Online 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.

Online Acting Diploma

Blended learning - online classes with an in-person summer intensive

Are you curious about the world of acting? You’d like to learn more but can’t quite commit to full time training just yet? You want to access excellent training but can’t travel into London every week?  If you have talent, passion and drive then Central’s blended online acting diploma may be exactly the springboard you’ve been looking for.

This practical course is designed to develop your acting skills as a series of industry professionals explore with you the fundamentals from movement and text analysis to voiceover and screen acting technique from the comfort of your living room.

Once you’ve explored and developed your skills online it’s time to put them into practice onsite. In the summer, you’ll spend nearly two weeks on the Central campus alongside your fellow students creating work. You will take part in a devising theatre intensive and then film and crew a short film, gaining invaluable experience both in front of and behind the camera.

This course is ideal if you would like to:

  • hone your skills before applying to a full-time course
  • explore actor training in more depth to help focus your acting journey
  • pursue your acting skills and knowledge without having to give up your day job.

This is a practical, part-time, online acting course suitable if you:

  • wish to pursue your acting skills and knowledge without having to give up your day job
  • want to access Central’s training but aren’t able to attend a campus in every week London
  • enjoy working and be able to engage online. This means having the physical private space, technology and internet connection and knowing that you are able to commit to working in this way
  • enjoy acting and would like a practical experience in a professional environment
  • would like to gain confidence and enhance communication skills
  • are considering studying acting at BA or MA level and would like experience within a drama school

We are looking for students who are:

  • passionate about acting, film and theatre
  • are committed to the subject
  • can work well within a team
  • are willing to work independently
  • show an understanding and respect for rehearsal room etiquette
    • e.g. good time keeping and discipline
  • want to progress and learn about acting in a practical way

Other requirements for admission:

  • Applicants must have IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent in the English language. Please note, you will be expected to read texts/scripts that may have advanced vocabulary on this course and should be comfortable acting in English
  • Minimum age for admission is 18
  • You must audition for this course
Where our students go next

Students from our previous Diploma courses have gone on to study at:

  • BA and MA Acting courses here at Central
  • Guildhall
  • RSAMD
  • Rose Bruford
  • East 15
  • Mountview
  • ALRA
  • Arts Educational
  • Oxford School of Drama
  • 4th Monkey
  • RADA
  • other leading universities

Our Diploma Students have also gone on to perform at The Royal Court Theatre, The Bush Theatre, and BBC, amongst others, as well as creating their own work.

Course Dates

You will attend two online sessions a week over two terms between January and August. 

In August, the course will culminate in an intensive project where you will develop and film a short film (3 - 4 minutes) and work on a devised project. In line with the ethos of our full-time courses, full attendance is expected for all modules as well as for the Intensive Weeks.

January 2024 - August 2024

The following dates (for the 2024 course) are indicative and given as a guideline only:

Term 1 (Online) - Acting Fundamentals, Voice and Movement 

Tuesday 23 January 2024 – Thursday 28 March 2024

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm - 9.30pm

Break - no classes w/c 1 April 2024

Term 2 (Online) - Text, Shakespeare, Voiceover and Acting for Camera

Tuesday 9 April 2023 – Thursday 13 June 2024

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm - 9.30pm

Break - no classes w/c 17 June 2024

Term 3 (Hybrid) - Short Film Project and Devising

Short Film - project writing (online): Tue 25 June 7pm - 9.30pm, Thu 27 June 7pm – 9.30pm

Break - no classes w/c 1 July 2024

Short Film - project writing (online): w/c 8 July 2024

4 hours per student group, to be organised individually

Break - no classes w/c 15 July 2024

Intensive Project (onsite at Central)

Dates: Monday 22 July 2024 – Friday 2 August 2024

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

You will be needed for a total of 7 days during this period which will include:

  • 3 days theatre devising project with a rehearsal room sharing of work
  • 2 days rehearsal for a short film, including voice and movement classes
  • 1 day filming short film
  • 1 day crewing classmates short film

There will also be online evening masterclasses with industry professionals during this intensive period.

Course Dates

You will attend two online sessions a week over two terms between January and August. 

In August, the course will culminate in an intensive project where you will develop and film a short film (3 - 4 minutes) and work on a devised project. In line with the ethos of our full-time courses, full attendance is expected for all modules as well as for the Intensive Weeks.

January 2025 - August 2025

The following dates (for the 2025 course) are indicative and given as a guideline only:

Term 1 (Online) - Acting Fundamentals, Voice and Movement

Tuesday 28 January 2025 – Thursday 3 April 2025

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm - 9.30pm

Break - no classes w/c 7 April, w/c 14 April, w/c 21 April 2025

Term 2 (Online) - Text, Shakespeare, Voiceover and Acting for Camera

Tuesday 29 April 2025 – Thursday 3 July 2025

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm - 9.30pm

Break - no classes w/c 7 July 2025

Term 3 (Hybrid) - Short Film Project and Devising

Short Film - project writing (online): Tue 15 July 7pm - 9.30pm, Thur 17 July 7pm – 9.30pm

Break – no classes w/c 21 July

Short Film - project writing (online): w/c 28 July 2025: 4 hours per student group, to be organised individually

Intensive Project (onsite at Central)

Dates: Monday 4 August 2025 – Friday 15 August 2025

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

You will be needed for a total of 7 days during this period which will include:

  • 3 days theatre devising project with a rehearsal room sharing of work
  • 2 days rehearsal for a short film, including voice and movement classes
  • 1 day filming short film
  • 1 day crewing classmates short film

There will also be online evening masterclasses with industry professionals during this intensive period

Auditions are open for 2023/24!

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 on Zoom with a member of teaching staff from the course. They will discuss why you are applying, re-direct you on your monologue and ask you to repeat the monologue 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 am a disabled student
  • I have Caring Responsibilities (Young carer / carer)

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

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

Course Fees

Course fee is under review.

What our students say

“The teaching was the most helpful and considerate I have ever received. The blend of theory and industry knowledge was second-to-none”

Mícheál, Diploma Student 2021

“I am so glad I did the acting diploma short course. Without the experience I acquired on this course, growing in vocal and movement strength, I know I wouldn’t have succeeded in getting onto the full-time training BA Acting CDT Course at Central. Not only did I grow in my acting skills but with this course I was still able to work and save up to be able to afford my full-time studies. I was scared the online teaching was going to be tedious as looking at a screen for a long time can be, but it was instead very fun and engaging. We practiced voiceover work and acting for film which worked well with it being online. The short film at the end has to be my favourite part of the course. Not only did we get to act in it, but we also had to devise our own scripts which I loved doing as I know I want to perform my own work in the future.”

Emma, Diploma Student 2020

“I cannot fault Central’s Acting Diploma Online. I knew it was going to be good as previous short courses I had taken were excellent, but these classes were the highlight of my week. The course covers EVERYTHING, and has been the perfect bridge for me to pursue a BA in Acting.”

Lydia, Diploma Student 2021

Online Acting Diploma Video

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