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2013 UK Guide
The UK Guide to professional education and training in dance and musical theatre.
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Funding

What does it cost to go to a Vocational Dance or Musical Theatre School

Read prospectuses carefully and do not be attracted to a school for reasons other than the quality of its provision. The school needs to offer training that suits your professional ambition. It is wise to look at a number of prospectuses and to target a number of schools.

Most vocational schools offer a three year full-time training programme. Classes usually start at 8.30am and continue until 6pm. Taught sessions are frequently followed by two or three hours of rehearsal for five days a week with additional rehearsals often scheduled for weekends.

Many vocational schools now also offer excellent degree programmes. On degree courses there is an academic element in addition to the practical dance training.

Finding the funds to study on dance and musical theatre courses can be expensive. A course at a CDET accredited vocational training school can cost anything between £7,000 and £13,000 per year. Depending on where you study, different types of funding exist.

Music and Dance Scheme (MDS)

The Department's Music and Dance Scheme currently enables around 2200 exceptionally talented children to have access to some of the best specialist music and dance training available in the world alongside a good academic education. The MDS enables exceptionally talented children between the ages of 8 and 19 (young dancers aged 11 to 16 on first application) to receive a good academic education alongside the best specialist music and dance/ballet training available. At present four dance schools offer MDS places to ballet students at 11:

  • Elmhurst School of Dance
  • The Hammond School
  • Royal Ballet School
  • Tring Park School for Performing Arts

Contact the DfE Music and Dance Scheme for more information — 020 7340 7046 or www.education.gov.uk/b0068711/mds.

In addition, the Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) are organisations or consortia of organisations/partners for exceptionally talented children allowing them to gain access to specialist dance training in other dance genres. Visit www.education.gov.uk/b0068711/mds/cats for more information including the including the list of CATs.

Further Education (Dance and Drama Awards)

First introduced in 1999, the Dance and Drama Awards offer annual scholarships to exceptionally talented performing arts students studying at some of the country's leading providers of vocational training in dance, drama and musical theatre.

Funded by the government through the Education Funding Agency (EFA), DaDAs offer reduced tuition fees and assistance with living costs for the duration of the course.

Following a review of the scheme in 2012, the government has confirmed that from 2013:

  • Funding for the DaDA scheme will remain at approximately £14m per year
  • Students who are the most talented and likely to succeed in the industry will be eligible to apply for means-tested support towards fees and living costs
  • New students who are offered awards will be funded to the end of their courses
  • Arrangements for DaDA students who received their awards for courses starting prior to 2013 will remain unchanged

Income assessment of the Awards means that support for students from low income households will be increased. For example, a student whose annual household income is under £30,000 will pay no fees for their course. If their household income is under £21,000 they will also receive up to a maximum of £5,185 per annum in a grant to help with living costs. Details of the levels of support available are published on the DfE website at the following link:

www.education.gov.uk/childrenand
youngpeople/youngpeoplestudentsupport/
a00203099/dada-scheme

Applying for a DaDA

Nineteen providers have been selected to offer DaDAs to students, in order of talent, in accordance with the level of support as determined by income assessment. Students intending to apply for an award should contact a vocational DaDA school directly to enquire if it has any DaDA funding available. The nineteen providers are all quality assured by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) and the eligible courses are validated by Trinity College London. Most have an additional accreditation with either the Council for Dance Education and Training and/or Drama UK.

DaDAs are only available to students studying for the following Trinity College London (TCL) qualifications:

  • Level 6 Diploma in Professional Acting
  • Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance
  • Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre
  • Level 5 Diploma in Professional Acting
  • Level 5 Diploma in Professional Dance (Ballet or Contemporary Dance)

To be eligible for an award a student must:

  • be an EU citizen and have been living in the EU for 3 continuous years immediately before the start of the course
  • have 'settled' status
  • have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

CDET schools offering DaDAs are indicated on our website under Accredited Schools and they will be able to provide additional information.

For more information on the new DaDAs from September 2013 please download the DaDA information leaflet – click here

Call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 for more information if you started in the 2011/12 or 2012/2013 academic year.

For more information about the awards visit the DaDA Information website and their successes visit The Dance and Drama Awards Ten Years of Success.

Higher Education (HE)

Higher Education courses lead to a degree, diploma or certificate validated or awarded by a university; a number are now also designated 'vocational'. Students following HE dance courses do not qualify for DaDAs but are eligible for mandatory, Higher Education awards which cover the greater part of tuition fees.

Student Loan - UK and EU students entering Higher Education are eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,000 or £6,000 at a private university or college in 2013/14.

Maintenance Loan - The maximum Maintenance Loan for new students starting from 1 September 2013 is:

  • £5,500 if you live away from home and study at a university or college outside London
  • £7,675 if you live away from home and study at a university or college in London
  • £4,375 if you live at home
  • £6,535 if you spend a year of a UK course studying overseas

You can apply for a partial Maintenance Loan which doesn't depend on your household income information. This means you can apply without

can apply without your parents or partner having to send in any details of their income.

