Acting (International)

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Academic Year of Entry: 2015/16 - 2016/17 - 2017/18 - 2018/19 - 2019/20 - 2020/21 - 2021/22 - 2022/23 - 2023/24
Course overview
(MFA) Master of Fine Arts
Acting (International)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
East 15 Acting School
East15 (Loughton) Campus
Masters
Full-time
None
MFA W41220
29/04/2014

Details

Professional accreditation

None

Admission criteria

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

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

Staff photo
Prof Millie Taylor

Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of Postgraduate studies

Winchester School of Art

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.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2015/16

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 EA601-7-SU-LO Acting Technique Core 30 Optional Optional
02 EA602-7-AU-LO Character and Scene Work Core 30 Optional Optional
03 EA603-7-AU-LO Shakespeare Core 30 Optional Optional
04 EA604-7-SP-LO Contemporary UK Texts Core 30 Optional Optional

Year 2 - 2016/17

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 EA612-7-SP or EA613-7-SP Core with Options 60 Optional Optional
02 EA607-7-AU-LO Theatre Performance 1 Core 30 Optional Optional
03 EA608-7-SP-LO Theatre Performance 2 Core 30 Optional Optional
04 EA609-7-SU-LO Theatre Performance 3 Core 30 Optional Optional
05 EA616-7-AU-LO Film, Radio & Voiceover Core 30 Compulsory Compulsory

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

To provide students with a sound foundation for a professional career in theatre and related professions in an increasingly global industry.

To extend and enhance students' vocal and physical skills appropriate for international performance.

To encourage students' personal and intellectual development.

To provide students with experience of training and performance in a professional environment.

To provide students with skills for approaching a range of theatre texts in English, including specific vocal and linguistic skills.

To provide opportunities for students extend their skills and abilities through working as actors within a repertory type company to produce fully staged productions written and performed in English.

To provide opportunities for students to extend their research knowledge and training either through in depth independent study or field study.

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 be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of approaches to the preparation of the actor, including development and preparation of the voice and body.

A2: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of methods, techniques and disciplines used in creating performances.

A3: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the acting skills and techniques used in selected performance forms and styles.

A4: Knowledge and understanding of techniques and attitudes to support the creative, safe and healthy use of the voice and body in performance

A5: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the variety of roles within a range of UK theatre environments and the interaction of those roles with the actor's role.

A6: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Fully staged productions of works written and performed in English.

A7: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key elements of a chosen training and performance method.

Learning methods

A1 to A5 will be learnt in practical classes, rehearsals, workshops and performances and through reflective actors’‘ logbooks.
A7 will also be learned in supervised independent study.

Assessment methods

A1 to A5 are assessed through written module logbooks, a 12,000 word dissertation or practical project including a 5,000 word contextualising critical document and continuous assessment of contribution to practical sessions, scene study, workshop productions and fully staged plays.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

B1: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a range of the professionals encountered within European theatre.

B2: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to recognise, identify, select, critique or deply performance techniques for a range of contexts and styles.

B3: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to interpret and communicate texts written in English clearly and creatively.

B4: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to reflect constructively and critically on own work and to use the results of such reflection to plan future projects or to identify future training or developmental needs.

B5: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to participate constructively in processes of reflecting on own or others' work.

B6: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to plan and execute independent research as preparation for performance.

B7: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to make critical judgements in evaluating research material.

B8: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to reflect constructively on experience of a chosen performance method or system.

B9: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to relate chosen performance method or system to prior training, preparation and performance.

Learning methods

B1 to B7 cognitive skills are learned through practical classes, workshops, independent study rehearsals and productions and through reflective actors’‘ logbooks.
B8 and B9 are additionally learned either through field study or supervised independent study.

Assessment methods

B1 to B7 are assessed by continuous assessment of practical sessions, scene study, small group and fully staged productions, workshop productions and a 12,000 word dissertation or a practical project including a 5,000 word contextualising critical document and through written module logbooks.

C: Practical skills

C1: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to perform a range of roles to a professional standard.

C2: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to express analysis and interpretation of a role with confidence and clarity.

C3: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to train and use the body and voice as a performer safely, healthily, and confidently, including non-pedestrian movement or singing.

C4: The ability to devise time-management schedules and manage own and others' time efficiently according to those schedules

C5: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to understand and accept direction and incorporate it into the performance of a character.

C6: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to utilise physical skills to apply and adapt a chosen performance method or system to own performance work.

Learning methods

C1 to C6 are learned through practical classes, workshops, rehearsals and productions.

In addition, C1, C2 and C4 are also learned through independent study and written module logbooks.

Assessment methods

C1 to C5 are continuously assessed through observation of practcial sessions, scene study, small group and fully staged productions, workshop productions.

C1, C2 and C4 are additionally assessed through written module logbooks and a 12,000 word dissertation or a practical project including a 5,000 word contextualising critical document.

D: Key skills

D1: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to communicate effectively and confidently with peers or to external audiences through performance, presentations or the written word.

D2: Ability to apply relevant IT resources to research, present or communicate original work

D3: Not applicable.

D4: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to analyse and find resource-efficient effective solutions to problems encountered in research or creative tasks.

D5: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to negotiate or communicate effectively within groups to maximise their effectiveness or to minimise conflict or underuse of group resources.

D6: Students will be able to demonstrate ability to use feedback from tutors peers or spectators to reflect systematically and critically on own work in order to formulate plans for future projects.

Learning methods

D1, D2 and D4 to D6 are learned in practical classes, rehearsals, workshops and performances and through reflective actors’‘ logbooks.

Assessment methods

D1, D2 and D4 to D6 are assessed through written module log-books, a 12,000 word Dissertation or Practical Project including a 5,000 word contextualising critical document and continuous assessment of contribution to practical sessions, scene study, workshop productions and fully staged plays.


Note

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Contact

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.