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.

Each year, we make a limited number of bursaries available for CPD activities in the UK.

Bursary designated activities in the 2024/25 CPD year will be announced in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye on this page for updates.

• You must be an RAD Registered Teacher.
• We will consider UK and international applications.
• You can only apply toward bursary-designated CPD UK activities.
• Awards only cover the CPD activity and are not for accommodation, travel, or subsistence.
• Only one application for one bursary designated activity per UK CPD year (1 September – 31 August) is permitted.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• All applications must be completed in English.
• A CPD Bursary Review Panel of CPD, Faculty of Education, and Artistic staff will consider applications.
• Provided your application has been completed in full, we will normally make an assessment and decision within 10 working days.
• You must make any complaints about a decision in writing, and send it to cpd@rad.org.uk within five working days of notification. An independent senior RAD member of staff will look into it and inform you of the outcome in writing

Bursaries will be awarded on the basis of:

1. a track record of dance teaching employment
2. the demonstration that you
   • have a strong commitment to self and professional development
   • take a committed approach to your dance teaching
   • are highly motivated
   • are keen to succeed
   • have an interest in the wider dance teaching profession
3. the financial circumstances which you believe impact on your ability to take part in a bursary designated CPD activity without assistance.

You must provide information and personal statements to support your application, but please don’t send personal or financial documents.

Applications must be received at least four working weeks before the date of the bursary designated CPD activity. Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

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.