Learning and Teaching Methods
Staff-led skills training Independent planned improvisations or text-based projects Staff directed rehearsal exercises Student-led work on classical texts or contemporary, original film scripts Research conducted as embodied learning Observation of performative events Individual, pair and group work carried out autonomously in preparation for classes or assessments Seminars Workshops Lectures and visiting professionals Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Coursework Continuous assessment Practical skills assessment Written assessment Self-assessment
Reference Points
The following reference points were used in designing the course:
The principal guidelines used in the development of the course are those specified by the UK Quality Code Subject Benchmark Statement for Dance, Drama and Performance (2015). Although Drama UK has now been wound up, the course is consistent with the historical accreditation guidelines and also adheres to all the relevant UAL and CSM and credit frameworks. The current course Learning Outcomes are listed below under the primary Quality Code categories for Dance, Drama and Performance.
Subject knowledge, understanding and abilities
Engage critically and practically with theatrical traditions, particularly Western performance practice relevant to contemporary industry requirements; Function successfully as an actor in a professional environment, understanding how you might contribute to creative projects, including innovative practice and original ideas.
Subject specific skills
Demonstrate embodied expertise in the acting approaches currently taught through
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
the course, while acknowledging the value of alternative approaches.
Generic and graduate skills
Apply self-discipline, resourcefulness and creativity to challenges specific to the job of an actor, to related careers and/or post-graduate study; Identify creative and practical problems and investigate them through research, analysis and experimentation both autonomously and in an ensemble.
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Course Diagram Indicative assessment weeks are detailed in the course diagram. For exact dates please refer to the timetable.
For details on the winter, spring and summer breaks, term dates are published on the UAL website: https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/term-dates
Key
Week Summative assessment Week Formative assessment
Stage One
Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 1: Introduction to Unit 4: Analysis 1: Archetypes and Storytelling Study in Higher Education 20 credits 20 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 2: Foundation, Exploration and Work on the Self 40 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 3: Rehearsal Methods for Realism 40 credits
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
Stage Two
Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 5: Expansion, Consolidation and Work on the Role 40 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 6: Character Analysis and Composition 20 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 7: Rehearsal Methods for the Classical Actor 40 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 8: Analysis 2: Renaissance, Realism, Internationalism 20 credits
Stage Three
Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 9: The Skilful Actor 40 credits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Unit 10: The Professional Actor 80 credits
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10108 - BA (Hons) Acting Programme Specification - 201920
The University will use all reasonable endeavours to provide the Course and the services described in this Output. There may be occasions whereby the University needs to add, remove or alter content in relation to your Course as may be appropriate for example the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body, or in response to student feedback, or to comply with applicable law or due to circumstances beyond its control. The University aim to inform you of any changes as soon as is reasonably practicable.
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