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Southampton Solent University logo

MAActing for Screen

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Starting in: 2025
Entry requirements: 2:2
Or higher
Up to: 20% alumni discountFind out more
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study an acting for screen master's degree at Solent University

Learn advanced screen acting techniques for film and television, working in professional studios and collaborating with expert tutors on a range of single and multi-camera projects.

  • £0m
    invested in our campus estate and facilities in the last five years
  • Learn practical skills and techniques required to perform in both single- and multi-camera productions.
  • You will develop your acting skills more broadly in addition to screen specific techniques.
  • You will engage with Practice as Research, providing you with the skills to develop your own practice through critical reflection.
  • You'll engage in shooting and editing, giving you the skills to create your own content.
  • Solent is home to world-class media facilities, including a Dolby Atmos cinema, fully-equipped editing suites, and a number of modern production studios.
  • You'll learn from a team with a broad range of academic and industry experience.
  • You can study this course part-time.
  • You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.

Course overview

This exciting course offers a practical exploration of professional screen acting skills and techniques through its application in both single and multi-camera performance work and will equip you with the techniques and knowledge required to work professionally in both television and film. You'll also analyse current industry practice to support your preparation to enter it. The MA builds towards a research project culminating in the development of an on-screen performance through a Practice as Research (PaR) approach.

In the first semester, you'll focus on developing performance skills and techniques for both single and multi-camera acting to equip you with the versatility required to work professionally as a screen actor. Single camera acting is typical of film and television productions, whereas multi-camera productions are common for soap operas and situational comedies. The technical skills required to work in these two production formats are complemented by the development of practical acting techniques to create characters from practitioners such as Konstantin Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and Sanford Meisner. Your learning is underpinned by the theoretical framework required to support your screen acting technique.

The second semester directs your thinking to your final master's project, which you'll undertake in semester three. You'll develop a project proposal which will form the theoretical framework for your final practical project. During this semester, you'll also consider the screen acting industry and how you as an actor can approach working professionally. You'll also have the opportunity for cross-course collaboration within the Department of Art and Music, allowing you to be a part of Solent’s wider postgraduate study community.

The final semester focuses on your master’s project. With tutor support, you'll apply your learning to create a final screen performance utilising a Practice as Research methodology to generate unique content for a 12- to 15-minute production which will be showcased at the end of the academic year to an invited audience.

During your studies you'll be eligible for student Equity membership at a much-reduced rate and Equity’s full membership upon graduation. This will allow you to access essential career resources, such as information on casting, contracts, pay, and to create a personal profile on their website.

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Speak to a tutor

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Course features

  • Apply direct

    You can apply direct to Solent University for this course

  • Part-time option

    You can study this course part-time

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to specialist facilities

This course is for

Solent’s MA Acting for Screen is ideally suited to students who are looking to develop their screen acting skills and techniques across a wide array of screen-related media. Applicants should have previous performance experience, though not necessarily on screen. 

What this course leads to

This course equips you with the skills required to work as a professional Screen Actor, across a multitude of genres for film, television and screen-related media. It will also equip you with the knowledge and skills to create your own screen work for careers such as recorded media content creator. The MA also provides you with experience of Practice as Research (PaR) which can be further developed for postgraduate research, such as a PhD for those wishing to pursue academic careers.

  • Professional screen actor
  • Recorded media content creator
  • Postgraduate researcher - MRes, MPhil, PhD
  • Interdisciplinary arts project leadership

Meet the team

Course tutors are academic and/or industry professionals whose knowledge and contacts provide you with an invaluable resource for understanding contemporary trends and opportunities in the performing arts. In addition, visiting lecturers provide further insight into current workplace practice. Our focus on employability ensures that you leave us with the skills and confidence to realise your career ambitions.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Students have access to a wide range of professional equipment and facilities. Practical classes are typically taught in a studio environment, including our virtual production screen studio and multi-camera studio. When required, ADR (automated dialogue replacement) and radio studios are used for sound recording for projects. Students have access to specialist recording equipment such as video cameras, microphones, tripods and lighting equipment.

Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.

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