(Certificate of HE) Certificate of Higher Education
Acting and Theatre Arts
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
East 15 Acting School
Southend Campus
Certificate Higher Education
Full-time
CERXW410ST
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
Applicants will need to submit a video audition and, if successful, complete a recall audition/workshop. Applicants should also have, or expect to have:
A-level: E, or equivalent qualification of the equivalent in UCAS tariff points
T-levels: Pass with E in core
IB: A Higher Level certificate grade 3
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
If you do not require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then we will assess your English language proficiency/ability at your interview or audition.
If your first language is not English and you are an international student that requires a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK then you will need IELTS 5.0 overall, with a minimum of 4.0 in each component. IELTS tests must be a UKVI IELTS taken at an approved IELTS test centre on the UKVI’s list, available here, in order to be accepted for entry to below degree-level courses. Tests must be taken within two years of the start of your course.
Please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Mrs Victoria Bush
Head of Year / Year Lead Level 4
Drama Studio London
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
To prepare students to enter full-time acting or similar training for the professional theatre.
To give students a broad cultural context in which theatre is seen as part of the spectrum of artistic activity.
To provide students with the ability to evaluate, present and interpret ideas based on basic dramatic theory.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the relationships between a range of art forms e.g. visual arts, music and dance, and theatre.
A2: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the art of the actor on stage and in the recorded media.
A3: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the basic approaches to the acting role.
A4: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding ofthe fundamental technical skills required of an actor (voice, movement and music/singing).
A5: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the basic skills to assist students to prepare for auditions.
A6: Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the process of working as part of an ensemble.
Learning methods
A1-A2 Trips to museums, art galleries and historic building relevant to curriculum, visits to radio, TV and film productions in the making, live performances, screenings, specialist workshops and rehearsals as required.
A1-A2 are also taught in Contextual Studies lectures, through guided research for the preparation of written course work.
A3 - A6 are taught in small group practical classes, supervised and unsupervised rehearsals, presentations/demonstrations, workshops.
A5 is additionally taught in one-to-one practice-based tutorials.
A1 - A3 are also learned through tutor-led group discussions and independent study.
Students also receive termly written and oral formative assessment and feedback from tutors on their work for A1 - A6.
Assessment methods
A1 - A2 are continuously assessed through observation of contribution to practical class work, presentations and written contextual studies assignments.
A3 - A6 skills are continuously assessed through observation of students' contributions to class work and projects, 'showings' (eg rituals, scenes, story-telling, debates and performances) to small audiences, the rehearsal process and performance work on Shakespeare and other performed scenes and plays.
A3-A5 are additionally assessed on the process of selecting and rehearsing audition scenes.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Students will be able to begin to show a range of emotions truthfully and without inhibition.
B2: Students will be able to begin to understand how to interpret and realise a character.
B3: Students will be able to begin to use observation and research to create a role.
B4: Students will be able to begin to undertake basic textual analysis to create a role..
B5: Students will be able to begin to plan and conduct a piece of independent research.
B6: Students will be able to begin to make appropriate use of director's notes.
Learning methods
B1 - B6 are taught in small group practical classes, supervised and unsupervised rehearsals, presentations/demonstrations, workshops.
B2-B5 are also taught in Contextual Studies lectures and classes.
B2 -B5 are also learned through independent study and through guided preparation and research for presentations and written work.
B1 - B4 and B6 are also learned through performance projects and tutor-led preparation for auditions.
Students also receive termly written and oral formative assessment and feedback from tutors on their work for B1 - B6.
Assessment methods
B1 - B4 and B6 skills are continuously assessed through observation of students' contributions to class work and projects, 'showings' (eg rituals, scenes, story-telling, debates and performances) to small audiences, the rehearsal process and performance work on Shakespeare and other performed scenes and plays.
B2-B4 are additionally assessed on the process of selecting and rehearsing audition scenes.
B5 is also assessed through contextual studies written assignments and presentations.
C: Practical skills
C1: Students will be able to commit sequences to memory.
C2: Students will be able to use voice, body and emotion to communicate story and character.
C3: Students will be able to use personal warm-up techniques for voice and body.
C4: Students will be able to demonstrate general presentational skills.
C5: Students will be able to apply research to acting work.
Learning methods
C1 - C5 are learned in small group practical classes, supervised and unsupervised rehearsals, presentations/demonstrations, workshops.
C4 and C5 are also taught in Contextual Studies lectures and classes.
C1-C5 are also learned through independent study, guided preparation and research for presentations and written work, performance projects and tutor-led preparation for auditions.
Students also receive termly written and oral formative assessment and feedback from tutors on their work for C2 - C5.
Assessment methods
C1 - C5 skills are continuously assessed through observation of students' contributions to class work and projects, 'showings' (eg rituals, scenes, story-telling, debates and performances) to small audiences, the rehearsal process and performance work on Shakespeare and other performed scenes and plays.
C1-C4 are additionally assessed on the process of selecting and rehearsing audition scenes.
C4 and C5 are also assessed through contextual studies written assignments and presentations.
D: Key skills
D1: Students will be able to begin to communicate with an audience.
D2: Students will be able to begin to use appropriate IT for research and presentation.
D3: Not applicable.
D4: Students will be able to begin to mount a production using skills and ideas learned during the course.
D5: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to work effectively individually and as a member of an ensemble
D6: Students will be able to show critical awareness of own strengths and weaknesses as an actor.
Learning methods
D1 Communication is developed through personal instruction given individually and in group rehearsals and continuous class work.
D4 Students will be given the opportunity to work collectively on devising, improvising and creating work from a number of sources.
This work is presented/shown to peers, staff and to the public.
D5 Students participate in seminars, rehearsals, workshops where they actively create material for song, story and play presentation.
D6 Students are given the opportunity to work as an ensemble through play presentation, devising projects and improvisation work.
Assessment methods
Key skills are assessed continuously throughout class work, rehearsal and performance.
Written work must be presented according to the departmental rules.