HNC Acting and Performance at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

HNC Acting and Performance is a one-year course developing voice, movement, acting and stage craft. Students take part in performances on campus and in the community and collaborate with BA (Hons) Drama and Production students on scratch performance nights. It is offered at UHI Inverness and, in collaboration with Out of the Darkness Theatre Company, at UHI Moray.

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time (Inverness only) | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Mandatory units are Acting 1, Movement 1, Production 1, Voice 1 and Acting and performance: group award graded unit 1. Options include Shakespeare in practice, Theatre histories in performance, Acting for camera, Creating drama scripts and Devising theatre (availability varies by campus).

Career pathways

Acting, community theatre, community arts and stage management; also a stepping stone into teacher training; progression to HND Acting and Performance or BA (Hons) Drama and Production.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above (preferably including English) or 2 A levels at grade D or above (preferably including English), plus four National 5s at grade C or above or equivalent. Applicants without the standard requirements are considered individually. Inverness applicants must attend and pass a group interview and audition; Moray applicants attend a group interview with a voice, movement and acting workshop. Access routes include NC Acting and Performance, NC Creative Industries (National 5 English), NC Musical Theatre and the UAL Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts. International applicants: IELTS Academic overall 5.5 with no element below 5.0 (or equivalent approved test).

Domestic applicants: GBP 1,285 a year (2026/27). Full-time, Scotland-domiciled students (HNC/HND award) Source

International applicants: GBP 9,460 a year (2026/27). Full-time; course not open to applicants requiring Student Route visa sponsorship unless stated otherwise in entry requirements Source

Intake: September

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time (Inverness only)

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