HND Acting and Performance at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

HND Acting and Performance is a two-year course developing acting, movement and voice to professional standards, with three full-scale productions and advanced stagecraft in year two. Graduates are eligible for performer membership of the Spotlight casting platform. It is taught at Inverness and, with Out of the Darkness Theatre Company, at Moray.

Duration: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time; part-time modular 17-34 weeks | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 is HNC Acting and Performance. Year 2 core modules are Acting 2, Movement 2, Voice 2, Production 2, Professional development for actors and Graded unit 2, with options such as Acting for radio, Acting methods and practitioners and Community drama (Moray only).

Career pathways

Stage or screen actor, film or TV performer, writer or director, physical or community theatre practitioner, arts educator, touring or cruise ship performer; progression to year 3 of BA (Hons) Drama and Production.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Year 1 entry: 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 these are considered individually. Inverness applicants must attend and pass a group interview and audition; Moray applicants attend a group interview with a workshop. Direct entry to year 2 requires successful completion of HNC Acting and Performance (15 credits). 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: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time; part-time modular 17-34 weeks

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