Acting Courses after 12th in India: Admission, Career Scope, and Top Colleges

Mohit Dhulia
Updated on December 28, 2023

Acting courses cater to individuals interested in learning acting techniques and skills across various education levels. These programs are tailored for aspiring professionals in the fields of film, theatre, television, and education.

Program Highlights:

Designed for careers in film, theatre, television, and teaching.
Equips individuals with knowledge and skills relevant to the movie industry.

Program Options:

Level of Study	Course Offerings
Certificate	– Certificate in Acting
Diploma	– Diploma in Acting
	– Diploma in Theater Arts Acting
Undergraduate	– BA in Acting
	– BPA in Theater

Notable Universities:

Jamia Millia Islamia
Amity University
Pondicherry University

Acting Course Overview

Popular Acting Courses

Undergraduate:
- BA (Hons) Acting
- Bachelor of Theatre Arts in Fine Arts
- Bachelor in Theatre
- BA in Performing Arts
- BA in Theatre and Performance
- Diploma in Acting
Postgraduate:
- MA/MFA in International Theatre
- Master’s in Theatre and Performing Arts
- Master of Arts in Acting

Program Details

Parameters	Undergraduate	Postgraduate
Minimum Duration	12 months	12 months
Maximum Duration	36 months	24 months
Admission Criteria	50% aggregate in 12th	Undergrad degree with 50% agg.
Minimum Fees	Rs. 2 lakhs	Rs. 50,000
Maximum Fees	Rs. 5 lakhs	Rs. 2 lakhs
Minimum Salary	Rs. 15,000 per month	Rs. 50,000 per month
Maximum Salary	No upper limit for famous	No upper limit for salary
Acting Jobs	Movie actor, TV actor,	Movie actor, TV actor,
	web-series actor, dance	theatre actor, acting consultant,
	performer, theatre actor	assistant event manager,
	and others	performing arts critic, and more

Eligibility Criteria for Acting Courses

Admission requirements for acting programs are similar to those for various other undergraduate and postgraduate programs. To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:

For Undergraduate Acting Courses

Passing of a 10+2 exam from an Indian board with a relevant subject as a major.
Students interested in taking an acting course must have obtained a minimum of 45 percent in their 12th board exams.

For Postgraduate Acting Courses

Completion of an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject from a recognized Indian institution.
Students seeking admission to a postgraduate acting program must have received a minimum of 45 percent in their undergraduate degree exams.

Acting Entrance Exams

To pursue a career in acting, students don’t necessarily need to pass a specific admission exam. However, some institutes and colleges have their own entrance tests. Here are some common acting admission exams:

National School of Drama:
- Offers a three-year PG Diploma in Dramatic Arts covering various aspects of acting and theater.
- Admission involves a preliminary test and a performance-based qualifying test.
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII):
- Provides postgraduate programs and conducts a Joint Entrance Test (JET) followed by an interview.
- Results of the written test and interview determine admission.
Barry John Acting Studio:
- Offers short diploma and certificate courses in New Delhi, Greater Noida, and Mumbai.
- Intensive classes cover film acting, scriptwriting, street theatre, and more.
Whistling Woods International:
- Offers 3-year undergraduate and 2-year graduate programs in acting.
- Admissions involve a General Aptitude Test, Creative Ability Test, Statement of Purpose, and Personal Interview.
Asian Academy of Film & Television:
- Provides various undergraduate, graduate, and diploma programs in acting.
- Admissions include a written test and a personal interview.

What is an Acting Course About?

Duration:
- Certificate courses: Few hours to six months.
- Diploma courses: One to two years.
- Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees: Three, two, or three years, respectively.
Admission Process:
- Auditions, entrance exams, and interviews are often part of the admissions process at various colleges.
Online Platforms:
- Online acting training available on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare.
Course Cost:
- Course fees typically range from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000.
Career Opportunities:
- Graduates can pursue careers as film actors, theatre actors, theatre writers, event managers, acting consultants, and teachers.
Average Salary:
- In India, average salaries range from INR 2 to 12 LPA after completing acting training.

Types of Acting Courses

Certificate Acting Courses

Rigorous, short-term programs in a chosen specialization.
Available both online and offline.
Self-paced programs suitable for working individuals.
Duration: A few hours to six months.
Multiple batches offered throughout the year.
Often self-paced and free, with a small fee for a certificate.

