Acting and Performance HND

Course overview

Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic performing arts departments. At PASS, creativity meets opportunity in a vibrant, professional environment designed to help you thrive.

Our state-of-the-art facilities include the impressive PASS Studio Theatre, eight purpose-built dance and rehearsal studios, specialist classrooms, and a cutting-edge Learning Resource Centre and Library – everything you need to bring your artistic vision to life.

At PASS, we offer training across six exciting disciplines:

• Acting
• Dance
• Musical Theatre
• Costume for Stage and Screen
• Make-Up Artistry
• Technical Theatre

What makes us unique? The opportunity to work in real-world, industry-inspired projects – just like in professional productions. You’ll work alongside peers from different specialisms, gaining hands-on experience and building a network that mirrors the creative industries.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh – the world’s Festival City – PASS has strong connections with leading theatres, companies, and creatives. These partnerships open doors to exciting performance opportunities, innovative projects, and invaluable industry insight.

On the Acting and Performance Course, you will gain essential acting and performance experience working in professional environments led by our exceptional lecturers, many of whom continue to work in the industry. You will work with them to develop your skills in acting, voice, movement, and production. 

This practical course is centred around key production projects aimed at developing and promoting your performance skills.  You will collaborate with other students in the Performing Arts Studio Scotland faculty, including make-up artists, costume designers, and technical theatre designers.  Further opportunities for collaboration include working with students from the film department to create short films and an external site-specific project with the dance department.

For more information, please follow us on:

Instagram:  @passedcoll

Facebook:  @PASS - Acting, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre and Costume for Stage

Core skills

• Acting Skills
• Creating Devised Theatre
• Theatre Styles
• Live Performance
• Voice and Movement Development Skills
• Physical Theatre
• Site Specific Performance
• Acting for Camera
• Large-scale productions

Essential Skills:

• Communication - verbally and digitally
• Collaborative skills - working in groups, pairs and with students from other courses
• Working Independently - class tasks, homework, assessments
• Confidence - presentations in groups and independently
• Creativity and Empathy – group and project-based learning and working
• Critical and Creative Thinking – problem solving and innovation
• Initiative and self-motivation – contribution, leadership, responsibility, being proactive

How the course is assessed

• Class observations
• Small performance sharings
• Larger–scale public performances
• Journals and logbooks
• Essays and other written assignments
• Open and closed-book tests, presentations. 

Number of days per week

• 3 - 4 days per week; however, this will increase when working towards performances.

Entry requirements

Due to the practical nature of this course and its popularity, we have outlined clear guidelines below that are essential for consideration for a place. 

The list below is not exhaustive, but expected from potential candidates:

You Must:

• Complete the online application fully, including a strong personal statement and reasoning of why you have applied for the course. 
• Have Two Highers or completed an SCQF level 6 subject-specific full-time course.
• Be open and transparent about any potential additional needs or support required during the application process. 
• Have a good work ethic and commitment to your studies and fully understand the needs of the level of course you are applying for, including the practical, academic and independent learning workload.
• Be physically and mentally prepared for working in a college environment, collaboratively with internal students and external partners.
• Complete all aspects of the Application, Audition and Interview Process.

Mature students will be assessed on an individual basis, taking into account their prior learning, professional experience, and personal background.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

All candidates must audition at Edinburgh College, Granton Campus.

Please note that this course is particularly competitive, as we have only 50 spaces available.

There are four stages to our audition process. Please read carefully to prepare.

Stage 1: A tour of our facilities with a current student

Stage 2: A practical Group Workshop 

Workshop Outline

• Participate in a group warm-up.
• Engage in drama games to support communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. 
• You may be asked to work in smaller groups to create something with guidance that supports your creativity and showcases your skills.

Stage 3: Audition

• The piece you perform should be one short monologue from a published play. 
• This should be no longer than 2 minutes in duration. 
• We recommend a contemporary piece and a character who is about your age. 
• Please do not perform any classical pieces, including Shakespeare.
• Please also avoid pieces that you have done in Higher/National 5 Drama or English, or any overly popular pieces.

Stage 4: Interview 

• Each candidate will meet with two members of the teaching faculty 
• You will be asked a series of questions to assess your suitability for the course 

Questions for Interview

1. Why have you applied for this course at PASS, Edinburgh College? 
2. What skills or experience do you have that may support your application
3. What do you hope to gain out of this course if given a place? 
4. What or who inspires you? 
5. Additional questions may be asked based on your responses. 

Privacy Notice for Performing Arts and Photography Selection

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• 1 Year Top Up BA Hons Dance and Drama Degree at PASS Edinburgh College with Kingston University 
• Year three BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen at Queen Margaret University 
• Year three BSc (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen at Edinburgh Napier University 
• Progress to drama schools such as Italia Conti RCS, RADA, Central School of Speech and Drama, LIP, A Rose Bruford, Manchester Metropolitan University, Birmingham School of Acting and The Drama Centre 
• Drama school BA Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University 
• Year 2 BA (Hons) Drama and Production at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Career options

• Directing
• Teaching
• Writing
• Performing
• Production
• Physical Theatre
• Facilitation
• Theatre Maker
• Technichal Theatre