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Acting BA (Hons) at Drama St Mary’s is a rigorous, full-time course that equips you for a career in acting.
  • Intensive practical training with staff who are professionally linked with the industry.
  • 90% practical, taught classes.
  • Working with experienced teams of acting practitioners, designers, directors, and artists.
  • Free of charge audition.
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Why study Acting?

Our BA Acting programme prepares you to launch a professional acting career in the competitive and ever-evolving creative industries. At St Mary's, we ensure a safe environment in which we encourage you to explore and challenge their potential as creative artists. We work on developing the actor’s creative imagination providing you with the skills you will need to both devise your own work and explore the text.

When studying at Drama St Mary’s you will be introduced to a range of techniques derived from various cultural forms, histories, contexts, and practitioners. Ensemble work and collaboration lie at the heart of our training, and we are proud to be part of such a diverse and vibrant cultural community here at St Mary’s where the creative’s individuality and uniqueness are nurtured.

Our team at Drama St Mary’s are working at the cutting edge of both the theatre and Film and TV industries, and you will also get access to a wide range of visiting professionals currently working across the disciplines. Many of our graduates are now making a living in the acting profession, working not only as actors but as writers, directors, and producers.

Why St Mary's?

In the Times Good University Guide 2022 St Mary's ranked in the top 10 in the UK for teaching quality, top five for student experience.

At St Mary’s you can enjoy all the best bits of being at university – the campus, accommodation, and being part of a community of students and societies, whilst enjoying the best drama school training. University also offers time to follow your own research using the resources on offer to develop your own practices and methodologies.

Our Greater London campus is on the doorstep of numerous local theatres, and we even have our own theatre at The Exchange.

BA (Hons) Acting graduates

View the portfolios of our graduates.

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Useful information

Course lead

Kasia Zaremba-Byrne headshotKasia Zaremba-Byrne
Programme Director - Acting

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Entry requirements

96-112UCAS points required

Check how many points your grades are worth

Calculate your total UCAS points

80 UCAS points should include at least two B grades at A Level (or equivalent). 

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

For undergraduate programmes we will take into account subjects studied at Level 3, your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile, relevant non-academic achievements outlined in your personal statement, references and your motivation for study.

International requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent).

Auditions

All applicants for our BA (Hons) Acting programme are required to attend an audition on campus, unless you live outside of the UK. For more information, see our audition information page.

UCAS Personal statement support

Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.

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Course content

Year one

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Year two

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Year three

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Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

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Career opportunities

By the end of this Acting degree, you will have had a professional training appropriate to a career in theatre and be equipped with creative, analytical, communication, team-working and organisational skills relevant to a wide range of graduate employment.

Recent graduates have found employment as actors both on stage and on screen including American television or London’s West End.

The Careers Service has more information on careers and postgraduate study options available to Acting students who have started their studies at St Mary’s.

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What our students say...

Vaneeka Dadhria

It was crazy to find out from my agent that I’d got my West End debut!

Read Vaneeka Dadhria's story

How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

The course is predominantly (90%) taught through practical classes and workshops, as well as rehearsals for productions.

The Contextual Studies strand of the degree is taught in lecture seminars (10%) throughout the course and links to the work you do in practical classes, giving you a wider understanding of the theatre.

Class sizes are usually 20 to 25 students, and year three productions run in casts of 10 to 12. 

Teaching breakdown

Learning on the course is made up through a combination of:

  • Contact time: 64%
  • Guided learning: 18%
  • Independent study: 18%

Independent study is a key feature of your degree and is crucial to furthering your knowledge.

You will receive your timetable a week before teaching is due to start at the latest.

Assessment methods

Acting, Performance, Voice and Movement modules (comprising 90% of the course) are assessed through practical exercises, performances and workshop demonstrations. The Contextual Studies modules are assessed by essay (two essays across three years) and graduate portfolio in your third year.

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within three weeks.

