Dance College fees

[DanceMum83]

Hello,

I'm wanting to get better insight into college fees. So for example, if you got in to Laine at 16 years old, isn’t this a level 3 diploma which is government funded? If so why are scholarships mentioned? Or how expensive it is to go to Laine? Is it right that the 3rd year then is the equivalent to the qualification you get if you’d completed course at 18-21? 
 

Wilkes academy offer level 3 diploma at 16, I presume as they aren’t offering the basic btec hours ie the equivalent to just 3-4 days a week, that  extra hours ate to be paid for? Is this what the scholarships cover? And if so does anyone have any idea how much this course is with the additional training if you don’t have a scholarship? 
 

thank you in advance! 

[balletbean]

3 minutes ago, DanceMum83 said:

Hello,

I'm wanting to get better insight into college fees. So for example, if you got in to Laine at 16 years old, isn’t this a level 3 diploma which is government funded? If so why are scholarships mentioned? Or how expensive it is to go to Laine? Is it right that the 3rd year then is the equivalent to the qualification you get if you’d completed course at 18-21? 
 

Wilkes academy offer level 3 diploma at 16, I presume as they aren’t offering the basic btec hours ie the equivalent to just 3-4 days a week, that  extra hours ate to be paid for? Is this what the scholarships cover? And if so does anyone have any idea how much this course is with the additional training if you don’t have a scholarship? 
 

thank you in advance! 

Morning. 

For those that offer a 3yr Trinity Diploma course this will be a Level 6 which is the vocational equivalent to a BA(Hons) degree. Pupils are eligible to start the Level 6 Diploma course post 16 (GCSE’s). 
No requirement to obtain A levels beforehand etc. 

Audition/applications process starts from the Sept that the pupil starts their yr11 but dates do vary per school/college. Check their website. 

There is a Dance and Drama award (DaDa) for a 3yr Trinity Diploma which isn’t a scholarship but rather a bursary scheme run by the Uk Gov and subject to certain eligibility criteria ie residency. The awards are allocated by the Gov to each school/college in varying numbers so not everyone that applies will be given a full DaDa. Unlike a student loan that’s applied for directly with the Gov you can’t accept a DaDa at one school/college then accept another offer or transfer to a different school/college believing that the DaDa will stay with you. 

 

There are schools and colleges that offer a one yr Foundation course like Laines and Birds which is not the same as a BTEC level  as Wilkes. 
For reference a level 3 is also an A level or an RAD grade 6 exam and above. 

Foundation courses are one yr and generally offered to those that may have auditioned for a full 3yr place but the college believes that they could benefit from an additional yrs training prior to the full course. Acceptance at the same college for a full 3yr course is not guaranteed after the completion of their Foundation yr. 

 

There are some schools and colleges that offer in-house scholarships at varying % of the fees. ie Laines and Tring spring to mind. 

 

Fees:- actual fees per school/college can be challenging to find on their websites as you’ve probably already learnt hence your post. Fees currently quoted for a level 6 Diploma excluding maintenance ie accommodation etc is £15k. 
 

Might all sound overwhelming but generally as a rule of thumb by all of these schools and colleges no one should be excluded from a full time course due to financial reasons.  There are multiple ways of financial support once an offer has been made but you have to apply and be accepted first.
Still not easy but there is support out there. 
 

BTEC fees and funding are completely different. Sorry can’t advise on that. 

There is also the opportunity for some to ‘convert’ their level 6 Diploma to a full BA(Hons) degree at the end of the course but that’s another subject entirely. 
 

 

Hope that’s helped a little and not confused you too much ☺️