degree
BA (HONS)
ACTING FOR
SCREEN
An industry-led actor training, focusing on the skills you’ll need to work in film and television.
BRISTOL
UCAS Code: AFS1
Duration: 3 years full time
Start date: September 2024
Location: Silver Street
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A rigorous 3 year conservatoire-style course, with at least 24 hours a week of taught time and weekly overseen independent study.
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Taught by working professionals, giving you direct access to industry knowledge and networks.
- ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Graduate Equity’ membership in the final year.
ALL OUR AUDITIONS ARE FREE.
To keep our process inclusive and accessible, we believe that money shouldn’t prevent anyone from auditioning.
Please note you can do your first round audition with us prior to submitting your UCAS via the button below.
This innovative degree has been designed to address the challenges and opportunities for young actors today. Recognising the quality and diversity of stories being created for the camera and microphone mediums, this course offers exceptional training, dedicated entirely to meet the realities of the industry.
It’s a rigorous, conservatoire-style course with a minimum of 24 hours a week of teaching by industry professionals, limited to 19 students in a group.
The degree is connected into Bristol’s ever-expanding network of film and TV studios and production companies. In this professional environment you will be able to develop industry contacts and build your own professional networks in the UK as well as be introduced to industry contacts in New York and Los Angeles through a digital showcase.
Securing a place on the course will be challenging. You will need commitment to sustain an intensive training course that constantly challenges your dedication to learn your craft and fulfil your passion for acting. Application is by screen test and a recall in-person audition day.




