*You will receive a Certificate of Higher Education Acting qualification upon completion of this course.
Please note that this foundation course does not form part of our BA (Hons) Acting degree and does not offer automatic progression to other degrees.
The Foundation programme in Acting aims to nurture and develop skills and techniques for those who either wish to train within a conservatoire or higher education environment in pursuit of a career within the creative industry or for those who feel they are ready to try and enter the profession after a year of intensive training.
The Foundation Programme is both an innovative and intensive course led and taught by GSA’s highly experienced tutors and industry professionals. Graduates of the Foundation Acting programme have successfully gained places at: RADA, LAMDA, GSA, ALRA, LIPA, East 15, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Mountview, Central School of Speech and Drama, Arts Ed, Rose Bruford, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Manchester Metropolitan. Past Foundation Acting students have also gone on to successfully form their own theatre companies, become playwrights, directors, and filmmakers.
The Foundation Acting programme is delivered over three teaching blocks/terms, focusing upon the rudiments of the disciplines required for the aspiring actor/artist wishing to pursue a career within the industry. Throughout each teaching block/term, the programme focuses on the delivery of a diverse and extensive range of subjects including:
Students will study various acting techniques and the basics of practitioners including Stanislavski, Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen and Michael Chekhov.
This is covered in the form of weekly Acting Fundamentals and Improvisation classes.
Preparation and guidance for the selection and delivery of contemporary and classical monologues required for Drama School auditions. Audition technique is taught in group sessions allowing each student the opportunity to study the work of their peers and also learn from each other’s feedback. At the end of Teaching Blocks 1 and 2 there will be mock audition sessions where the students will receive feedback from a panel made up of Drama School practitioners and industry professionals.
Skill-based classes are delivered within the programme. These will include:
- Improvisation
- Movement
- Voice
- Group Singing
- Workshops and Masterclasses
- Historical Dance for the Actor
- Introduction to playwriting and directing
Throughout the training, students will work on Projects.
In Teaching Block 1, this starts with Ensemble Storytelling and moves onto a Text-Based Project. This could be either a Contemporary, Naturalism, or American Realism text with an internal "work in progress" sharing of selected scenes at the end of this teaching block.
In Teaching Block 2, this starts with the focus moving onto Shakespeare text. The second half of Teaching Block 2 moves onto the Writing and Directing project, with the aim to explore techniques and take stimulus from various sources to create an ensemble-based, self-generated, and devised work that deepens the relationship between collaboration, artistic autonomy, and self-made work.
To end Teaching Block 2, students will work on a one-week Acting for Camera project with an industry professional, learning the basic camera techniques and skills required for further Screen Actor training.
To finish your training, in Teaching Block 3, students will perform in a professionally supported Public Performance Project of work within one of GSA’s performance venues.
Students are offered support and guidance for the submission of applications to conservatoires and higher education institutions.
Workshops and masterclasses will be given by faculty from fellow conservatoires and industry professionals. Students will also have both group and one-to-one sessions.
"The Foundation Course in Acting at GSA provided me with the necessary skills required to achieve a place at a drama school, however, I quickly realised that the course isn’t just about the place on a BA. The creative freedom and flexibility of the syllabus provided such a tailored experience for our cohort and really allowed us to gain as much experience from the year as was possible in the relatively short time we had. We had the opportunity to work with external directors throughout the course which created a width of understanding of different styles of working and adapting to new approaches to text. I found this course to be hugely valuable and incredibly formative for me as an actor."
Ed Shamwana, GSA Foundation Acting Graduate 2020 (GSA BA Acting, 2020-2023)
See more student stories here.
We are ranked 3rd in the UK for dance, drama and cinematics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, and 5th in the UK for drama and dance in the Guardian University Guide 2024. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
The Foundation Acting course at GSA is a stand-alone rigorous one-year intensive course that aims to nurture and develop skills and techniques to further a career in Acting. For many, it prepares students who wish to go on to train within a conservatoire or Higher Education environment successfully gaining entry to BA and MA Acting programmes. For some Graduating students, it has been a direct path of pursuing a career within the creative industries after their one-year training.
Ameer Choudrie, Programme Leader
Entry requirements
We can accept students aged 18 and over. Please bear in mind that if you are planning to progress to drama school or university after the Foundation Course you may need to have the necessary qualifications to meet their entry requirements.
GCSE English language and Mathematics at grade 4+ or above (or equivalent)
A level: CCD
If you can demonstrate exceptional talent and can satisfy the panel of your ability to successfully complete the course, you may be considered for a place irrespective of your academic background.
IELTS minimum overall: 6.5
IELTS minimum by component: 6.0
Find out more about fees and funding here.
Please note that government loans are available for this course.
Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries page for more details.
Experienced staff in our International Student Office are available to help from the moment you consider studying at the University. We offer professional advice on immigration, visa issues, entry qualifications, pre-departure information, employment regulations and international student welfare.
Auditions
Entry is also subject to successful audition. Candidates who can demonstrate exceptional talent and can satisfy the panel of their ability to complete the programme may also be considered.
For more audition information please visit AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS
A non-refundable audition fee will be charged.