Bursaries at the RAD

Thanks to the generous donors to our ‘Steps to Success’ campaign, our new RAD bursary fund can offer you the chance to take free exams if you need help.

This has been set up to create even more opportunities for dancers, who struggle financially, to enter our exams. We are doing this to reduce inequality, and to expand our exams into new, under-represented groups. All exams are eligible, including the Solo Seal, and bursaries are available worldwide.

Successful candidates will have 6 months to use the bursary from the date of being informed of their award.

We that hope you, or a teacher you know, will be able to take this opportunity to provide financial assistance to deserving candidates.

The process is open year-round and you can submit an application for your nominees anytime. The awarding dates, however, will be in January and June.

The January award is for free exam entries for nominees entering the spring and summer sessions. The June award covers your exams in the winter session.

We would like to thank everyone who applied for the last rounds of bursaries and congratulate all the candidates who received an award.

Applications for the January award are now open until 23 December 2024.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Mo Jama in our Examinations Department.

The Royal Academy of Dance aims to increase access, reward aspirations, and support the excellent standard of education within our Registered Teaching Membership.

In 2021-2022, together with the assistance of our inaugural partners DanceSurance, Harlequin Floors and Bloch we created an ongoing Teachers’ Scholarship Fund supporting RAD Registered Teachers who wish to develop their skills and knowledge by engaging with Continuing Professional Development.

In 2024, there were 12 scholarships awarded to registered RAD teachers from around Australia to offset the cost of attending CPD courses and the costs associated with attending.

We are pleased to announce that the Teachers’ Scholarship Fund will continue into 2025, offering a Summer CPD Round, plus 3 further rounds, to offset the cost of attending CPD activities throughout the year. The Summer CPD Round offers opportunities for scholarships to assist with the cost of registration for in-person and online courses, as well as an additional scholarship towards travel expenses to attend in-person in Sydney, up to the value of $500.

Scholarships are available for:

• All RAD Australia CPD activities
• Teacher Observation of Student Intensive classes
• RAD Global Webinars
• RAD Australia Conferences

Anything else will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

There is also limited support available for teachers who wish to undertake external professional development opportunities. External courses will need to meet standard CPD requirements for time valued CPD.

Round 1 2025

• Applications open on 29 November 2024
• Applications close on 7 January 2025
• Notifications made on 10 January 2025
• Valid for courses from 23 January – 31 March 2025

Round 2 2025

• Applications open on 17 January 2025
• Applications close on 18 March 2025
• Notifications made on 21 March 2025
• Valid for courses from 1 April – 30 June 2025

Round 3 2025

• Applications open on 18 April 2025
• Applications close on 17 June 2025
• Notifications made on 20 June 2025
• Valid for courses from 1 July – 31 October 2025

The Royal Academy of Dance is committed to celebrating and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people in regional and remote areas, people living with disabilities, and people who identify as male or gender diverse.

1. You must be a current Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance Australia, residing in Australia.

2. Applications can only be made toward Teachers’ Scholarship Fund-designated activities taking place in person within Australia or online activities provided by RAD.

3. Scholarship awards cover the CPD activity fee.

4. Teachers may apply as often as they wish but only one designated activity per application round will be granted.

5. A maximum of one scholarship will be awarded per applicant in an 18-month period.

6. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

7. All applications must be completed in English or translated at your own cost.

8. A Teachers’ Scholarship Fund Review Panel drawn from the Department of Development will consider applications.

9. Provided an application has been completed in full, an assessment and decision of the application will normally be made on the dates stated above.

10. We welcome feedback regarding the Teachers’ Scholarship Fund, the process or the outcome of your application. Please submit your feedback in writing only to cpd@rad.org.au.

11. Successful applicants are required to give written feedback on their funded activity within 30 days of completing the activity. This short paragraph may be shared with fund supporters and can be made anonymously if preferred. Please nominate your preference in your application. Feedback should be submitted to cpd@rad.org.au.

12. Where applicants are successful, RAD Australia will provide a booking code or make the booking for the nominated activity on behalf of the applicant.

13. Where successful applicants have already booked and paid for their nominated activity, a full refund will be provided.

Scholarships will be assessed and awarded using the information provided on the application form as well as a personal statement.

You should write a personal statement addressing the selection criteria here and attach it to your application below:

• A strong commitment to professional development.
• A proactive and committed approach to dance teaching.
• An interest in contributing to and engaging with the wider dance teaching profession.
• Barriers that you believe impact your ability to participate in the activity without assistance, such as financial, geographical, logistical, or personal circumstances that are relevant to you.

Submit an application below

RAD Australia is grateful for the support of inaugural Teachers’ Scholarship Fund partners.

The Australian Advanced 1 Bursary is a scholarship of up to $5000 awarded to an outstanding student to further their RAD training. Former participants of the Bursary have gone on to place in The Fonteyn and join professional companies around the world. In 2025 we are pleased to host live Semi-Finals around the country to give students much needed and missed performance experience with their peers.

The entry fee is $246. Download a copy of the Advanced 1 Bursary Rules and Conditions.

*After consultation we have made some minor changes. Semi final classes will consist of all open work. Please see updated Rules and Conditions for further information

Contact

For further information please contact your Regional Manager or the Head of Department – Examinations and Regions, Lia Cox at:

T: 0413 382 271
E: lcox@rad.org.au

The Australian Advanced 1 Bursary is supported by exclusive dancewear sponsor:

We are committed to providing support to students who wish to develop their skills and knowledge by beginning or continuing with existing studies. The limited bursaries and hardship funds that we have available will assist those most in need, to ensure the widest participation of students in our programmes.

The Hardship and Bursary Funding Policy with information on hardship support and available bursaries can be found under Policies and Procedures. Please use the application form appropriate to your chosen bursary:

Hardship support and other bursary funds:

Financial Assistance Application form

Headley Trust application form
Application deadline for Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet): 1 September
Application deadline for Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma: 1 December

LRAD Bursary application form
Application deadline: 28 February

HE Bursary application form
Application deadline: 1 February

The fund has been set up to create even more opportunities for dancers who may struggle financially to enter our exams, to reduce inequality, and to expand our exams into new, under-represented groups.

All exams are eligible including the Solo Seal, and bursaries are available worldwide.

Successful candidates will have six months to use the bursary from the date of being informed of their award.

We hope that you, or a teacher you know, will be able to take up this opportunity to provide financial assistance to deserving candidates.