If you want to get the full Maintenance Loan Student Finance England will assess your household income and base the amount of your loan on that. Your household income is your parents' or partner's income, plus your own.

Maintenance Grant -You can also apply for a Maintenance Grant if your household income is below £42,611. You can get:

  • £3,354 if your household income is £25,000 or under
  • £50-£3,353 if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,611

You can only get a Maintenance Grant if your household income is assessed. This means Student Finance England will look at your household income and work out how much money you get for your Maintenance Grant.

For more information visit Student Finance England

Other Funding

Some courses may not be funded by any awards. In these cases, students are responsible for the full cost of fees and may need to secure private funding via loans, scholarships and trusts.

There may be charitable organisations or large companies based in your area that would respond to a request for sponsorship. We would suggest visiting your local library which will have a list of local charities you can apply to.

A Professional and Career Development Loan may also be another option to support your costs. Loans can be applied for between £300 and £10,000. If successful in your application, you would only begin repayments after study. The Skills Funding Agency pays the interest on the

loan while you're studying – and for one month afterwards.

To be eligible, you’ll need to be 18 years old or over. To find out more information regarding Professional and Career Development Loans please visit the Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

We would also suggest contacting you local MP and newspapers and inviting them along to any performances you are participating in. Ask if s/he has any advice or suggestions as to how you might further realise your potential in dance, stressing the fact it is a considerable achievement to have even been offered a place at a vocational school.

Other Organisations

Below is a list of other organisations offering advice on funding.
    Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
    Administers a scheme of postgraduate professional and vocational awards. Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1FL | 01793 416000 | enquiries@ahrc.ac.uk | www.ahrc.ac.uk
    Association of Charitable Foundations
    The UK's support organisation for grant making trusts and foundations of all types. Contains useful information on the website but cannot give advice about individual applications, nor help grant-seekers find suitable funders. Leaflets are available to download from the website for extra information. Association of Charitable Foundations Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0AE | 020 7255 4499 | acf@acf.org.uk | www.acf.org.uk
    Department for Education (DfE)
    Department for Education, Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 2GJ | 03700 002288 | www.education.gov.uk/
    Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
    BIS has responsibility for FE colleges and Higher Education. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 2GJ | 020 7215 5000 | www.bis.gov.uk/
    Educational Trusts Forum
    Educational Grants Advice, Independent Schools Council, c/o Royal National Children's Foundation, Sandy Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2ES | 05601 503524 (answered between 9am to 11am) | www.educational-grants.org
    Education Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
    EGAS offers a range of services providing information on funding for those in post-16 education in England. EGAS specialises in funding from charitable trusts and maintains a database of trusts and charities that assist students, as well as administering its own grants programme. EGAS, Family Action, 501-505 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AU | 020 7241 7459 (2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only) | egas.enquiry@family-action.org.uk | www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1037
    National Council for Drama Training (NCDT)
    NCDT offers advice to those embarking on courses in drama. National Council for Drama Training (NCDT), 1-7 Woburn Walk, London E1 6LS | 020 7387 3650 | info@ncdt.co.uk | www.ncdt.co.uk
    National Union of Students (NUS)
    NUS HQ, Forth Floor, 184-192 Drummond Street, London NW1 3HP | 020 7380 6600 | www.nus.org.uk/
    Student Awards Agency for Scotland
    This site contains a wide range of information for those studying in Scotland who need to obtain funding for their higher education course. Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Gyleview House, 3 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh EH12 9HH | 03005 550505 | www.student-support-saas.gov.uk
    Student Loans Company
    Provides funding for United Kingdom residents who are studying in higher education in the United Kingdom. It is a non-departmental government body, and is the sole administrator of publicly financed loans for students. Site contains details of applying for loans, and terms and conditions. Student Loans Company, 100 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 7JD | 01413 062000 | www.slc.co.uk

