Short Courses Financial Support
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We want to ensure as many children, young people and adult learners as possible can access the performing and production arts education that is offered through Short Courses at RCS.
Please see below for information about our Agnes Allan Bursary, James McAvoy Drama Scholarship, and Short Courses Drama Scholarship which may be able to support you to attend our courses.
Support Overview
Please find an overview of the financial support options available below. You can find out more about each scholarship/bursary, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, on each of the dropdowns later on this page.
Agnes Allan Bursary
Agnes Allan was a teacher who was passionate about social inclusion and the bursary scheme exists to offer support to our students to participate in Short Courses weekly classes, short study weekends, credit rated short courses and summer schools.
Any student who is able to demonstrate need for financial support within our criteria which will allow them to enrol in a Short Course is entitled to apply. Students can be at any age or stage and be intending to take part in music, drama, dance production and filmmaking activity.
Criteria
- Location: Anywhere
- Age: Any
- Discipline: Any
- Course: Short Courses or Summer Schools offerings only
James McAvoy Drama Scholarship
BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy is committed to nurturing the creative potential of young Scots who experience barriers to access and participation in drama Short Courses.
James is a graduate of the BA Acting programme at RCS and Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama. The Glasgow-born actor funds the James McAvoy Drama Scholarships to enable young people to experience the world-class drama training at RCS that he did.
The scholarship aims to support applicants who would otherwise find meeting the cost of tuition fees a barrier to accessing the training.
Criteria
- Location: Scotland
- Age: Under 25
- Discipline: Drama or Acting
- Course: Short Courses or Summer Schools offerings only
Short Courses Drama Scholarship
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland understands that for those planning to pursue a career in the performing arts, securing funding for development, training and pre-higher education activities can be challenging.
The Drama Scholarship aims to support prospective performers and producers of theatre, television and film as they move towards a formal training, potentially at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Agnes Allan Bursary
Agnes Allan was a teacher who was passionate about social inclusion and the bursary scheme exists to offer support to our students to participate in Short Courses weekly classes, short study weekends, credit rated short courses and summer schools.
Any student who is able to demonstrate need for financial support in order to allow them to enrol upon a Short Course is entitled to apply. Students can be at any age or stage and be intending to take part in music, drama, dance production and filmmaking activity.
Criteria
- Location: Anywhere
- Age: Any
- Discipline: Any
- Course: Short Courses or Summer Schools offerings only
Detailed information can be found in the Short Courses Bursary Criteria 2024. The document is designed to help you determine the amount of financial support you could apply for to help you with your fees for Short Courses tuition, and we encourage you to read this before making an application.
Please also read the Bursary FAQs and T&Cs before you apply. This outlines how your application will be processed and what happens if you are successful or unsuccessful.
Applications are now open for courses running in our 2023/2024 academic year.
Bursary and Scholarship applications are reviewed by a panel once a month. If you are applying for a course which starts within the next 14 days, please continue to complete the online application form and email us at bursaryscholarship@rcs.ac.uk to let us know you have submitted it – we will process the application as soon as we’re able to.
Students must look at the eligibility and information provided above for the Bursary and Scholarships we offer, and ensure that their situation matches the criteria required. Students are required to complete an online form giving as much information as possible to support their application.
Please choose which application form is applicable to the age and course you wish to apply for below:
Application Forms:
James McAvoy Drama Scholarship
BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy is committed to nurturing the creative potential of young Scots who experience barriers to access and participation in drama Short Courses.
James is a graduate of the BA Acting programme at RCS and Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama. The Glasgow-born actor funds the James McAvoy Drama Scholarships to enable young people to experience the world-class drama training at RCS that he did.
The scholarship aims to support applicants who would otherwise find meeting the cost of tuition fees a barrier to accessing the training.
Criteria
- Location: Scotland
- Age: Under 25
- Discipline: Drama or Acting
- Course: Short Courses or Summer Schools offerings only
- The applicant must be applying for a Drama Short Course including weekly classes, short study, audition preparation, credit rated short courses and summer schools. The scholarship is not able to support students where the subject specialism is musical theatre, dance, music, production or filmmaking.
