Studies in acting, voice, movement and acting for the camera offer a busy practical program to learn the skills a professional performer needs. These skills are then applied to mainstage, studio and theatre productions and are supported with an active program of television productions.
A streamed Honours year is available for those wishing to pursue advanced professional practice, including directing, or research-based higher degrees.
A Diploma of Education can also be studied for those who wish to teach drama in schools.
Graduates work professionally as actors in film and television, and on the stage including:
Career flexibility is further enhanced by the attention the course pays to vocational activities such as:
In addition many graduates work on a variety of related professions, including:
This course is recognised by the professional guild, the MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance) which incorporates what was known as Actors' Equity. Though formal professional accreditation is not required to become an actor, recognition of the course by the MEAA assists the process of our graduates gaining the essential union card, without which they will not be able to gain award-rate contracts for paid employment.
The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience. They are committed to the business of theatre and/or television, and are specialists in either acting (camera or stage), voice, or movement. All staff also have wide experience in directing, ranging from mainstream to experimental, from the classics to realism.
A visiting artist program brings professionals of national and international repute to work alongside staff and students, supplementing the skills of the regular staff. Contextual studies are taught by specialists in screen and theatre studies, and students also have regular contact with lecturers from the Television Production course.
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (normally equivalent to 24 subjects) for the Bachelor of Arts (Acting Screen and Stage) and 256 points, including a research dissertation/project, for the Bachelor of Arts (Acting Screen and Stage) (Honours).
Further study is available for graduates keen to extend their skills or train for related careers, such as:
For those wishing to extend either their practical skills, move into directing, or develop a research profile, CSU also offers:
Doctor of Visual and Performing Arts
"I found that other institutions like to mould their actors into a specific style, unlike the CSU course, which encourages students to develop their unique abilities, and so producing individual graduates with their own specific strengths."
Robert Lloyd
Graduate
| Study through | Wagga Wagga |
| Study mode and normal course duration | 3 years full-time on campus |
| Course code | 211724 |
| Fees | Commonwealth supported place |
| Session available | February / July (Semester basis) |
| Apply through | UAC |
| UAI cut-offs | UAI + criteria |
| Study through | Wagga Wagga |
| Study mode and normal course duration | 3 years full-time - onshore (within Australia) Honours: 1 year full-time - onshore (within Australia) |
| Course code | CRICOS code: 015498A Honours CRICOS code: 036163F Program code: 1411TP |
| Fees | Onshore - see fee list |
| Session available | February (Semester basis) |
| Apply through | CSU International Admissions |
| UAI cut-offs | N/A |
The Acting course is made up of 24 single session subjects in three distinct blocks: skills-based practical acting subjects and production subjects, and background contextual subjects, as follows:
Session 1
ACT120 Fundamentals of Acting
ACT122 Voice and Presentation
[ ] Contextual Elective
[ ] Elective
Session 2
ACT121 Techniques of Acting
ACT123 Performance Making
COM122 Australian Screen and Stage
[ ] Elective
Session 3
ACT220 The Actor and Language
ACT222 Acting for the Camera
[ ] Contextual Elective
[ ] Elective
Session 4
ACT218 Theatre History
ACT221 Naturalism
ACT223 Screen Performance
[ ] Elective
Students may exit here with an Associate Degree in Acting for Screen and Stage (exit point only)
Session 5
ACT318 Theatre in Australia
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
[ ] Elective
Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
[ ] Elective
Students completing the Pass strand will exit here with the Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage)
Session 5
ACT310 Australian Theatre
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (Honours) (16 points commenced)
Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 I ndustrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (Honours) (completed)
Session 7
COM417 Professional Workplace Research (Honours)
VPA412 Project Management
Session 8
ACT423 Honours
production project (32 points)
Session 5
ACT318 Theatre in Australia
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (16 points commenced)
Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (completed)
Students completing the Pass strand will exit here with the Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage)
Session 5
ACT320 Theatre and Television Projects 1 (16 points)
ACT310 Australian Theatre
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (16 points commenced)
Session 6
ACT321 Theatre and Television Projects 2 (16 points)
COM326 Industrial and Legal Issues in the Arts
VPA414 Research Methods for Arts Practice (completed)
Session 7
ART401 Theories of Criticism (16 points commenced)
ART402 Reading Subject (16 points commenced)
Session 8
ART401 Theories of Criticism (completed)
ART402 Reading Subject (completed)
ACT420 Seminar and Project Dissertation (32 points)
To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:
Previous studies include:
NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Universities Admissions Index (UAI) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.
Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.
Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:
All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.
Acceptable tests for English proficiency
Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:
An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.
You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:
CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.
The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.
Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.
Compulsory attendance at an audition/interview in Sydney or Wagga Wagga.
Audition requirements are outlined in the Audition Information Booklet available from the
School of Visual and Performing Arts:
Ph: 02 6933 2473
Fax: 02 6933 2887
or on the School website: www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/vpa
If unable to attend audition in person, a short (10 minute maximum) VHS video or DVD may be submitted. VHS video must be in PAL format. The video should show two monologues as per instructions in the Audition Information Booklet.
For more information about admission criteria please visit the School of Visual and Performing Arts website or contact info.csu on 1800 334 733.
For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:
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Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) |