Download as a PDF - Conservatoire for Dance and Drama

F U N D I N G I N F O R M AT I O NWHAT DOES IT COST TO GO TOA VOCATIONAL DANCE SCHOOL?Finding the funds to study on dancecourses can be a long and difficultprocess. A year course at a CDETaccredited vocational school can costbetween £7,000 and £11,000. Thispage offers information on fundingfor vocational courses.FURTHER EDUCATION (FE)The Dance and Drama Awards (D&DA)were introduced by the government in1999 to increase access to vocationaldance, musical theatre, drama and stagemanagement training. They providereduced fees for full-time vocational danceand drama students but are only availableto those studying for the followingqualifications – the National Diploma inProfessional Dance, the National Diplomain Professional Musical Theatre and theNational Certificate in ProfessionalClassical Ballet. The qualifications are allawarded by Trinity College London (TCL)and are only available at one of the 22providers TCL validates.A limited number of D&DAs areawarded each year and they areallocated by the 22 schools to studentsshowing most potential at audition.Students intending to apply for anaward should contact a vocationalschool directly to enquire if it hasD&DA funded places available.The 22 schools will make an awardto a student regardless of his/herincome but where students are judgedto be equally talented their financialcircumstances will be taken intoconsideration. To be eligible foran award a student must be an EUnational at the start of the course andhave been resident in the EU for atleast 3 years before the course begins.Students who are offered Awards willhave to make a contribution to theirfees. The contribution for 2010-2011is set at £1,275. Students who cannotafford £1,275 or who need furtherfinancial assistance for living andlearning costs may be eligible foradditional funding from a meanstested FE fund. Schools offeringDaDAs will be able to provideadditional information – their detailsare available in this Guide and onthe CDET website www.cdet.org.uk.HIGHER EDUCATION (HE)Higher Education courses lead toa degree, diploma or certificatevalidated or awarded by a university;a number are now also designated‘vocational’. Students following HEdance courses do not qualify forD&DAs but are eligible for mandatory,Higher Education awards which coverthe greater part of tuition fees. Likeany UK (or EU) student entering HigherEducation, students are eligible toapply for help with the student feecontribution (the maximum is £3,225from 2009/10 and £3,290 for 2010/11)and have access to Student Loan forFees. However if you have receivedgovernment funding for a previouscourse it is unlikely you will beeligible. The government websitewww.direct.gov.uk has comprehensiveinformation about student financefor students undertaking HigherEducation courses.14