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Bursaries

Is money stopping you from taking part in music, dance or drama?

We grant music bursaries, dance bursaries and drama bursaries, up to £1,000 each, to talented young people aged 12-25 who can’t afford to access opportunities in the arts. A bursary typically pays for a year’s part time dance, music or drama classes, and it can be used to cover some other expenses and costs too, including tuition fees at drama school.

We open applications for bursaries several times a year, and the next deadline is 28th April 2024. If you apply after this, we’ll consider your application in the next round. Sign up to our newsletter and we’ll keep you posted about future deadlines.

Before you apply: check the criteria and documents you need…

Contact us if you need the application form printed, in large print, in braille or in another language.

Our bursaries are open to all young people aged between 12 and 25, regardless of where they live in the United Kingdom and irrespective of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, special educational needs, disability and sexual orientation. See our Equal Opportunities Policy.

“At drama school I have been challenged and inspired like never before. Without support from the NYAT, it would have been impossible for me to have taken up this incredible opportunity and be living my dream.”

Access bursary recipient

When you’ll hear from us

Our trustees usually meet in April, July, September and November to review new bursary applications. Applications received after each meeting’s deadline, will be rolled over to the next meeting. Decisions are made roughly six to eight weeks after the last application deadline, however decisions can sometimes be delayed. Depending on when you apply, it can take up to five months to receive a decision. We will keep you updated as best we can on when you are likely to know if you’ve been successful or not but please bear with us, as we are a very small team, and all our trustees are volunteers. We always write to everyone who has applied. All decisions made by the committee are final.

Thank yous

The Olibob Awards

With thanks to the family and friends of Oli Williams, who in his memory have supported our bursary scheme amongst other projects, and started the Olibob Award for special recognition of inclusivity, encouragement, kindness, and support of others in drama or music groups. Know someone who deserves an award like this?

The Martin Cosgrif Memorial Bursary Award

With thanks to the family and friends of Martin Cosgrif who have created a bursary in his memory, wanting to honour his legacy by enabling a young person from a disadvantaged background in the North West of England to attend drama school. If you are living in the North West of England and applying for a bursary, please quote The Martin Cosgrif Memorial Bursary Award in your application.

Gilly Lee

With thanks to the family and friends of Gilly Lee, who loved the Arts, and in her memory is sponsoring some of our drama bursaries in 2021 & 2022.

The Richard Beaumont Bursary

With thanks to the family and friends of Richard Beaumont, who have created the Richard Beaumont Bursary through NYAT, in memory of Richard who had a passion for Arts and helping young people realise their dreams.

“My training has been the greatest gift”

Francesca is a dynamic performer who, as well as working as a professional actor, wants to promote diversity and inclusivity in the industry. Thanks to her NYAT bursary she is able to continue her three year training programme at Guildhall.

Read the story

“It has changed my life”

We asked some of our drama school students, supported by NYAT, what a typical day at drama school is like – and particularly what student life is like during a pandemic!

Read the story

All stories