Charitable Trusts and Foundations

Below is a list of charitable trusts and foundations that have awarded grants to students in the past
    Altrusa Careers Trust
    ACT was established to help women in the UK and Ireland further their career prospects. Present maximum loan/grant is £500. The closing date for applications is 31 March each year. Applications forms are available from www.altrusacareerstrust.org.uk
    BBC Performing Arts Fund
    Supports performing arts individuals and community groups through grants, mentoring and advice. The focus of their funding changes annually, use their 'Eligibility Checker' to see if you are able to apply for a grant. performingartsfund@bbc.co.uk | www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/
    Crescent Trust
    All available funding has been allocated until 2013. Contact name: Ms. C Akehurst. The Crescent Trust, 27a Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AB | 020 7730 5420
    Equity Charitable Trust
    Only able to help professional performers, but some students may be able to meet the criteria set by the trust. Equity Charitable Trust, Plouviez House, 19-20 Hatton Place, London EC1N 8RU | 020 7831 1926 | www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk/index.php
    Fenton Arts Trust
    The Trust's aim is to give encouragement and financial support to those actively contributing to the creative arts in the UK. Applications should be made in writing only to the Administrator. The Fenton Arts Trust, PO Box 135, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 9AB | www.fentonartstrust.org.uk
    Gilchrist Educational Trust
    For applicants who must have made proper provision to fund a degree or higher education course but find themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may prevent completion of it. Applicants will normally be in the last year of the course. Applications should be made to the Grants Officer. 13 Brookfield Avenue, Larkfield, Aylesford ME20 6RU | 01732 321139 | gilchrist.et@blueyonder.co.uk
    Mackintosh Foundation
    Awards scholarships to promote and develop theatre and the performing arts. Mackintosh Foundation, 1 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3RB | 020 7637 8866 | info@camack.co.uk | www.cameronmackintosh.com/
    South Square Trust
    Individual awards provided to students for paying fees or for living expenses undertaking a full time undergraduate or postgraduate level course at an accredited school or university in the UK (including Music, Drama and Dance) and to be a minimum age of 18 years old. Preference is given to those looking for funding for third year of undergraduate course or for postgraduate study. Application forms available from www.southsquaretrust.org.uk. Applications should be completed by 30th April for processing in May and June for courses starting in September.
    Sydney Dean Whitehead's Charitable Trust
    Request in writing a grant application form from the Secretary (including SAE). The trustees apply their funds towards supporting parents with the educational costs of their children and respond more readily to appeals relating to children with special talents, particularly in the artistic fields. They also respond more readily to appeals which show that there is an element of self-help already in operation and where a lack of finance could preclude children from receiving the type of education their particular 'gift' merits. Students must be under 18 to apply. Sydney Dean Whitehead's Charitable Trust, Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants, 30 Gay Street Bath Avon BA1 2PA | 01225 486100
    Thomas Wall Trust
    Provide grants to vocational students via an online application form available from www.thomaswalltrust.org.uk. Applications may be made from January each year for courses starting in September of that year (or for students who are returning for a further year of study in September of that year). The Trust's funds are usually all allocated by 31st July 2011 at which time the Trust closes for applications. Courses in the current academic year cannot be considered. The maximum grant is £1000pa.

Local Trusts and Foundations

Below is an example of local trusts and foundations that assist local individuals. Use the books and websites at the end of this page to find trusts and foundations in your area or visit your local library.
    Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
    Education and Arts Officer, Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, Jubilee Building, 32 Market Place, Chippenham SN15 3HP | 01249 658180 | admin@cblc.org.uk | www.cblc.org.uk
    Richard Reeve's Foundation
    Bestows grants to students living in the London boroughs of Camden, Islington and the City of London. Applicants must be enrolled on the course for at least the last 12 months and applicants must be aged 25 or under. 2 Cloth Court, London EC1A 7LS | 020 7726 4230 | enquiries@richardreevesfoundation.org.uk | www.richardreevesfoundation.org.uk
    Sarum St Michael Charity
    Funds people undergoing training as teachers and those pursuing higher education. Applications should be from people who live in the Salisbury diocese and adjoining dioceses. Sarum St Michael First Floor, 27A Castle Street, Salisbury SP1 1TT | 01722 422296 | ssmsarum@waitrose.com
    Sir Walter St John's Educational Charity
    Applicants must be from the Wandsworth or Lambeth area. Sir Walter St John's Educational Charity, Unit 11, Culvert House, Culvert Road, London SW11 5DH | 020 7498 8878 (The office is normally staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.) | manager@swsjcharity.org.uk | www.swsjcharity.org.uk/pages/grants_to_individual

Helpful Books and Publications

Some of the books listed should be available in large public libraries.
    Charities Digest
    Contains a chapter on education which includes details of scholarships, available from www.waterlow.com
    The Directory of Grant Making Trusts
    Published by Directory of Social Change. This publication covers 2,500 grant-making trusts, each with the potential to give at least £25,000 in total per year, collectively giving around £3 billion.
    The Education Yearbook
    Published by the Financial Times, available from www.pearsoned.co.uk
    The Grants Register
    Published yearly by Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. This publication lists over 4,000 awards for students studying both in the UK and abroad.
    Researching Charitable Trusts
    This free document offers guidance on how to research trusts and find the ones most likely to fund your project, available to download at www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Fundraisingtechniques/@46266
    Sponsorship and Funding Directory
    Published by Hobsons. Listing of employers and companies offering sponsorship and placement opportunities, available from Amazon.
    University Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries
    Published by Trotman Publishing. This publication lists scholarships available to students from universities and other organisations. Available from: www.trotman.co.uk or Amazon.

Useful websites

 
    Directory of Social Change
    DSC provides information on organisations that provide funding via our funding websites and publications.
    www.dsc.org.uk
    How2fundraise.org
    Free online resource for fundraisers.
    www.how2fundraise.org
    Grantsforindividuals.org.uk
    Subscribe to be able to search a list of 3,500 trusts giving £362 million.
    www.grantsforindividuals.org.uk
    Turn2us
    A charitable service which helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
    www.turn2us.org.uk
    www.scholarship-search.org.uk
    Scholarship search engine.
    www.scholarship-search.org.uk
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