Fees and Funding

The course fee for Performance Innovations is £1,800. Each module can also be taken individually at a cost of £600.

We recognise that not all potential students who are interested in applying to the course may have access to the funds. This page lists some ideas for fundraising for your course fees or living expenses while studying.

Introduction

There are sources of potential funding that an individual can apply for to fund a course of study or professional development.

Please bear in mind that many of the funders will want to support talented individuals that do not have the financial means to undertake a course of study whether through family background or other socio-economic or cultural background. Therefore, it is essential to demonstrate (a) your commitment and talent in your art form e.g. through your CV, reference etc; (b) your financial situation; and (c) how the course of study will enable you to succeed in your chosen path. In some cases, there will be a set application form. Where there is no application form, write to the correspondent with a brief (2 A4 pages) including the following information: name, address, age, your artistic background, details of the course and location of study, purpose for which grant is required, brief outline of your/your family’s financial circumstances, and how the grant will help you to succeed.

A downloadable guide from Student Finance England. You can read it here.

Grants from Educational Trusts and Charities

A number of organisations offer grants for students wanting to study in higher education. We have researched a limited number of potential trusts and charities below. To find out more, speak to a student adviser at your college or university, or ask at most public libraries.

Useful publications for further research include: the Educational Grants Directory; the Charities Digest: the Grants Register; and the Directory of Grant Making Trusts

Aldgate and All Hallows’ Barking Exhibition Foundation

This foundation makes a small number of grants towards the education costs (further education and postgraduate study) of individuals each year. To qualify for consideration students must be under the age of 25, from low income backgrounds, permanent residents of Tower Hamlets and have lived there for at least three years. Individuals should write to the correspondent including the following information: name, address, age, length of time living in borough, details of their course and location of study, purpose for which grant is required and a brief outline of their/their family’s financial circumstances.

Contact:

Colin C Wright, Clerk to the Governors, 31 Jewry Street, London, EC3N 2EY

Phone: 020 7488 2518

The Brook Trust

See website for funding policy and details of how to apply.

Contact: PO Box 161, Cranbrook, TN17 9BL.

Lawrence Atwell’s Charity

This charity considers requests from young people (up to age 26) who can demonstrate that a grant will enable them to enter the world of work, usually though a vocational course. Applicants, who are UK nationals, refugees or asylum-seekers, need to prove that they are ‘poor’ and this is done usually by assessing parental income.

See website for application forms and details of how to apply.

Contact: Skinners’ Hall, 8 Dowgate Hill, London, EC4R 2SP.

The Marland Bursary

For individuals living in the City of Westminster aged 16 to 25. The Marland Bursary offers a grant of up to £1,000 for a young person to positively develop their artistic talent or career.

Deadline: 12 March 2010

To find out more about this opportunity and to download the form and guidelines visit www.westminsterarts.org.uk email info@westminsterarts.org.uk

or call Westminster Arts on 020 7641 1018

Richard Reeve’s Foundation

The object of the Foundation is to advance or assist in the education and care of beneficiaries either individually or collectively from within the area of benefit, which is the City of London and the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington. In fulfilling its objective, the Foundation makes grants to people aged 25 or under (in certain circumstances this may be extended to 40) to help with the costs of their education. In all cases, statutory and College/University funding must have been taken up.

Applicants must be aged 25 or under (in exceptional cases this may be extended to 40) and either (i) they or their parent(s) must have lived or worked for the last 12 months, or for at least two of the last 10 years in the City of London or London Boroughs of Camden or Islington; or (ii) they must be students of educational institutions in the area of benefit and have been in attendance for at least twelve months.

Contact: Richard Reeve’s Foundation, 2 Cloth Court, London, EC1A 7LS

Scarfe Charitable Trust

The trustees have a policy of mainly supporting art and musical projects. Grants are normally made to other charitable bodies however occasionally applications from individuals are considered.

Contact: The Trustees, Scarfe Charitable Trust, Salix House, Falkenham, Ipswich, IP10 OQY.

South Square Trust

The Trust Fund is to be held for general charitable purposes including, in particular, education. The Trustees have power to apply the income to such charities or for such charitable purposes as they shall determine, and in addition, they have power to distribute capital in the same way. The Trustees having due regard to the wishes of the original Settlor, apply the income to such charities they choose and to such schools, colleges and other institutions selected by them which offer appropriate courses in the fine and applied arts. Income is also paid directly to individuals, selected by the Trustees after making such enquiries as the Trustees consider is appropriate.

The Trustees consider appeals from registered charities, and from individuals in connection with graduate-level educational courses in the Fine and Applied Arts to include Music, Drama and Dance.

Contact: South Square Trust, The Clerk to the Trustees, P 0 Box 169, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 9FB

Vandervell Foundation

The Trustees awards grants to individuals and institutions, primarily in the fields of education, social welfare and medical research. Grants are reviewed by the Board of the Trustee which meets every other month. The awarding of grants is based upon the Board’s assessment of the degree of need and the merit of the applicants’ request.

Contact: The Trustees, Vandervell Foundation, Hampstead Town Hall Centre, 213 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 4QP.

Get Advice from EGAS

The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) can also help you find out what’s available. EGAS provides students – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – with expert guidance on getting funding for education and training. Its offers a range of services providing information on funding for people in post-16 education in England. It specialises in funding from charitable trusts and maintains a database of trusts and charities that assist students. It also administers over 30 educational trusts, giving small grants to students who study at institutions that are affiliated to its service.

Contact EGAS here.

Other Sources to Research

British Council (for overseas students)

The British Council website includes information about funding studies in the UK, for those coming from abroad. It includes a searchable database, which is actually the same as Scholarship Search (see below).

Scholarship Search UK

Scholarship Search UK provides a free search facility for students looking for funding for a university course. Run by Hot Courses, the site also includes lots of information about finding university courses and funding in general.

Prospects

The official graduate careers website which includes a postgraduate section that lists sources of funding.

People in Need (PIN)

A software package produced by FunderFinder. Contains information about more than 3,500 charitable trusts that give grants for relief-in-need or funds people looking for money to study or for personal development. You can probably use PIN for free somewhere. Contact FunderFinder to find out where or ask your local authority, your local library or voluntary resource centre.

Professional and Career Development Loans

If you are not eligble for a grant, a Professional and Career Development Loan could help you pay for your learning. It’s a bank loan, so you’ll have to pay it back once you’ve left your course. However, you don’t pay interest for the period when you’re in learning.

Find out more information here.