Acting Diploma

Course Title

Join us for our Acting Diplomas Online Information Session to find out more about training on our Diplomas in 2024/25.

If you’re interested in training with us but can’t attend Central in person, you may wish to explore our Online Acting Diploma, starting in January 2025.

Acting Diploma

Are you curious about the world of acting? Do you wish to explore yourself as an actor and connect with others passionate about acting too? Would you like to learn more but can’t quite commit to full time training just yet? If you have talent, passion and drive then Central’s Acting diploma may be exactly the springboard you’ve been looking for.

The Acting Diploma is a practical course designed to develop your acting skills as a series of industry professionals explore with you the fundamentals from movement, voice and text analysis to devising and screen acting technique.

You will work in Central’s rehearsal rooms two evenings a week and in the final summer term, you will rehearse and perform in one of Central’s fully equipped theatres. Please note that this is not an agents’ showcase.

In line with the ethos of our full-time courses, full attendance is expected of all modules as well as the Intensive Weeks.

  • Anyone who would like to pursue their acting skills and knowledge whilst still being able to work during the day
  • Anyone who enjoys acting and would like a practical experience in a professional environment
  • Anyone who enjoys collaborating and working with others
  • Anyone who would like to gain confidence and enhance communication skills
  • Anyone considering studying acting at BA or MA level and would like experience within a drama school

International Students, please note: 

As the Acting Diploma is a non-accredited, part-time course, it is not covered by the Student VISA (previously Tier 4 VISA) or the Short-Term Study VISA. As such, this course is unable to sponsor international VISA applications.

We still encourage students from outside the UK and Republic of Ireland to apply for the course. However, the course cannot form a part of your VISA application. For more information on VISAs, please visit the UK government website.

Where our students go next

Students from our Diploma courses have won places at:

  • BA and MA Acting courses here at Central
  • Guildhall
  • LAMDA
  • RADA
  • RSAMD
  • Rose Bruford
  • East 15
  • Mountview
  • Arts Educational
  • other leading universities and drama schools.

Students have also gone on to perform at the Royal Court, Bush Theatre, and the BBC, among others.

Course Dates

January 2024 - August 2024

The following dates (for the 2023/24 course) are indicative and given as a guideline only:

Term 1: Acting Fundamentals, Voice, Movement

Monday 29 January 2024 – Wednesday 27 March 2024

Mondays and Wednesdays, 7pm – 9.30pm

Intensive Saturday 3 February 2024, 12pm – 5pm

No classes on Bank Holiday – 1 April

Break: no classes w/c 1 April and w/c 8 April

Term 2: Text, Acting for Camera and Devising

Monday 15 April 2024 – Wednesday 19 June 2024

Mondays and Wednesdays, 7pm – 9.30pm

Intensive Saturday 18 May, 12pm – 5pm

No classes on Bank Holidays – 6 May & 27 May

Break: no classes w/c 24 June and w/c 1 July

Term 3: Intensive project: Rehearse and Perform a Theatre Project

Monday 8 July 2024, 7pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 7pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 13 July 2024, 10am – 5pm

Monday 15 July 2024, 7pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 17 July 2024, 7pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 20 July 2024, 10am – 5pm

Break: no class w/c 22 July and w/c 29 July

Intensive week:

Monday 5 August 2024 - Saturday 10 August 2024,

10am - 5pm

Intensive week: Monday 12 August 2024 - Friday 16 August 2024, 10am - 5pm

Performance day: Saturday 17 August 2024,

10am - 10pm

Course Dates

January 2025 - August 2025

The following dates are indicative and given as a guideline only:

Term 1: Acting Fundamentals, Voice, Movement

Monday 3 February 2025 – Wednesday 9 April 2025

Mondays and Wednesdays, 7pm – 9.30pm

Intensive Saturday 8 February 2025, 10am – 5pm

Break: no class w/c 14 April, w/c 21 April, w/c

Term 2: Text, Acting for Camera and Devising

Monday 28 April 2025 – Wednesday 2 July 2025

Mondays and Wednesdays, 7pm – 9.30pm

Intensive Saturday 10 May, 10am – 5pm

No classes on Bank Holidays – 5 May & 26 May

Break: no class w/c 7 July

Term 3: Intensive project: Rehearse and Perform a Theatre Project

Monday 14 July 2025, 7pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 16 July 2025, 7pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 19 July 2025, 10am – 5pm

Monday 21 July 2025, 7pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 23 July 2025, 7pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 26 July 2025, 10am – 5pm

Break: no class w/c 28 July 2025

Intensive week 1:

Monday 4 August 2025 - Saturday 9 August,10am - 5pm

Intensive week 2: Monday 11 August - Friday 15 August, 10am - 5pm

Performance day: Saturday 16 August,10am - 10pm
Auditions are open for 2024/25!

For your audition, you will be asked to submit an audition self-tape and if successful, you will be invited to an in-person second round audition in London.

You will need to prepare a contemporary monologue from a published play, from the last 20 years, of no longer than two minutes in duration.

First Round Audition - please film and submit a video of your contemporary monologue. Read our guidance on how to film and submit your audition video.

You don’t need special equipment; your phone, a table, a chair and some books are all you need!

Once we have received your audition video, it will be reviewed and assessed by a panel of two industry professionals, one of whom will be the Course Leader.

We recommend submitting your audition video as soon as possible, as places will be filled on a first come first served basis. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful tapes.

Second Round Audition – Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Second Round Audition. Second Round Auditions will commence from March 2024 and will be held in-person at our Swiss Cottage campus in London with a member of teaching staff from the course. There will be a 45-minute Acting Workshop with the group, before an individual audition with the panel. This will consist of a discussion on why you are applying, performing your monologue, receiving re-direction on your monologue and repeating it once more. Further information will be emailed to you nearer the time.  

Audition Fees

There is an audition fee of £10 for the first round and no additional fee for the second round. 

If you meet any of the following criteria, you may be eligible to apply for a free audition:

  • I am from a low income household (below £25,000)
  • I am Care Experienced (care Leaver/in the care of your Local Authority)
  • I have a registered disability
  • I have Caring Responsibilities (Young carer/ carer)
  • I am from the Global Majority
  • I am a refugee/asylum seeker

If this is applicable to you, please complete an application form and send your supporting evidence to short.courses@cssd.ac.uk.

Any questions, please contact us at short.courses@cssd.ac.uk

Course Fee

Course fee is under review.

There are free auditions, partial bursaries and full bursaries available for the Gap Year Diploma and Acting Diploma.

To be eligible, you must live in England and meet one of the following criteria:   

  • I am from a low income household (below £35,000)
  • I am care experienced (care leaver/in the care of your local authority)
  • I am a disabled student
  • I have caring responsibilities (young carer/carer)
  • I am from the global majority
  • I am a refugee/asylum seeker

To apply, please submit your self-tape before completing our bursary application form here.

Once we have received your supporting evidence, a member of the team will be in touch with the outcome within 2 weeks. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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