BA (Hons) Acting and Performance Bachelor's degree at Sheffield Hallam University
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance at SHU. You'll work in professional, community and training spaces, combining core theory, research methods and applied practice alongside specialist options, professional skills development and an independent project.
About this course
Create your own performances for stage, screen and audio media, studying in a range of professional, community and training spaces. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Acting and Performance is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at SHU, based in City Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Media, journalism and communications graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Media & Communications, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Acting For Recorded MediaCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module prepares you for acting and performance for recorded media through exposure to industry specific ways of working. You will develop acting techniques associated with screen monologues, audio clips, voice-overs, self-tapes, and social media content. This module builds on acting techniques developed elsewhere in the course, and introduces the requirements of careers in film, TV, and voice-over while also supporting you in the creation of a digital actors' CV.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Actor In The WorldCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Through this module you develop a deeper understanding of the social and cultural implications of acting, theatre and performance by examining real-world case studies and exploring global perspectives. This module supports you to articulate your own personal motivations and connect these with the political contexts and motivations of established practitioners. The module places an emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion, enabling you to find your unique voice and thrive as actors and perfo
Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Actor's Toolkit: Body, Space, TextCompulsory40 credits
Module details
In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of acting and performance. You will develop knowledge and skills in vocal and physical techniques, spatial awareness and staging conventions, and the ability to analyse texts. You will gain basic experience of technical theatre operations and learn how to work collaboratively and inclusively in the creation of performance for an audience.
Assessment: Coursework (40%), Practical (60%)
- Collective CreationCompulsory40 credits
Module details
You will be introduced to models for collective creation that place an emphasis on devising, self-authored group work, and writing for performance. You are enabled to generate innovative ideas, and demonstrate effective teamwork skills as you collaboratively create performances from a range of starting points. The module fosters peer working through technical theatre support, and encourages students to think about ways of making performances that are accessible to different audiences.
Assessment: Coursework (40%), Practical (60%)
Year 2 5 modules
- Acting With TextsCompulsory40 credits
Module details
You will build on prior learning as you explore ancient, classic, contemporary, non-western, and self-authored texts, and apply text analysis and advanced acting techniques to bring them to life in performance. Collaborative working also includes peer technical support and attention to other creative production practices.
Assessment: Coursework (20%), Practical (80%)
- Contemporary PerformanceCompulsory40 credits
Module details
You will explore diverse contemporary performance theory and practice and draw from their discoveries as you create individual or group performances that enable you to refine your artistic voice and showcase your creativity. You will develop a deeper understanding of your own practice and contemporary performance by maintaining a critical reflective journal as you work collaboratively to create innovative new work.
Assessment: Coursework (30%), Practical (70%)
- Creating Digital MediaCompulsory20 credits
Module details
You will expand your skills and knowledge for acting and performance for recorded media by collaborating in groups and by working individually to create unique audio and video projects. You will develop new technical competencies in planning, production and post-production, and demonstrate these through the creation of a digital portfolio that showcases your professional ability and evidences your capacity to meet the digital demands of the industry.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Participatory PracticesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
You will explore participatory performance practices and receive live briefs that engage with diverse contexts and audiences. You create projects, which might include performance presentations, audio walks, or participatory workshops, integrated with theory and context. Through this work, you will engage with the wider community and address societal needs. Inclusivity is a central part of this module and you will consider the need for flexible implementation, accessibility and equal opportunitie
Assessment: Practical (100%)
- Study Abroad - Creative IndustriesElective60 credits
Module details
This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option).
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course focuses on creating your own performances for stage, screen and audio media across professional, community and training spaces. A course like this typically moves from foundational theory and practical production skills in year one, covering media and communication concepts, hands-on techniques and industry structures, through to specialist pathways in year two and three. You'll usually develop deeper expertise in areas such as journalism, PR & advertising, film & TV, social media, games & interactive work or production portfolio development. Later stages typically include research methods, specialist options aligned to your chosen pathway, and a significant final project combining either written research or a substantial media production.
Who it's for
You're drawn to storytelling and performance, with a genuine interest in exploring character, narrative and audience. You work well collaboratively but also value space for independent creative thought. You'll thrive if you're curious about how performance works in different contexts, theatrical, filmic, audio, and you're willing to experiment and take creative risks. This course suits you if you want hands-on experience making things, alongside the critical thinking needed to understand your own work and the field.
Careers & job market
Across Media & Communications courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings (across the field) range from £22,000–£28,000 at the start of your career, rising to £22,525–£31,800 after five years, though individual outcomes vary widely. Many routes, from performance and teaching to production, arts management and cultural work, are available to you.
University & format
This BA (Hons) Acting and Performance is offered by Sheffield Hallam University, a university located on the City Campus. Study is part-time, taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and the course benefits from the university's Gold award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at SHU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Media & Communications graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £21,500 – £26,000 | 60 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £16,500 – £28,500 | 15 |
| 5 years after | £23,500 | £19,500 – £28,000 | 15 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in media & communications · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Media & Communications nationally
National figures for Media & Communications graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Media & Communications courses at the same study level.
Compared with 541 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Media & Communications graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Media & Communications graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Media companies
- Agencies
- In-house comms teams
- Broadcasters & charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Media & Communications graduates.
Media Operations, VP (Parental Leave Cover)WPP MediaMedia Relations ManagerCommonwealth War Graves CommissionMedia ManagerUS Tech SolutionsMedia Planning and Buying CoordinatorBurberryMedia Sales ExecutiveService ServiceMedia Planner/BuyerDifferent Technologies Pty Ltd.Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Sheffield Hallam University
Media, journalism and communications across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around City Campus
3,427 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Media & Communications right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to SHU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check SHU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with SHU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SHU
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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