FAQs

What is the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama?

The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama is a Higher Education Institution composed of eight of the UK’s top vocational schools offering training in dance, drama and circus arts.

Find out more in our short film on the Conservatoire: A Step Up – Life at the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama Find out more about our affiliate schools.

What can I study at the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama?

The Conservatoire offers vocational training courses in dance, drama and circus arts at a higher education level. This includes professional training in stage management, directing, production management, property making, theatre design, scenic art design, and costume production. Visit our course search section to find out what each school offers. See the websites of the individual schools for further course details.

How do I apply to the Conservatoire and when do auditions take place?

Owing to the distinct and specialist nature of our vocational training and the need for an audition process, you must apply directly to the school where you wish to study. It is not possible to apply to any of the Conservatoire’s schools through the UCAS system. Admission to the Conservatoire’s courses is by audition and/or interview. It is not unusual for there to be a round of auditions, followed by call-back auditions and interviews for the successful applicant. Application closing dates and auditioning dates vary so please check with the relevant school for the latest information. For further information, please see the applications and auditions sections of our website.

What are the fees?

The table below shows the Conservatoire’s fees for students who started their course in 2011, and for courses starting in September 2012.

Fees for 2011-12

Fees for 2012-13

Why is the Conservatoire charging £9,000 fees from 2012?

As a result of recent changes in Government funding to higher education, the Conservatoire faces a considerable reduction in its teaching grant from 2012. In order to continue to offer the world-class level of training and facilities for which our schools are renowned, we are charging new students £9,000 per year for all undergraduate programmes. The Conservatoire will continue to subsidise the full cost of its vocational programmes, which cost the university an average of around £17,000 per student to deliver. We have also put in place an extensive financial support package to ensure that we continue to admit the most talented students, irrespective of backgrounds.

As affiliate schools are independent, will I be a student of a school or of the Conservatoire?

If you apply and are offered a place at one of the Conservatoire schools, when you enrol you will be registered jointly with the school and as a student of the Conservatoire.

Do students from the Conservatoire schools ever work together?

The Conservatoire is keen to find ways for students to benefit from the different training offered across its schools. To date this has included residencies and joint workshops with artists such as Merce Cunningham, Siobhan Davies, Shobana Jeyasingh and Oh T’ae Sok. Please visit the Joint projects section of the website for further information.

Will my degree be awarded by the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama?

At present, the Conservatoire does not have degree awarding powers. The Conservatoire schools’ courses are validated by different universities:

How do I apply for a student loan?

To apply for a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan or maintenance grant, you need to visit Student Finance England on the Direct.gov website. Remember you will need to reapply for each year of your training.

When can I apply for student finance?

We suggest that you apply to Student Finance England as early as possible because the Conservatoire plans to use the financial assessment to help us decide whether you are eligible for a fee discount (a Conservatoire scholarship). You may also be able to apply for financial assessment through Student Finance England, even if you are not eligible for a loan, or if you do not intend to take out a loan. However, because this is a new system, it is likely that you will not be able to apply for a student loan or financial assessment before February 2012.

This will not affect your application to us. For this first year, if we need you to fill in alternative financial information to enable us to consider you for a scholarship, we will let you know. We are trying to let all applicants to whom we offer a place know the financial arrangements before they accept.

We would advise you to keep a second copy of the financial details submitted to Student Finance England for income assessment. This will speed up the process should the Conservatoire also require them to assist with the preparation of any financial aid package for which you might be eligible.

I’m a student from Northern Ireland / Scotland / Wales – where do I apply for student finance?

For students from Northern Ireland, go to: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

For students from Scotland, go to: www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

For students from Wales, go to: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Can I apply for a student loan if I am aged under 18?

Yes. If you are aged 16 or 17 and starting a Conservatoire undergraduate course, you can apply for a student loan from the Government.

What are Conservatoire bursaries?

The Conservatoire offers financial support in the form of bursaries for students starting a course in or before September 2011. Visit the Finance (2011) page for further information. The Conservatoire Scholarship Scheme will support students starting courses from September 2012 (see below).

What is the Conservatoire Scholarship Scheme?

The Conservatoire is offering a new Scholarship Scheme for students starting courses from September 2012. The scheme will offer financial support in the form of fee discounts, which means your debt after graduating will be reduced. Download this table for details of what the scholarships are worth and who is eligible.

How do I apply for a Conservatoire Scholarship?

If you wish to be considered for a Conservatoire Scholarship, you need to indicate as appropriate on your application form to the school. You then need to complete an application to Student Finance England (or its equivalent) as early as possible in order to be income assessed. This will allow the Conservatoire to assess what level of support you may be entitled to. As this is a new system, you may also be means tested through the Conservatoire.

We would advise you to keep a second copy of the financial details submitted to Student Finance England for income assessment. This will speed up the process should the Conservatoire also require them to assist with the preparation of any financial aid package for which you might be eligible.

What is the maximum Scholarship I can receive?

You may be eligible to receive more than one Conservatoire Scholarship. The maximum amount you can receive is a £4,000 fee discount per year for each year of training.

What are the criteria for talent Scholarships?

Talent based Scholarships will be awarded by staff at the individual schools. If the Scholarship is available in the first year, the decision will be made at audition / interview level. If the Scholarship is awarded in the second year, a judgement will be made based on your first year of study.

Why is the National Scholarship Programme not available to students from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?

The authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have their own provisions in place to offer financial support to students domiciled in these countries. For more information, please visit the websites below:

For students from Northern Ireland, go to: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

For students from Scotland, go to: www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

For students from Wales, go to: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

What if my circumstances change?

If your financial circumstances change, the amount of income-assessed financial support you are entitled to will increase or decrease respectively. This will not affect your basic maintenance loan entitlement from Student Finance England, or Conservatoire Scholarships which are awarded on the basis of talent.

What if I have a degree already?

The Conservatoire welcomes applications from graduate students who wish to pursue a professional training in acting, circus, dance or technical theatre. If you have a degree already you will not be eligible to apply for a tuition fee or maintenance loan from Student Finance England. You may still be eligible for a Conservatoire Scholarship or a school bursary. You can also apply for a Professional and Careers Development Loan. Download this table to view alternative sources of funding.

I’ve been offered a place but I haven’t been income assessed. What should I do?

If your application is successful, we will notify you that you have been offered a place. Once you have been income assessed, either through Student Finance England (or, if necessary, through the Conservatoire directly) we will be able to advise you of the financial support package you may be entitled to. In general we advise you to apply to Student Finance England as early as possible so that we will be able to make you an offer with as much information as possible.

What support does the Conservatoire offer for disabled students?

The Conservatoire is committed to admitting and supporting disabled students and we warmly encourage you to inform the school you are applying to so that appropriate support can be offered. Full information about support for disabled students and how to apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) can be found on our Disability Support page. In this section you can also view videos of disabled students talking about their training and the support in place at a Conservatoire school.

What support does the Conservatoire offer for care leavers?

The Conservatoire is committed to admitting and supporting students from all backgrounds. The Conservatoire offers financial support to care leavers in the form of cash bursaries. Full information about bursaries and other support can be found on our Care leaver support page, or you can download our Information for care leavers leaflet here.