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Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama logo
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Award Attendance Study Duration Start Domestic fees International fees
MA On-Campus Full-time - 1 years October £16800 per year £24150 per year
Course fee notes

Current fees for The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama can be found here: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees-and-additional-costs

About Acting for Screen, MA - at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

The MA Acting for Screen degree at Central is a professional training that focuses on acting in film, television and screen-related media. Primarily for those with previous training or professional experience, it explores the expressive potential of performance and the relationship between performers and camera. The course will build on your existing skills and focus on the specific needs of the year group.

  • Draw on the expertise of Central’s permanent staff team and specialist professionals from the industry
  • The course aims to encourage your development as a creative artist with the flexibility to work across all performance mediums, specialising in screen performance
  • The emphasis of the training is on producing actors who, on leaving, have a high skill level, with the necessary technique to apply to a screen context.

Specialist, rigorous training

Throughout the first two terms, you will follow rigorous training in acting, which will concentrate on the core skills of voice, body, acting and creative interpretation. The principles of study derive from psychophysical methods, particularly the techniques of Michael Chekhov and Stanislavski.

The range of classes across the first two terms will include screen technique; this will essentially examine the distinction between screen and live performance. It will also cover visual storytelling, working in – and adapting to – shot size, cheating, hitting the mark, shooting contemporary scenes from television and film, and the preparation of different styles of work, including soap, drama and comedy.

Acting classes will interrogate the body and provide you with a toolbox of exercises. There is a specific focus on relaxing and working with ease, developing the imagination, unpicking personal habits and creating believable performances.

Voice and dialect classes will encourage an understanding of the voice as an instrument and will work with a variety of texts including poetry, verbatim, classical and contemporary material. In the area of movement, there is exposure to various styles, which may include jazz and historical dance, yoga and chi kung.

Other classes include sight-reading, textual analysis, casting and mock auditions led by casting directors, actors and directors. Professional preparation will involve guidance on selecting photographs, writing CVs, self-marketing and online promotion.


Entry requirements

Contact Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to find course entry requirements.


Why study at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Specialist conservatoire training 

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Central) is a member of the University of  London and one of the UK’s leading drama schools. Based in Swiss Cottage, London,  Central offers specialist conservatoire-style training across performance, practice and  production, preparing students for careers in theatre, film, TV and live events. 

A focused learning environment 

Central is a small, specialist institution, which means students benefit from small class  sizes, close contact with tutors, and intensive practical training. Teaching is led by  experienced practitioners and academics, with learning shaped around professional  practice and real-world creative processes. 

Career-focused education 

At Central, future careers are built into the curriculum. Students graduate as specialists in  their chosen field, with strong professional insight, industry experience and a clear  understanding of how the creative industries work. Central’s long history and strong  industry links help students build connections and develop sustainable careers across the  performing arts. 

Professional facilities and London location 

Students train in specialist studios, rehearsal spaces and production facilities, including performance venues and technical workshops. Central’s London location places  students close to the heart of the UK’s creative industries, offering access to theatres,  production companies and professional opportunities throughout their studies.