Higher education funding is changing in 2012. In response, the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama has put in place a new fee structure for undergraduate students at its affiliate schools and is launching a Conservatoire Scholarship Scheme.

The published student fees for Conservatoire undergraduate courses in professional contemporary dance, classical ballet, circus arts, acting, technical theatre and allied courses will be £9,000 for new UK and EU students. Conservatoire students receive a superb professional education and training, matching the best in the world, and this is reflected in the cost of programmes.

The Conservatoire will offer a package of support for undergraduates whether they are starting courses for the first time or have a degree already and are pursuing professional training for a career as an actor, dancer, circus artist, stage manager, designer or theatre and film technician. To ensure that the Conservatoire continues to recruit the best students from across the UK, Europe and internationally whatever their backgrounds, we are launching a new Conservatoire Scholarship Scheme offering generous levels of financial support to students. The individual Conservatoire schools will continue to offer students their own bursaries and other forms of financial support.

The Conservatoire Scholarship Scheme and affiliate school bursaries will complement the Government’s plans which include loans to cover fee and living costs and a more generous maintenance grant for students with household incomes of less than £42,600. It will also include the Government’s new National Scholarship Programme. Students starting undergraduate courses for the first time will pay nothing until they finish their course.

Further detail about the levels of fee waiver available will be published in September 2011. Information on fees for international students and postgraduate programmes from 2012 onwards will also be announced in the autumn.

The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama Schools are:

  • Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
  • Central School of Ballet
  • Circus Space
  • London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
  • London Contemporary Dance School
  • Northern School of Contemporary Dance
  • Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
  • Royal Academy of Dramatic Art


Editors' Notes

  1. Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
    The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD) was established in 2001 to secure the future of dance, drama, technical theatre and circus arts training at the very highest level. The Conservatoire receives funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).  All programmes offered by the Conservatoire are delivered by its eight affiliate schools, each of which has an international reputation for specialist training in its field.

    The Conservatoire Schools provide intensive professional training to students who receive around 35 hours of contact time with teachers each week. The eight schools that collectively form the Conservatoire stage 200 different productions every year. The real cost of a Conservatoire training is at least £17,000 per student per year.

  2. Student Fees and regional variations
    The Conservatoire’s published fees will be £9,000 for all courses.  Students may be able to obtain different government-supported fee remission depending on where they are domiciled within the UK.

  3. Contact details
    For further information, please contact:

    Julie Crofts, Administrative Director
    / 0207 874 7071

    Emma Swift, Communications and Projects Co-ordinator
    / 0207 874 7075

    Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
    Tavistock House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JJ

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