OVERVIEW
The BA (Hons) Acting for Screen modules cover acting techniques, the connection of physicality and voice, the history and development of acting for the camera, character development, acting for camera techniques, motion capture, voice-over, commercial acting, industry preparation and networking.
You will appear in professionally made films with working film and TV directors as part of the course and you’ll leave with a comprehensive showreel, having had a screening of your work for invited agents and casting directors.
The course will give you the in-depth training required to be a professional actor, through two years of acting classes based on the approaches of Michael Chekhov, Nikolai Demidov and Sanford Meisner. Acting class is closely aligned with a combined voice and movement class, exploring how these instruments work together, to create psychologically truthful characters.
You will develop an understanding of the specific technical processes and working practices of acting for camera and experience motion capture and voice-over recording. You’ll research the development of acting for the screen and the psychology of the acting process. Through our tutors, who are industry professionals, you will have access to the latest industry knowledge and networks, leaving you well prepared for auditions and castings.
STRUCTURE
YEAR ONE.
The first year focuses on training your acting instrument; both physically and mentally. Expanding your sense of potential through your body and voice is balanced with examining how we approach the work. Laban technique is used to give you a systematic way of linking physical activity and vocal expression with mental and emotional states. The course introduces you to the fundamental skills and theories of acting for the camera, as you begin to learn and experience the craft of acting and what it entails. Approaching the craft holistically, classes will focus on the pre-expressive, designed to achieve authentic impulses and spontaneous reactions. With modules that focus on the Instrument (body and voice), Acting, and the History of Screen Performance, each module echoes and reinforces this synthesised approach to the craft of acting as the year progresses.
The year culminates in a production project, in which you put all your training together, mirroring the preparation an actor makes creating and realising a believable character on screen, with an individuality, vulnerability, and intimacy that is essential for screen acting.
YEAR TWO.
Year two focuses on the continued development of deep character work, using the techniques of Sanford Meisner and Nikolai Demidov. Instrument modules extend your range of expression building on the foundations of Laban to explore other practices and techniques.
You further develop your ability to analyse text for film and TV as you build the muscle of working quickly and efficiently. Specific skills classes in dialects, on-screen combat and an introduction into filmmaking expand your creative capacity as well as your marketability. Understanding the actor’s process when preparing for, and working on screen remains central to the year’s work, as you learn to build the inner life of characters through imaginative choices and improvisation. You’ll then expand your creative scope a step further with a module in Self Scripting. As with every year, there is a production module that strengthens your comfort in front of the camera and you begin building material for your showreel.
YEAR THREE.
Year three prepares you for a career in the industry. You apply the comprehensive acting skills you have learnt to different styles through a screen comedy module and learn to adapt your craft whilst keeping the integrity of your process. You learn about casting and acquire the knowledge you’ll need about agents, auditions, and the job of building a career as a working actor. You experience casting for commercials, getting head shots and putting together your marketing package. This work culminates in a showcase to agents, directors and casting directors. You also extend your skill-set to motion capture animation and voice over, learning the techniques of working in these mediated forms of production that will support your employability. The final term is largely devoted to the making of specially commissioned films with public screenings. You graduate with a showreel as part of your marketing package to support you as you start your career.
APPLICATION
The degree is delivered in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University. To apply, you will need to register with UCAS by visiting www.ucas.com/apply and apply using the course details below.
As well as applying to UCAS, you will also need to audition with us (see below for details about our audition process) to be offered a place on this course. You can book your audition by clicking Apply Now.
In both cases, for lots of reasons, we strongly recommend applying to UCAS and auditioning with us as soon as you can.
UCAS course code: AFS1
Institution code: P63
Campus name: Bristol School of Acting
Campus code: A
AUDITION
FIRST ROUND AUDITION.
Entry onto the course is by audition.
For the first round audition you will be asked to send us:
- A recent photograph of yourself (head and shoulders) in either jpeg or pdf format
- A video recording of 2 contemporary (written after 1970) contrasting monologues from published full-length plays, each under 2 minutes. Contrast can be in the form of tone, tempo, genre or style. You can record the monologues on your phone. Please see our online guidance for recording your speeches in the PDF below.
- A “wild card” video of anything you would like to share with us no longer than 1 minute. This is an opportunity for you to include something about yourself that we might not otherwise know; special skills, something you have produced, a personal testimonial, short showreels; anything you want to share
RECALL AUDITION.
If you are successful in getting through the first round you’ll be invited to a recall audition. You’ll spend the day with us in Bristol, taking workshops, cold reading a scene and having an extended interview. You’ll be able to meet tutors and existing students and get a true feel for the school.
Please see the PDF document for specific details about the recall audition.
TYPICAL OFFER
In addition to the audition you are expected to meet minimum academic requirements. Applicants are considered on an individual basis, taking into account any skills and experience that may not be reflected in A-Level scores. The most important consideration is that you have the qualities and potential to succeed. We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to the course. The main ones are listed below:
- 3 A-Levels at grades CCC or above
- Level 3 BTEC/UAL triple grade MMM or above
- GCSE English at grade 4 or above
COURSE ASSESSMENT METHODS
COURSE COSTS
£9,250 tuition fee per year (subject to annual inflationary increases). For more information, click here.
TERM DATES 2023/2024
Year 1
- 18 Sept – 15 Dec 2023 (half-term 23-27 Oct)
- 8 Jan – 22 Mar 2024 (half-term 12-16 Feb)
- 15 April – 5 July 2024 (half-term 27-31 May)
- 20 Sept – 8 Dec 2023 (half-term 23-27 Oct)
- 8 Jan – 22 March 2024 (half-term 12-16 Feb)
- 22 April – 5 July 2024 (half-term 27-31 May)
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
If you’d like to talk to us or ask any questions about the course you can email us at hello@bristolschoolofacting.com
STAFF

Stuart Wood
Head Of School And Co-artistic Director
MATTHEW HUMPHREYS
Director of Acting Programmes
MABEL AITKEN
Head of Acting

MICHELLE GASKELL
Head of Movement

Rebecca Daltry
Senior Voice Tutor

SASHA TYUFTEY
Acting Tutor

Anne Musisi
Acting Tutor

ALISON REID
Acting Tutor

TOBY HULSE
Acting Tutor

Katy Carmichael
Acting Tutor

Lucinda Roberts
Voice Tutor

Annie Duggan
Combat Tutor

Emily Greenslade
Joint Course Leader Theatre-Making

Tom Brennan
Joint Course Leader Theatre-Making
