University in South Africa
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
University profile
Act Cape Town (ACT) is a private higher education institution in Pinelands, Cape Town, that trains actors for film, television and theatre. Founded by actor and producer Candice Poole in 2005, it describes itself as the leading acting-for-film academy in South Africa. It is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution (certificate 2013/HE07/002), with registration granted provisionally in April 2013 and full registration status in November 2017.
The core offering is the Two Year Acting for Film Program, made up of the Higher Certificate in Acting for Film (NQF 5, 125 credits, SAQA ID 91851) and the Advanced Certificate in Acting for Film (NQF 6, 120 credits, SAQA ID 97233). Both are one year full-time, contact-based and accredited by the CHE's Higher Education Quality Committee. Students can complete either one or two years, and graduates of the two-year program may audition for the ACT Professional Program, a production year with master classes and the LAMDA qualification. ACT also runs three 6-week short courses (Acting for Camera: The Fundamentals of Performance, Accessing Emotions and On Camera Bootcamp) and an Acting for Film program for teens in Grades 8 to 12.
Training is hands-on and taught by working film, television and stage professionals in small classes. The Higher Certificate covers modules such as Introduction to Acting, Meisner technique, Acting for Film, Finding Emotional Truth, Auditioning, English and American accent training, Live Performance, Improvisation, Movement and Presenting for Camera. The Advanced Certificate adds Character Creation, Method acting, Style and Genre, Monologues on Camera, Voice and the Actor and short-film production. Students make short films and scenes that can be used for showreels, perform live theatre in ACT's Black Box theatre, and present work at an annual showcase and graduation.
Classes run Monday to Friday during the day, with rehearsals and productions also in afternoons, evenings and weekends. The Head of Campus is actor Grant Swanby, and the coaching team includes Tamryn Speirs, Nicola Hanekom, Sivenkosi Gubangxa, Rowan Studti, Carishma Basday, Rob Coutts and Jan Fouche.
ACT has a transfer pathway with the New York Film Academy (students can complete a BFA in 4 semesters instead of 8), is a registered LAMDA Examination Private Centre, is affiliated with SAE Institute Cape Town, and partners with Zabalaza Intsika eBaxter Theatre for its annual acting scholarships.
ACT partners with Zabalaza Intsika eBaxter Theatre in awarding its Annual Scholarships in Acting for Film.
ACT has partnered with Student Hero and various education funding providers so students can learn about, apply for or pre-qualify for study funding from a single platform at no cost to the student: Student Hero (ACT Cape Town).
An early bird payment received by 30 November 2026 reduces the 2027 course fee by 5%.
Official page: Accreditation and affiliations.
Browse the scholarships listed for ACT Cape Town (Pty) Ltd and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for ACT Cape Town (Pty) Ltd →Applicants need a South African National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or an equivalent NQF 4 qualification, proficiency in English and a propensity for creative expression, plus an audition before the College Director. The audition is a 2-3 minute monologue and a cold read; Cape Town applicants audition in person, others may submit a recording. Applicants are notified in writing within one week of the audition.
Applicants must have completed the ACT Higher Certificate in Acting for Film or equivalent formal acting training or industry experience. The audition is a 2-4 minute monologue for camera or showreel submission plus a cold read; current ACT students who passed the Higher Certificate are not required to audition.
Certified copy of the National Senior Certificate or NQF 4 qualification (or the latest school report for current school students), or previous certificate and transcript for the Advanced Certificate; a letter of recommendation; passport or ID photographs; and a certified copy of the ID. International applicants submit a certified SAQA Certificate of Evaluation for foreign qualifications and a certified copy of the passport front page and study permit.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria but have suitable workplace experience and are 23 or older may apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL; processing fee R2 500). Credit accumulation and transfer is available, with no more than 50% of the credits of a completed qualification transferable.
The 2027 academic year has four terms: 1 February to 19 March, 5 April to 25 June, 19 July to 17 September and 4 October to 19 November, with graduation on 6 December 2027. A place is secured by an enrolment fee of 10% of the total course fee and a signed enrolment contract.
Short courses: enrolling in all three 6-week courses saves 20% on fees. Teens program: R3,445 per term for Terms 1, 2 and 4 and R5,983 for Term 3, with a 15% discount for all four terms.
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