Fees & Funding

Information for the Course Fees for all ALRA courses can be found on the relevant Fees & Dates tab for each course:

ALRA is a private school, working with partners in Higher Education classed as an Alternative Provider (AP), depending on personal circumstances and the course undertaken, students can access funding from a variety of sources.

Dance and Drama Award (DaDA)

DaDA are scholarships funded by the Education Funding Agency. DaDA can offer greatly reduced tuition fees and access to an income-assessed student support fund. 

DaDA is merit-based and means-tested. DaDA are offered only to the applicants who show the most potential to succeed in the profession based on their audition, and the value of the award is determined on the basis of a national scale and by the circumstances and household income of the student; students from lower income families contribute less (towards fees and maintenance) and those from higher income families contribute more.

DaDA are available for new students starting courses as well as continuing students in their second or third year of study. There are only a very limited number of DaDA available for new students at ALRA, 1 in 4 Acting Students are currently DaDA funded.

Students who are in receipt of DaDA are not eligible to apply for a Student or Maintenance Loan.

Students who are in receipt of DaDA must be means-tested and assessed each year throughout their time at ALRA.

https://www.gov.uk/dance-drama-awards

Student Loan

Students who are not offered Dance and Drama Awards are entitled to apply for a Student Loan to assist them with the cost of tuition. ALRA is classed as an Alternative Provider which means that the government places a cap on the amount of tuition fee loan available. Please note the student loan does not cover the whole tuition fee; the maximum tuition fee Student Loan currently available is £6,165. 

All students who are eligible to receive Student Loan funding are also eligible to apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help with living expenses.  The amount of Maintenance Loan you are entitled to depends on your income (or that of your parents) and where you are living while studying.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/reg/desig/cdforstudents/

Private Finance

ALRA is a private school and classed as an Alternative Provider, which can mean that despite being in receipt of DaDA or Loan a student needs to clear the remaining balance of fees. A number of our previous students have been able to do this with the help of family or through various fundraising activities.

As our Foundation Course is Professionally Accredited and not part of the Further or Higher Education framework, unfortunately there is no funding support available for students on the Foundation Acting courses. 

Post Graduate Loan

Students who are not offered Dance and Drama Awards are now entitled to apply for a Post Graduate Loan to assist them with the cost of tuition and living expenses. The maximum Post Graduate Loan currently available is £10,200. 

Students who are in receipt of DaDA are not eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Loan.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/reg/desig/cdforstudents/

Professional and Career Development Loan

Professional and Career Development Loans are commercial bank loans that you can use to help pay for work-related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning. The Government will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. You will then need to start repaying the loan as you would any other commercial loan product. You can use the loan to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries. 

As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, you should make sure you have investigated all the funding options that may be open to you to ensure you take an informed decision about whether the loan is right for you.

ALRA Learning Provider Identification Number: 1026

https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

Once the student is enrolled at ALRA each and every student is considered for various internal and external competitive scholarships, bursaries and awards. The student is supported by Administrative staff and Faculty throughout the application and in preparation of any performance or interview as required by the scholarship, bursary or award.

Students are nominated by ALRA for bursaries from the following:

• • • The Laurence Olivier Bursary
    • The Stanley Picker Trust
    • The Lilian Baylis Award
    • The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust

A number of charities and funding organisations will also consider acting students and those taking allied courses for awards, but the majority that do tend to focus on undergraduates. ALRA is committed to assisting students wishing to apply for funding from charitable organisations. It is important that you approach funders whose priorities and concerns match your situation, so please ensure that you research the organisation and how they support individuals prior to making any application or writing a letter.

ALRA is also one of the few Drama Schools whose training times (outside of public performances) are kept to a normal working week in order to allow all of our students the option to fund themselves further through part-time work.

The Stefan Thegeby Foundation Bursary

Stefan Thegeby was a Foundation student at ALRA (2011-2012). Sadly, in 2015, Stefan lost his battle with 4 cancers. In recognition of his life, bravery and contribution to the positive student experience at ALRA, we provide a small bursary of £250.00 to a student from each campus at the start of the Academic year.

To be considered for this bursary please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (South) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (North) outlining your reasons for undertaking the Foundation course, how it will impact or change your life and what you hope to bring to the school. Paloma and Jayne will nominate the 2 candidates they think most deserving of the award and the Principal will confirm their decision to the successful candidates.

This bursary is only available to students studying on the ALRA Foundation Courses.