What is a Dance and Drama Award?
The Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) is a scholarship for students who want to train for a career in the performing arts. The money helps with the cost of tuition fees and living while studying at one of the leading independent dance and drama schools in England. There are only a limited number of awards available each year, but each award covers between one and three years (hopefully the duration of your course).
The award pays for the majority of your tuition fees, but you need to make a contribution. If you have a low household income, you can apply for extra assistance with your fees. The amount you get for living costs depends on your household income, which is assessed by the DaDA institution you apply to, who use guidelines set by the government.
Take a look at the Department for Education for more information.
Am I eligible for a DaDA?
To get a DaDA you must be 16 years old or older for dance courses, and 18 years old or older for drama-related courses, and you must show the most talent and potential to succeed in the industry at your audition. The award is designed to favour students with lower incomes, so if two people show equal talent at audition, the award goes to the person from the lower income household.
Students from England, Wales and Scotland can apply for full support, but students from Northern Ireland can only apply for assistance with tuition fees. Students from Northern Ireland can get support for other costs by applying for a Dance and Drama (Northern Ireland) Award instead – see What funding can I get if I’m from Northern Ireland?
If you want to apply for a DaDA you must be a resident in a UK country according to the rules for higher education funding eligibility – for more information, see Can I get higher education funding in the UK?
How do I apply for a DaDA?
You can find out more and apply by contacting the DaDA schools directly. Here’s the 2012 list of current DaDA schools.
What funding can I get if I’m from Northern Ireland?
If you’re a student resident in Northern Ireland and you’re awarded a DaDA, it only covers part of your tuition fees (you must make a contribution to make up the shortfall). However, you can apply for a Dance and Drama (Northern Ireland) Award to cover your living costs while studying (though not the cost of the fees shortfall). The amount you get for living costs depends on your household income, which is assessed by the Western Education and Library Board.
For more details, see the Guide to financial support for further education students. Speak to your DaDA school for more help about applying for your award.
This information was updated in March 2013. NUS provides this information in good faith and has taken care to make sure it’s accurate. However, student finance issues can be complicated, and rules change frequently. You should contact the advice centre in your students' union, college or university for support if you’re uncertain or need more help.