Online Acting Certificates

Course Name	Provider	Duration	Average Fees
Directing the Actor: A USC course with Nina Foch	Udemy	3 hrs 58 mins	INR 1,600
Physical Theatre: Meyerhold and Biomechanics	Univ. of Leeds	3 weeks	Free
Professional 10 Hour Acting MASTERCLASS	Udemy	10 hrs 13 mins	INR 8,640
Acting Techniques Masterclass	Skillshare	40 mins	NA
Acting 101 for Adults	Udemy	6 hrs 52 mins	INR 1,600

Offline Acting Certificates

Course Name	College Name	Average Fees	Duration
Certificate Course in Acting	Andhra University	INR 63,522	3 months

Diploma and PG Diploma Acting Courses

Top Diploma Acting Courses

Course Name	College Name	Average Fees	Duration
Diploma in Theatre Arts Acting	Andhra University	INR 10,000	2 years

Top PG Diploma Acting Courses

Course Name	College Name	Average Fees	Duration
PG Diploma in Acting	Jamia Millia Islamia	INR 60,010	1 year
PG Diploma in Acting	Amity University Noida	INR 85,000	1 year
PG Diploma in Theatre Arts	Pondicherry University	INR 17,970	2 years

Colleges for Diploma and PG Diploma Acting Courses

NIRF Rankings	College Name	Location	Average Fees
10	Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi	INR 60,010
19	Andhra University	Visakhapatnam	INR 10,000
37	Amity University Noida	Noida	INR 85,000
58	Pondicherry University	Puducherry	INR 17,970

Undergraduate Acting Courses

Students pursue bachelor’s degree programs in acting after passing the 12th grade.
Acting programs are offered as specialist honors programs or as options within bachelor’s degree programs.
Degrees that can be pursued include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Performing Arts, or Bachelor of Humanities.

The Top Undergraduate Acting Courses

Course Name	College Name	Average Salary	Duration
BA Acting	Amity University Noida	INR 1,70,000	3 years
BPA Theatre	Lovely Professional University, Calicut University	INR 76,000	4 years
BA Multimedia	Mahatma Gandhi University	INR 19,720	3 years
BA Drama	Gujarat University, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	INR 2,540	3 years
BVoc Theatre and Stage Craft	Guru Nanak Dev University	NA	3 years

Bachelor Acting Course Colleges

NIRF Rankings	College Name	Location	Average Fees
30	Mahatma Gandhi University	Kottayam	INR 19,720
37	Amity University Noida	Noida	INR 1,70,000
44	Gujarat University	Ahmedabad	INR 2,540
51	Guru Nanak Dev University	Amritsar	NA
54	Calicut University	Malappuram	NA
69	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	Aurangabad	INR 1,050
78	Lovely Professional University	Phagwara	INR 76,000

Postgraduate Acting Courses

Acting can be pursued as a specialized curriculum or an alternative within a conventional master’s degree program at the master’s level.
Available degrees include Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Performing Arts (MPA).

Course Name	College Name	Average Fees	Duration
MA Arts and Aesthetics	Jawaharlal Nehru University	INR 1,260	2 years
MPA Theatre Arts	University of Hyderabad, Calicut University, Pondicherry University, Bangalore University	INR 11,090 – 23,781	2 years
MA Theatrical Arts and Aesthetics	Kerala University	INR 2,683	2 years
MA Indian Theatre	Panjab University	INR 12,500	2 years
MA Theatre Arts	Osmania University	INR 3,540	2 years
MA Dramatics	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	INR 1,227	2 years

Postgraduate Acting Colleges

NIRF Rankings	College Name	Location	Average Fees
2	Jawaharlal Nehru University	New Delhi	INR 1,260
6	University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad	INR 11,090
23	Kerala University	Thiruvananthapuram	INR 2,683
26	Panjab University	Chandigarh	INR 12,500
29	Osmania University	Hyderabad	INR 3,540
54	Calicut University	Malappuram	INR 2,694
58	Pondicherry University	Puducherry	INR 23,781
68	Bangalore University	Bengaluru	INR 9,520
69	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	Aurangabad	INR 1,227

Career Scope for Acting Courses

Among the various job profiles offered to students of acting programs, becoming an actor is the most common choice. However, there are different career paths that can be explored. Below are some of the prominent job profiles in the field of acting:

Actor

Job Description: Aspiring actors often aim to become film actors at some point in their careers. They can work in short films, indie films, and feature films. Gaining experience in theaters and other smaller venues is often necessary to secure roles as film actors.
Average Salary: The salary of actors can vary widely, ranging from INR 10 lakhs per annum to as high as 6 crores per annum.

Producer

Job Description: Producers oversee the financial aspects of film or television production. They handle tasks such as hiring personnel, supervising writers, directors, and actors, and ensuring the smooth operation of the production company.
Average Salary: Producers typically earn between INR 10 to 30 lakhs per annum.

Script Writer

Job Description: Scriptwriters develop and write screenplays either as freelancers or as part of production companies. Their scripts are then used to create plays and movies.
Average Salary: Scriptwriters’ salaries can range from INR 5 to 20 lakhs per annum.

Acting Consultant

Job Description: Acting consultants are employed to assist in casting the right talent for films or plays. They read the script and suggest actors and actresses who would be suitable for specific roles.
Average Salary: Acting consultants usually earn between INR 2 to 6 lakhs per annum.

Teachers

Job Description: Teaching is another common career option for those with acting expertise. Acting instructors educate aspiring actors in the art and techniques of acting. They may work for institutions or offer independent classes.
Average Salary: Acting teachers typically earn around INR 3 to 5 lakhs per annum.