Diploma in Drama (Screen Acting) (Level 6) - Year 1

South Seas School is unlike any facility in Aotearoa - You will get real experience and see how film and television departments really collaborate.

Through a steady stream of practical filmed projects, we broaden and challenge the scope of your development as an actor.

This two-year diploma provides in-depth and practical training through developing your toolbox: voice, body, imagination and collaboration. We allow time for your physical and vocal practice to become embodied. You will explore multiple acting techniques for screen and live performance, and develop your own critical and creative thinking. Alongside this core training, you will get real experience of how film and television departments collaborate through a steady stream of practical filmed projects. We broaden and challenge the scope of your development as an actor by providing opportunities for live performance; this serves to deepen your craft and self-knowledge as a performer, to help you to carve out a sustainable and lifelong acting career.

You need to be committed, disciplined, wildly passionate, empathetic, punctual and hardworking to succeed in this industry, therefore we support you to build the resilience, rigour and creative drive that you need by creating a positive, challenging campus environment. South Seas tutors are experienced industry professionals who have worked on many screen projects such as Shortland Street, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Outrageous Fortune, Eagle vs Shark, In Dark Places – to name a few... and through this experience, we're able to help you build necessary skills and knowledge.

We also guide and advise you on how to form industry networks – a crucial part of maintaining relevance in this ever evolving film and television industry.
Successfully complete this course and you’ll receive the New Zealand Diploma in Drama (Screen Acting) (Level 6) - Skills Active Aotearoa Limited.

The course is open to all New Zealand and international students.

• International applicants must be 18 or older

• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS (Academic) Level 6

• All applicants must complete the course application form and written requirements

• We will invite suitable applicants to attend an audition workshop at South Seas

The audition workshop involves applicants taking part in a series of exercises observed by South Seas On-screen Acting tutors, who assess the applicant’s suitability for a place on the course. Tutors will invite some applicants for a 'callback', to complete more exercises and submit to an interview. The tutors then contact all applicants and advise whether they will be offered a place on the course or not. Students will need to provide a CV (work or performance) and Headshot prior to the audition.

Domestic students

• Tuition Fees: $8,787 per year

• Student Services Levy: $350

(Eligible for 'fees-free' study)

International students

• Year One

  • Tuition Fees: $24,500 (NZD)

  • Course Related Costs: $2,000 (NZD)

  Year Two

  • Tuition Fees: $20,825 (NZD)

  • Course Related Costs: $2,000 (NZD)

For more information, click here to download the international course costs PDF.

Please note fees are subject to change.