7. Dance and Drama Awards
The Department for Education has a scholarship programme to ensure that talented dance and drama students can attend courses at some of the leading dance and drama institutions in England, in cases where fees and living costs would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. Dance and Drama Awards fund Trinity College London level five and six diploma courses in dance, drama and musical theatre. Funding is available through selected, approved specialist schools for between one and three years of study. You must be aged between 16 and 23 for dance courses, or 18 and 23 for drama-related courses. There are a limited number of awards made each year and they are generally issued to those who show exceptional talent in an audition.
The residency rules for other higher education support apply (see
here). Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for full support.
You cannot receive any support if your household income is more than £90,000 a year.
If you are a new student in 2021/22, you receive an award and your household income is below £33,000 (£30,000 if you live with your parents while studying), your fees are paid in full. If your household income is between £33,000 (£30,000 if you live with your parents while studying) and £90,000, you can receive a contribution towards your fees on a sliding scale, with a higher contribution expected the higher your family’s income.
The award may also provide support for your living costs, depending on your circumstances. The maximum available is £5,185 if you live in London, and £4,550 if you live elsewhere. If you live at home with your parents, the maximum is £1,417. If your household income is more than £30,000, you are not eligible for maintenance support.
Dance and Drama Award recipients cannot access student loans and grants through Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance NI.
Other allowances may be available if you have extra costs associated with a disability or childcare expenses.
More information on the awards is available through the participating dance and drama schools or from dadainfo.org.uk (where a list of the participating schools can also be found).