- The applicant must be aged 25 or under at the time of application, and must be able to provide proof of this status.
- The applicant must be resident in Scotland at the point of application, and must be able to provide proof of this status.
Detailed information can be found in the Short Courses Bursary Criteria 2024. The document is designed to help you determine the amount of financial support you could apply for to help you with your fees for Short Courses tuition, and we encourage you to read this before making an application.
Please also read the Bursary FAQs and T&Cs before you apply. This outlines how your application will be processed and what happens if you are successful or unsuccessful.
Applications are now open for courses running in our 2023/2024 academic year.
Bursary and Scholarship applications are reviewed by a panel once a month. If you are applying for a course which starts within the next 14 days, please continue to complete the online application form and email us at bursaryscholarship@rcs.ac.uk to let us know you have submitted it – we will process the application as soon as we’re able to.
Students must look at the eligibility and information provided above for the Bursary and Scholarships we offer, and ensure that their situation matches the criteria required. Students are required to complete an online form giving as much information as possible to support their application.
Apply Here:
Short Courses Drama Scholarship
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland understands that for those planning to pursue a career in the performing arts, securing funding for development, training and pre-higher education activities can be challenging.
The Drama Scholarship aims to support prospective performers and producers of theatre, television and film as they move towards a formal training, potentially at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
The aim of the Drama Scholarship is to support students of the future to:
- Explore new creative ideas
- Encourage personal development and growth
- Invest in best practice
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is particularly keen to work with young people with talent who face additional barriers to participation, training and a career within the industry.
Each year, the Drama Scholarship programme offers promising theatre, production or film practitioners up to £1000 to invest in a range of training and mentoring activities at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland within the Short Courses programme.
As part of the award, a personal learning plan will be developed to support the recipient’s creative development – this will include mentoring sessions with industry specialists.
Each recipient will be awarded:
- Up to £1000, to be allocated within the Royal Conservatoire’s Short Courses programme during the 2023-24 academic year
- A personal learning plan developed with the Short Courses department
- Mentor pairing within the Royal Conservatoire or relevant industry practitioners as appropriate
Recipients will be expected to keep a reflective learning journal throughout the year which will be used to shape discussion at your mentoring sessions. Support in structuring the journal will be provided in advance of the programme of study.
Applicants must be aged 16+ and be based in Scotland. They should be able to demonstrate:
- A passion for and commitment to their evolving artistic practice
- Training needs in relation to a specialist area
At the end of the award period participants will be expected to attend a one-hour meeting to report on their overall progress and discuss future progression.
Deadline for applications: Applications are now closed.
Candidates should send an email application to shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk including the following information:
- A short biography, including your training/career goals and aspirations
- A one page application or 1-2 minute filmed statement detailing your field of interest and plans for developing your work – you should describe specifically how you see the Drama Scholarship assisting with meeting your training/career goals
- A letter of recommendation from a mentor, teacher, tutor or artist who knows you, your work and your ambitions
- A list of the courses which you would like to use the Drama Scholarship to attend.
Applications deemed complete and eligible will be submitted to a Drama Scholarship Committee. Short-listed candidates will be notified by email within two weeks of application. An interview with each short-listed candidate will be carried out and awards made to successful candidates within the following four weeks.
During your interview you will be ask to:
- Describe specifically how you see the Drama Scholarship assisting with meeting your training/career goals
- Talk about the courses you would select as part of your scholarship. You will be asked to explain your choices and how you feel this would aid your development (you can receive up to £1000)
- Outline clear and realistic goals for your time as a recipient of the Drama Scholarship
- Describe what kind of mentor you would wish to be paired with and what you would hope to get from your relationship with them
Please note:
The panel may decide to only fund certain aspects of your application. £1000 is the maximum award that will be made.
Participation in the Drama Scholarship scheme in no way advantages or disadvantages a recipient in relation to a degree application or further training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions about financial support offered by Short Courses, please contact us directly at bursaryscholarship@rcs.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.
Please note that we are a small department who experience a high volume of emails. We aim to respond to all communications within 7 days but it may take a little longer during busier time periods — we appreciate your patience in these instances.