See how your final degree mark is calculated...

Compensated passes

Please refer to the information on compensated passes throughout your degree as outlined in the academic regulations.

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Facilities

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Fees and funding

2023/24 fees

  • Home: £9,250
  • International: £14,850

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Governments review of Higher Education Funding

Information about tuition fees, student loans and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.

Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage. 

Scholarships

The Stage are offering two tuition fee scholarships for the Acting BA (Hons) degree programme. The scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees for three years of study.

A range of additional scholarships and bursaries are available to new undergraduate students. This includes:

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.

Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

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Meet your lecturers

Meet the team

  • Kasia Zaremba-Byrne
    Programme Director - Acting
  • Tina Bicât
    Costume Technician
  • Dan Ford
    Programme Director - Acting
  • Francesco Gabriele
    Lecturer - Drama
  • Mark Griffin
    Head of Department - Humanities and Creative Industries
  • Heather Hartnett
    Senior Lecturer - Drama
  • Sola Oyeleye
    Senior Lecturer - Drama
  • Dr Michelle Paull
    Associate Professor in Drama

Academic spotlight

Francesco Gabriele (Lecturer - Drama)

Francesco Gabriele

Drama St Mary's is a great, small and friendly environment filled with creativity. A hidden gem in UK Actor's training. 

When I started to teach Acting for Screen, I was very inspired by the commitment and professionalism of all the staff and by the talent of the students. I think that's fantastic that students have the chance to experience rigorous Conservatory training, without missing the overall University experience.

Read Francesco's story

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Further information


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Visit the campus

Upcoming open days

Meet current students, explore our green campus, and find out why St Mary’s could be the place for you.

You'll also get a chance to:

Staff from various teams, including the Student’s Union, Student Funding, and Admissions, will also be around to discuss any questions you may have about studying at St Mary’s.

Book your place now

Campus tours

There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the campus, even if you can't make it to an Open Day. We run campus tours every Wednesday at 12pm. If you'd like to join us for one of these tours please register your place for your preferred day.

Virtual tour

We know that for it's important to you to see where you'll be living and studying before you make your decision. However, we also know that for many people it's not always easy to make it to the campus.

That's why we've developed a virtual tour of campus, allowing you to explore that facilities and the beautiful views that we have to offer.

Launch the virtual tour

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UCAS Application Timeline

1

UCAS Apply Opens

You will be able to register and begin your application, but won't yet be able to submit it.

May (year before entry)

Find out more about the application process
2

Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS

From September you'll be able to submit your UCAS application. Universities will start making decisions on applications.

September (year before entry)

Find out more about the application process
3

UCAS application deadline

You will need to submit your application by this date.

January 26th

Find out more about the application process
4

UCAS Extra opens

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, you might be able to add another choice.

Late February

Find out more about UCAS Extra
5

Replying to offers

Your deadline for replying to your offers depends on when you received all your decisions by. If you miss your deadline, UCAS will automatically decline all your offers

Spring/Summer

Find out more about the application process
6

Late applications are entered into Clearing

If your application is received after 30th June, it will be entered into Clearing.

30th June

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7

UCAS Extra application deadline

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, this will be your last chance to add an Extra choice.

Early July

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8

Clearing Opens

Clearing vacancies will be displayed in the UCAS search tool.

Early July

Find out more about Clearing
9

Clearing hotline opens

On A-Level results day, we open our Clearing hotline. If you're eligible to apply through Clearing, you'll be able to apply to us via phone.

Mid-August

Find out more about Clearing
10

Adjustment opens

If you've exceeded the conditions of your firm choice, you may be able to apply for an alternative course.

Mid-August

Find out more about the application process
11

Final application deadline

This is the final opportunity to apply for a course beginning in that year.

September

Find out more about Clearing
12

Clearing closes

This is your final chance to apply through Clearing. Please note: you will not be able to apply for Primary Education beyond mid-September.

October

Find out more about Clearing