This is a three-year full-time programme, validated by City University, designed for students who hold a university degree and wish to have a full professional training in acting.  The MA students work in the same classes, rehearsals and performances as the students on the three-year BA in Acting with additional tutorials in support of achieving the Masters level outcomes. Entrance is by audition. At the point of audition, no distinction is made between applicants to the BA and the MA. Once a graduate applicant has received an offer, he or she can opt to follow either the MA or the BA programme. There are normally over 2300 applicants for a total of about 26 places on the combined programmes.

MA students have the same practical training as the BA students. They take additional modules developing their critical and reflective skills and are required to achieve more demanding learning outcomes and a higher standard overall.

Summary of MA Programme

Year 1

Acting Studies 1; Voice and Speech Studies 1; Movement Studies 1; Rehearsal Projects 1
These modules form the core of the craft training and are taken at undergraduate level, working alongside the BA students, with a higher pass mark than for undergraduates.

Personal Development Plan 1
This module, where the student evaluates their own journey and goals, is taken at Master’s level.

Critical Evaluation
This module, where the student reflects critically on aspects of the training, is taken at Master’s level.

Theatre Background
This module, looking at the actor’s approach to play texts and historical background, is taken at Master’s level, working alongside the BA students, with an additional assignment and more demanding learning outcomes.

Year 2

Acting Studies 2; Voice and Speech Studies 2; Movement Studies 2
These modules extend the craft training and are taken at undergraduate level, working alongside the BA students, with a higher pass mark than for undergraduates.

Rehearsal Projects 2
This module is taken at Master’s level, working alongside the BA students, with more demanding learning outcomes.

Workshop
In this module, taken at Master’s level, graduate students create a presentation which draws on workshops attended at the end of Year 2.

Year 3

Productions
This module, consisting of rehearsal and performance of public productions, forms the bulk of the work in Year 3.  It is taken at Master’s level, working alongside undergraduates, with more demanding learning outcomes.

Voice & Movement
This module is taken at undergraduate level, working alongside the BA students, with a higher pass mark than for undergraduates.

Independent Study
This module is taken at Master’s level with more demanding learning outcomes than for undergraduates; it involves a research project presented as either a dissertation or a demonstration or a solo performance with supporting paper.

Personal Development Plan 2
This module, where the student creates their career plan, including research into the acting profession, is taken at Master’s level.

Further information from: drama@gsmd.ac.uk