- Location
- Langside Campus
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 Years
Applications open 15th January 2025
HND Acting and Performance will build on key skills gained on the NC course in Acting and Performance and is in effect years two and three of three years of continuous training.
The HND Acting and Performance course helps to develop skills in effective communication, enabling individuals to express themselves more clearly. It also helps to foster the development of empathy and emotional intelligence, by helping individuals to understand and embody different characters with diverse emotions. In addition, acting training helps to develop confidence and presence which can help positively impact individuals, both personally and professionally.
What will I learn?
- Acting
- Production
- Voice
- Movement
- Singing
- Text and performance
- Theatre history
- Acting methods and practitioners
- Workshop skills
- Creating drama scripts
- Professional development for actors
Please note that during production blocks you will be required to work out-with the normal college day. Assessment will be continuous, with a mix of practical and theoretical assessments.
Previous students have performed in a wide range of productions such as The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Animal Farm, Scenes from the Big Picture, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth.
Hear from alumni Richard Rankin.
Hear from Student Graeme Crawley.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- NC Acting and Performance
- Entry is by audition. Please note that priority for places is given to our own NC Acting and Performance students. Places for direct entry at this level therefore are very rare and dependent on our own students not taking up the places offered.
- If you have a relevant HNC, it may be possible to access Year 2 of the HND if places are available. Please contact us directly, as units held need to be compatible with units offered by us.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
We offer additional workshops with industry professionals to broaden students' learning and create networking opportunities. Students will also have the chance to work with clients in TIE projects, which involves local schools and charities. Each year there are a variety of external opportunities which include professional casting sessions, drama festivals, conferences and events.
Articulation Routes
University of the West of Scotland
- BA (Hons) Contemporary Screenwriting
- BA (Hons) Performance
Jobs and further study
If successful, you may progress to drama school for further study.
Former graduates have continued their professional training at the following institutions:
- RCS
- RADA
- Guildhall
- Rose Bruford
- Central School of speech and drama
- Napier University
- Queen Margaret University
Take a look at the course progression map for acting and performance courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to an audition / interview. Note: You will only be considered for entry into what is in effect second and third year of our three continuous years of training if you currently have an NQ Acting and Performance qualification.
- You will be asked to prepare and perform two contrasting monologues.
- Each monologue should last between one and three minutes.
- You are expected to dress appropriately for the audition in black loose clothing with little make-up or jewellery. Appropriate footwear should be worn.
- There will be a short interview after the performance of your monologues.
The first audition sessions will be in February/March. The result of the selection process will be emailed within five working days of the audition.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited audition / interview, you will be informed of the outcome by email within 14 working days.
The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June / July.
