3. The National Youth Arts Trust

The National Youth Arts Trust provides bursaries and grants to help young people access drama school training. Funding can cover tuition fees, audition preparation, travel, accommodation and materials, supporting participation in short courses, foundation programmes, BA acting or musical theatre degrees and intensive workshops at recognised UK drama schools such as RADA, LAMDA, Guildhall or the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

To be eligible, applicants must be aged 12-25, come from a low-income household or face financial barriers, demonstrate talent and commitment and be pursuing training that contributes to professional development in acting, musical theatre or related theatre arts.

4. The Educational Grants Programme

The Educational Grants Programme, run by Family Action, provides financial assistance for the costs of starting or continuing education, including drama school training. The programme is designed for individuals from low-income households who may not qualify for other statutory funding. Grants can help with essential expenses such as tuition fees, course materials, equipment, travel or even living costs, making it easier to take up or sustain a place at drama school.

To be eligible, applicants must be aged 14 or over, living on a low income or in receipt of benefits, and able to demonstrate how the grant will help them pursue or complete their studies.

5. The Wayne Sleep Foundation

The Wayne Sleep Foundation supports students training in the performing arts by offering grants to help with essential living and accommodation costs while studying full-time at a UK drama or dance school. These awards are designed to ease financial pressure so that students can focus fully on their training, performance and creative development.

To be eligible, applicants must be UK residents for at least three years, already accepted or enrolled on a full-time higher education performing arts course and able to demonstrate financial need. Applications typically open in March and close in May each year, with funding awarded to those who show both commitment to their craft and genuine financial barriers to pursuing their training.

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6. Scholarships and bursaries

Many UK drama schools offer scholarships and bursaries to help students access training, regardless of financial circumstances. These awards can be merit-based, means-tested or a combination, and may cover tuition fees, living costs, travel, materials and audition expenses. Some scholarships are automatically offered based on audition or interview performance, while others require a separate application with evidence of financial need or artistic achievement.

Eligibility often considers factors such as household income, background or specific course enrolment. Many scholarships last for the duration of the course, though some are annual and require renewal. Examples include: RADA’s scholarship fund, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School scholarships, Guildhall School scholarships, LIPA’s Hardship Fund, Mountview scholarships and LAMDA scholarships and bursaries. Many of these can be for acting, musical theatre or technical theatre, and are often supported by trusts and foundations such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.

Starting out in theatre can feel like stepping into a maze. With so many roles, training paths and funding options to navigate, it’s easy to feel lost before you have even begun. Resources such as Get Into Theatre can help make sense of it all, offering honest guidance on drama schools, bursaries, scholarships and career routes, alongside advice from professionals working on and off stage.

For broader practical support, government websites, the Federation of Drama Schools and UCAS Conservatoires also provide clear information on courses, applications, eligibility criteria and funding options. Together, these platforms give you a starting point to explore opportunities and build the steps you need to support you through drama school and beyond.