The MA Acting at GSA offers an intensive, practice-based actor training experience, designed to deepen your technical, creative, and professional capacities. Delivered in a conservatoire-style setting within the University of Surrey environment, this programme emphasises embodied, ensemble, and applied methodologies across voice, movement, acting, and screen work.
With small cohort sizes and expert faculty drawn from professional theatre, casting, and directing backgrounds, students receive a high level of individual attention and mentorship.
You will be taught by academics who have extensive industry links and who bring their connections into the classroom. Our staff are active in the performing arts industry and balance their performing commitments with their teaching duties.
GSA is situated on the Stag Hill campus in Guildford with excellent transport links to London, putting you close to the heart of the UK theatre scene.
We are ranked 1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026, and 3rd in the UK for dance, drama, and cinematics in The Complete University Guide 2026.
Personally, I really identified with GSA´s mentality of nurturing each individual’s personal strengths, supporting them to grow and explore in their own unique way. I am super grateful to GSA and the University of Surrey for supporting and encouraging me to bring to life my short films and personal projects. The course was a wonderful mix of techniques in both acting for, and the creation of, theatre and film media, thoroughly preparing the actor to enter the professional industry.
Cristo Fernández, MA Acting Graduate
Why Choose This Course?
- Industry-rooted training: You’ll be taught by experienced practitioners and receive guidance from casting agents, directors, and industry professionals, bridging training and the profession.
- Performance opportunities: The programme includes public productions, a short film project, screen work, and an industry showcase to present your work to agents and professionals.
- Holistic technical development: You’ll develop skills in voice, movement, text work, improvisation, screen acting, and rehearsal techniques - all integrated into project-based training.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Train in some of the UK's best professional facilities within the conservatoire sector. As part of the University of Surrey, you'll also have full access to the university's amenities, offering world-class conservatoire training in a top university environment.
- Supportive environment: With small classes and a collaborative community, you’ll have space to experiment, take risks, and grow.
What you will study
On the MA Acting, you’ll train intensively across all areas of performance, combining traditional conservatoire practice with opportunities to explore your own creative voice. The course is designed to stretch you as a performer while giving you the professional skills you need to step confidently into the industry.
- Acting technique: From classical plays to new writing, you’ll work on a wide range of texts and styles. Through rehearsal projects, ensemble work, and performance, you’ll learn how to approach character, unlock text, and bring authenticity to your acting.
- Voice and speech: You’ll train your voice – developing breath support, clarity, and power so you can meet the demands of Shakespeare one moment and film dialogue the next.
- Movement and physical training: Movement classes help you strengthen your body, increase flexibility and discover your physical presence on stage and screen.
- Screen acting: You’ll gain on-camera experience through workshops and a dedicated short film project. You’ll practise auditioning and self-taping; essential skills for today’s industry.
- Text and performance: Workshops and projects give you the chance to explore both classical and contemporary material, developing versatility and confidence in performance.
- Professional practice: You’ll prepare for the profession with classes in audition technique, self-promotion and career development. The year ends with a digital showcase for agents, casting directors and other theatre professionals.
Projects and productions
You will take part in:
- A public production
- A short film project
- A digital industry showcase
By the end of the course, you’ll leave with the skills, experience, and confidence to begin your career as a professional actor.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
To view the course structure, please click here
Modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand
Find out all about fees and funding here.
Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries page for more details.
Thinking of continuing your education at Surrey? As an alumnus of Surrey, you may be eligible for a ten percent discount on our taught Master's programme fees. Learn more about discounts for Surrey graduates
To view the entry requirements, please click here
For more audition information please visit AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS
Graduates are well positioned for careers in:
- Theatre (classical, contemporary, touring)
- Film & Screen (TV, film, streaming content)
- New writing and devised work
- Voice work, radio, audio dramas
- Teaching, workshop facilitation, and community performance
- Performing in interdisciplinary or site-based performance contexts
The programme’s showcase, industry connections, and support in career planning are designed to help graduates transition into professional practice.
Our graduates have an unrivalled employment record in West End shows, national tours, television, radio, and film. Our very distinguished alumni include performers such as:
- Brenda Blethyn OBE
- Bill Nighy
- Ella Balinska
- Owen Teale
- Celia Imrie
- Jonjo O’Neill
- Alexandra Mardell
- Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE
- Danielle Fiamanya
- Tam Mutu
- Caroline Sheen
- Rob Kazinsky
- Jade Anouka
- Chris Geere
- Emma Barton
- Justin Fletcher MBE
- T'Nia Miller
- Stephen Carlile
- Maiya Quansah-Breed
- Grace Mouat
- Bronagh Waugh
Our alumni have also secured employment in numerous regional theatres, opera and ballet companies, arts venues, scenic construction and prop-making companies, corporate events and lighting, sound and video hire companies, as well as attaining management and creative production roles for major venues and production companies including the Really Useful Group, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, the National Theatre, the BBC, the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, ATG Theatres and PRG Dubai. Other career paths have included teaching and outreach work.
Thinking of continuing your education at Surrey? As an alumnus of Surrey, you may be eligible for a ten percent discount on our taught Masters programme fees. Learn more about discounts for Surrey graduates
Why study at GSA
Guildford School of Acting (GSA) is one of the UK’s leading accredited drama schools, providing dedicated conservatoire training within a purpose-built environment on the University of Surrey campus.
GSA operates a pedagogic approach that utilises student-centred learning. Every module has an ethos of nurturing and enabling employability and personal development opportunities for the students. Our working practices encourage dialogue and are most effective when a collaborative approach is undertaken. Our learning environment grants our students the freedom to take risks and to embrace spontaneity.
We keep our cohorts small to ensure you get personal attention and contact from our expert teachers, who have extensive first-hand experience in professional theatre in the UK, Europe, America, and all around the world.
We are ranked 1st in the UK for drama and music in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026, and 3rd in the UK for dance, drama, and cinematics in The Complete University Guide 2026.
100% of our MA Acting graduates go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes survey 2025, HESA)
GSA is accredited by the Federation of Drama Schools (FDS).
Related Courses