Acting
Reach your potential on this conservatoire-style course designed to build your creative skills including live performance, screen acting and motion capture.
Grow into a confident and versatile performer. Focus on fundamental acting skills, voice and movement, screen acting, and how to rehearse for a full production.
Work with external directors, experiment with Physical Theatre, learn about new performance technologies, and extend your experience with screen acting and classical text.
In your final year, our Immersive Performance module and Showcase will allow you to demonstrate your high-level skills in acting.
-
Train in professional-standard facilities including our professional 260 seater Mumford Theatre
-
Gain experience with new technologies and alternative platforms to become a dynamic and responsive actor
-
Develop your technical and production skills in specialist facilities for recorded and live performance
-
Graduate with a professional CV, headshots and showreel
-
Collaborate with other creative students, experienced tutors, community partners and industry professionals
-
Get involved with Cambridge's many acting troupes and events
Study at an award-winning university
We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
Course options
Key facts
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
- Studio Performance
- Voice and Movement
- Introduction to Screen Acting
- Fundamentals for Acting
- Into ARU
- Ruskin Module (15 credits)
- Performance Project
- Physical Theatre
- Performance Technologies
- Performing Shakespeare
- Storytelling on Screen: Collaborative Project
- Immersive Performance
- Showcase
- Undergraduate Major Project
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
- Work Placement - Cambridge School of Creative Industries
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
-
David JacksonSenior Lecturer Practitioner
-
Dr Jonathan CrooseSenior Lecturer
-
Dr Heather LilleySenior Lecturer
-
Dr Eva Aymamí ReñéSenior Lecturer
-
Dr Sue WilsonSenior Lecturer
Student work
-
Starring BA Acting student Joe Booker, Belfast Rap was part of the collaborative project HMS Belfast with Imperial War Museums for their D-Day commemorations.
-
Created by ARU Writing, Film Production, Acting and Drama students for the Imperial War Museum’s D-Day commemorations. Brian Butler was a local Sightsetter in one of Belfast’s main gun turrets.
-
Created by ARU Writing, Film Production, Acting and Drama students for the Imperial War Museum’s D-Day commemorations. Captain Parham was remembered by Belfast’s sailors as a very gentle and humane leader.
-
Created by ARU Writing, Film Production, Acting and Drama students for the Imperial War Museum’s D-Day commemorations. Bob Shrimpton was part of HMS Belfast’s ASDIC (sonar) equipment team.
-
Created by ARU Writing, Film Production, Acting and Drama students for the Imperial War Museum’s D-Day commemorations. Charles Simpson was one of Belfast’s five Engineering Lieutenants.
-
A short film by BA (Hons) Acting student Daniel Neiva
-
A short film by BA (Hons) Acting students Joe Booker, Jake Holzman and Sam Pollock.
-
A short film by BA (Hons) Acting student Yuan Jing at ARU.
-
A short film by BA (Hons) Acting student Leo Tian at ARU.
;
Facilities
As part of your studies at ARU, you’ll have access to all of our creative industries facilities including:
- full-size professional theatre on campus
- dedicated drama studio, with highly flexible black-box performance space
- green screen and motion capture equipment
- large rehearsal space with audio playback facilities, piano, LED lighting rig, portable dance mirrors, gym mats and rostra/modular staging
- Students’ Union-run dance studio
- podcast and video capture system.
-
Mumford Theatre
-
Mumford Theatre
-
Mumford Theatre
-
Green screen studio
-
Covent Garden drama studio
-
Covent Garden drama studio
-
Dance studio
;
Careers
Our conservatoire-style BA (Hons) Acting degree enables you to develop your creativity and technical competence in a wide range of acting media, including both live performance and recorded performance.
You’ll also develop transferable skills such as research, teamwork, communication, problem solving, and resourcefulness. These skills are invaluable in other areas of the creative industries, and in other sectors.
Graduation doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to continue on to a Masters course, such as our MA Dramatherapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Employability and personal career development
Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.
You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.
Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.
Entry requirements
Loading...
Entry requirements are not currently available, please try again later.
Fees and paying for university
Apply for Acting
UK students
Call our Clearing line
01245 686868
Loading...
