Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts (Performance - Acting)

Applicants will need a minimum of 64 UCAS points from qualifications such as an Access to Higher Education Diploma, A Levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma, a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4), or equivalent international qualifications. 

Applicants must hold GCSE English at Grade 4/C or above. Applications are assessed based on the quality of the applicant's portfolio or showreel, personal statement and reference, and other relevant qualifications may also be considered.

Audition requirements - Acting pathway (H882)

• There will be no face to face interview.
• Prospective students need to prepare a two minute monologue, this can be a published play but not from a film or a stand-alone monologue sourced from the internet.
• Present a concept pitch for a directing project of their choice.
• You will be required to record yourself whilst performing and presenting and must state your name at the beginning to clearly identify yourself.

Applications from mature students who do not possess the entry requirements as listed above, but who possess related professional experience or professional qualifications, are welcome to apply. In the first instance we suggest you contact HEAdmissions@southessex.ac.uk to discuss your application

You will be assessed via rehearsals, research projects, technical application, and journals.

There are no exams.

Your contact time will be 15 hours per week, which is a full three days in college, split 5 hours theory and 10 hours practical.

Both the Acting & Dance pathways have an expectation for students to further develop their performance practice through rehearsal & workshops outside of timetabled classes for which the studio spaces will be made available.

The courses are delivered cross-campus at Southend City College and at our Thurrock College.

The cost of this course is £6850 per year

Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

• Guest speakers, visiting lecturers and industry focussed workshops will be included in your course over the three years.
• Final Year students will have the opportunity to showcase their final year work at the end of their studies. This may be a local, national or online platform. event/exhibition costs will be covered by the faculty of HE. In the past this has included Festivals and at the Towngate Theatre. Students will be responsible for any additional costs associated with the production of their personal project (ie: printing, materials).
• A residential trip is included in your course fees. The terms of this trip varies from year to year but links directly to unit content and assessment.
• Annual £20 of printing credit per year.
• Free Car Parking at Backstage Centre, Purfleet.

During your second year, you will discuss careers options with your tutor.

Our students have successfully progressed onto a range of BA (Hons) top-up programmes to complete their full degree training, including musical theatre programmes at Bath Spa, acting & dance degrees at Brooksby Melton & Colchester Institute, the performance art course at Arden School of Theatre, Manchester & level 6 dance programmes at Performers College, Middlesex & Bird.

As well as further academic study and performance training, students have also taken up teaching through embarking on the PGCE programme offered here at South Essex.

Year groups are expected to attend lessons for 15 hours a week spread over three days. We expect you to build on this learning through Independent Study for at least a similar period.

2 years