FREE

Training in the performing arts sector usually comes at a high price.  Not much in life is free! However, if you choose to do a two year Level 3 BTEC or a UAL Course, both these are Government funded.  They are great courses to consider if you are too young to apply for the degree courses but want to use the two years practically and productively and perhaps can't afford to do a Foundation Course.

DaDA – Dance and Drama Awards

There are certain colleges within the UK that are part of this scheme.  We have listed these in this section to help you.  The DaDA is designed to contribute towards tuition and living costs for talented young students who want to become professional performers.

Only students enrolled on the Trinity College London Level 5 and 6 Professional Diplomas in Dance, Acting and Musical Theatre are eligible for DaDA funding. You must be aged between 16 and 23 at the start of the academic year to apply.

HOW IT WORKS

Each College assesses two factors:-

1. TALENT AND POTENTIAL TO
    SUCCEED IN THE INDUSTRY –
    AUDITION

This process can vary slightly at different colleges and this can be confusing for students and their parents. 

Some have their initial audition after which you are informed if you have been given a place.  If so you will be asked to complete and return a self-declaration of income form and be invited to attend an audition for the DaDA awards.  This second audition allows the college to score students in order of talent, to assess the family income according to strict nationally set guidelines and then to notify students who will receive help.

Other colleges may hold only one audition for your place and will score you for the DaDA then.  You will be informed if you have gained a place and then asked to submit your financial details for their assessment. 

Please be aware if your audition is early on in this process you may not hear about your DaDA funding until the colleges have completed their audition process. 

2. INCOME ASSESSMENT –
    TUITION/LIVING COSTS

When you are offered your place, you may be in the fortunate position that no matter what your family is able to fund your course. Others may need some help, or their place may totally depend on the funding available. However, your place is yours!

Your family will be asked to provide their household income from the previous tax year. You may have been offered a provisional offer of a DaDA but the amount they are able to offer you is subject to your household income. The college must follow strict guidelines from nationally set income bands. You can find these on GOV.UK/ education Search DaDA.

Depending on your household income you may also be entitled to help towards your living costs. The information on how much you may be entitled to is also found on the DaDA information on GOV.UK/education.

If you are awarded help with your tuition fees, this will usually cover the duration of your course.  However you will need to submit your financial information each year to apply for living costs. 

PLEASE NOTE

If you are self-employed please be aware you may have to submit your tax return earlier for this process. 

Sometimes you can be placed on a waiting list for a DaDA. This can be very worrying and disheartening especially if you are relying on the award to attend the college. However please don't panic or despair a lot can change after colleges have offered all their initial awards. 

Colleges are very happy to talk to you about this part of the process. You can give them a call and ask where you are on the waiting list or about anything to do with funding your course and if they are your top choice… tell them! 

Every college works within slightly different timeframes with this process, some earlier, some later.  Most students audition for several colleges and will be offered places and funding at different times. A college may have allocated and offered funding to a student, but this student may decide to accept a place and funding at their preferred college therefore freeing that funding offer for others. 

This part of your audition process can take longer than you expect. If you are lucky enough to receive a place and funding at your dream college early into this process that is amazing. If you are still waiting for yours, don't despair.  Talk to the college, get to know their time scale and consider all other options while you wait.

If you have to pay some or all your tuition fees, you can speak to the college to ask them if they have a payment plan.  Many will have something in place to help make this process easier for your family.

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College Scholarships

Most colleges offer their very own scholarships, but these are limited and offered at their discretion. When researching colleges have a look at what they offer and what other financial support they may suggest.



Student Finance - Loans

If you are attending University or your chosen college offers a degree course, then you will be able to apply for student finance just like any other University student. 

There are tuition fee loans and maintenance loans and all students can apply for these. However please be aware that if you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will have to apply differently.



Below are links for more detailed information:

UK -

www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance

WALES -                                  www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

SCOTLAND -

www.saas.gov.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND -            www.studentfinanceni.co.uk



Other ways to help fund your training

In this section we aim to give you further useful advice and information about how else you could seek help. 

Remember if this is your focus and you are passionate about training full time in performing arts this will take time and dedication but that is something you will need plenty of when your training starts anyway!

1. Write to your local businesses and explain you are trying to raise funds for your training in performing arts. If they can help support someone local with talent it is good for them too. You may have to write to many and only hear back from a few but it is worth a shot.

2. Contact your local authority and ask what help there is. Often there is money set aside to help young talented people with their further education.

3. Fund raising yourself is a great way to help your parents. Even if they can cover the cost of your fees you might be able to help in other ways. Dancing shoes, leotards, health insurance etc don't come cheap! You could do a sponsored Singathon,  Danceathon or ask your local supermarket if you could do bag packing? Time to get creative. If you can show you want to help contribute financially towards your training, other people will see how much this means to you and hopefully they will want to help too.



PLEASE NOTE:

Google! This is a great tool that can help you. Search every which way you can think of.

For example, search under the following criteria:- 

 . . Funding for performing arts students

 . . Scholarships for dance students

 . . Bursaries for musical theatre students 

There are also some well recognised scholarships awarded to talented students each year that you may not have heard of:-

The Leverhulme Trust

www.leverhulme.ac.uk/arts-scholarships



The Wayne Sleep Foundation

www.waynesleep.org/ws-foundation/

National Youth Arts Trust

www.nationalyouthartstrust.org.uk

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation

www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com

The Lionel Bart Foundation

email jcohen@clintons.co.uk