BA (Hons) Acting and English

at Edinburgh Napier University

This course is aimed at those with an interest in both practical acting and English literature. You’ll enhance your performing skills to industry-standard, while simultaneously studying English literature in its cultural-historical context. The course is split evenly between the study of English literature and the study of acting.

English is studied from the early 19th century to the present day providing a modern, interdisciplinary approach to literature. You’ll develop an appreciation of different genres and explore the value of literature in the modern world. Practical acting projects will often work alongside the English texts you are studying. You will read, analyse and perform texts of a similar era at the same time, thereby deepening your understanding of both literature and acting. 

Our programme is not a drama/theatre studies course – we aim to train actors to vocational standard over four years.  Along with intensive classes and workshops in acting, you will study alongside the BA (Hons) English degree students in a variety of classes that cover subjects from Shakespeare to Romantic poetry to modern drama.

You’ll study:

• Acting: The ability to develop, play and sustain a character in performance
• Voice: Enhancing your vocal range and potential
• Movement:Enhancing your physical capabilities.

You’ll also get vocational and industry-relevant training through intensive workshops, centred on acting for stage and screen and on the craft, practice and business of performance.

Throughout the course there will be a particular focus on enhancing confidence and communication, and deepening the ability to be cogent and articulate about a variety of critical approaches and the process of performance. You’ll benefit from studying in a vibrant city with a great literary heritage and plenty of relevant cultural events.

You’ll prepare for work in live and recorded performances. The course culminates with the opportunity either to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or to produce a thesis in a chosen subject area, depending on where you decide to concentrate study in your final year.

This unique combination of skills and knowledge will equip you with a wide range of options for work or further academic study.

Additional mandatory costs

Recommended for the start of the course: 

• ‘Mastering the Shakespeare Audition: A Quick Guide to Performance Success’ by Donna Soto-Morettini (£17)
• 32GB USB pen drive which (around £15)
• Women: A rehearsal skirt (£10-£20) and character shoes (£10-£25)
• Men: dark rehearsal suit jacket (second hand is fine- £10-£30) and dark-coloured hard-soles shoes (£10-£30)

Year 4, trimester 2: you will need to get a professional head shot (ranging from £50-£150 depending on the photographer)

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees 

IELTS (Academic)
6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL Internet Based Test
80 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

Pearson’s Test of Academic English
56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge B2 First (formerly Cambridge English First (FCE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE)
ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component

LanguageCert English language qualification
B2 Communicator Test with overall 39 or above, and 25 or above in all skills

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by mainland EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here. For EU students who commenced their studies prior to 1 August 2022 or hold pre or settled status in the UK, fees will remain the same as Scottish Students.

If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.                    

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.

Career opportunities include:

• Actor
• Journalist
• Theatre Director
• Creative Producer
• Production Manager
• Presenter
• Teacher
• Arts Administrator
• Lecturer
• Theatre Stage Manager
• Artistic Director
• Playwright
• Artistic Programmer
• Box Office Manager
• Project Director
• Participation Director
• Communications Manager