Fees and funding

Fees

The fees quoted below are the estimated fees for students commencing their studies in the academic year 2009-10. Please be aware that there may be changes before the beginning of the programme, so you should use them as a guide only and always confirm the fees with the School's Finance Office.

UK and EU (non-UK)

Non-EU

All undergraduate programmes

£3,225

£15,200

All postgraduate programmes

£6,800

£15,200


Download a complete list of fees for 2008/09 (PDF, 35Kb)

Course-related costs may range from £130 to £1500 per year depending upon the programme. Please contact the department directly for further details.

Special subject-based bursaries are currently available in the Music Department in the areas of:

  • Orchestral Training-Viola
  • Orchestral Training for non-EU applicants
  • Piano Accompaniment for non-EU applicants and for second year study
  • Historical Performance (harpsichord & lute/continuo)
  • Repetiteur
  • Chamber Music

The following countries are classified as European Union for fee purposes:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, United Kingdom. Some British and EU territories are also included.

There are also residency requirements which may affect your fee status. Further guidance on funding and other issues for non-UK applicants is available from www.ukcisa.org.uk

Annual tuition fees, with the exception of those payable by UK and EU undergraduate students, are expected to be paid in advance, with a deposit due 1 July 2009. Invoices will be sent by the Finance Office.

General and initial enquiries about fees should be addressed to the Finance Office. On all correspondence about fees, please indicate the course concerned and confirm at which rate (UK and EU(non-UK), or non-EU) your fees will be payable.

Funding information

All applicants should be aware that studying in London is not cheap and funding should be arranged well in advance. In addition to your tuition fees you will need £1,050 - £1,200 per month for rent and living costs in London. You can download some further details to help you plan here.

Funding assistance from the Guildhall School

The School offers a wide range of financial awards (bursaries and scholarships) to all students regardless of domicile. These awards are supported by a wide range of external donors including City Livery Companies, grant-making trusts and foundations, businesses and individuals. All of these donations are made on a voluntary basis and the awards they fund enable students to take up their places at the School or continue their studies here.

An award may be made to cover either the full cost of tuition fees or a fraction of them, and may include an element for maintenance. These are awarded on the basis of merit and/or financial need. Applications for scholarships can be made directly to the School after an offer of a place has been made.

Fourteen named scholarships, ten in music and four in drama, were announced as part of the School's 125th anniversary tributes.

Music scholarships may be awarded in the names of Jacqueline du Pré (cello), Jack Brymer (woodwind), Sir James Galway (flute), Max Rostal (violin), Dame Myra Hess (piano), Philip Jones (brass), William Primrose (viola), Sir George Martin (music), and there are two voice scholarships each in the names of Walther Gruner and Laura Sarti.

Acting scholarships are available in the names of former students Dame Eileen Atkins, Simon Russell Beale, Sybil Thorndike and Noel Coward.

Guildhall Bursary Scheme

The Guildhall School provides generous additional support for UK undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds via the Guildhall Bursary Scheme. No application procedure is necessary - all students in receipt of a means-tested maintenance grant from the UK government (see section below) will automatically be paid the additional bursary by the School. Once you have enrolled, the bursary payments are made in three instalments at the beginning of each term at the same time as the maintenance grant, and are paid directly into your bank account.

The value of the bursaries is equivalent to 50% of the value of the English maintenance grant. In order to ensure that all UK undergraduate students are treated equally, the method of calculation is based on the household income thresholds and criteria of the English maintenance grant and the value of the bursary is 50% of the amount that this calculation produces.

As an example, a UK undergraduate student who is commencing his/her studies in 2008 and whose annual household income is less than or equal to the lower threshold for the English maintenance grant (£25,000 for 2008-9), will receive a bursary of £1,417.50 (this being 50% of the maximum English maintenance grant for 2008-9 of £2,835). The School will pay 50% of the value of the English maintenance grant right up to the new higher income threshold of £60,005 (see section below).

All the above grant and bursary amounts, and income thresholds, are expected to rise with inflation for 2009-10.

School Hardship Funds

The School endeavours to support students who find themselves in financial difficulties. Under normal circumstances students are expected to have arranged sufficient funding prior to the commencement of their course. However if students experience an unforeseen change of circumstances they may qualify for an award to help them overcome their financial difficulties.

Funding assistance from the UK Government

Undergraduate UK students

The following Government support is available, and most students will not need to pay any fees while they are studying unless they wish to:

Tuition fee loan

All UK students embarking on their first undergraduate degree can receive a low cost tuition fee loan from the Government which is not means-tested. Students will repay these loans only once they have left University and are earning over £15,000 per year. When applying for the tuition fee loan, please take care that you state the correct tuition fee, which for 2009/10 is £3,225.

Maintenance grant

This is a means-tested non-repayable grant, which for 2008-9 is worth up to £2,835 for English students. The actual amount you will be entitled to receive will depend upon your household income. As a result of recent changes made by the Government to increase student funding, for students commencing their studies in 2008 or later the English maintenance grant is now payable in full where the annual household income is £25,000 or less. It is payable on a reducing sliding scale up to an annual household income of £60,005 (for 2008-09). The table below gives examples of what you might get:

Household income

Amount of grant

Up to £25,000

Full grant - £2,835

£30,000

£2,002

£35,450

£1,260

£40,000

£998

£50,000

£524

£60,005

£50

More than £60,005

No grant

The above grant and income thresholds are expected to rise with inflation for 2009-10. They apply to students from England. Different arrangements apply for students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Please see the relevant website below for further details.

All students in receipt of a maintenance grant will automatically receive an additional bursary from the Guildhall Bursary Scheme, equivalent to 50% of the value of the English maintenance grant (please see section above). Once you have enrolled, the maintenance grant payments are made in three instalments at the beginning of each term at the same time as the Guildhall Bursary, and are paid directly into your bank account.

Maintenance loan

This is a means-tested loan repayable after you graduate, which for 2008-9 is worth up to £6,475. This is expected to rise with inflation for 2009-10.

Mature students undertaking their first course of higher education are also eligible for Government support. Students may choose whether or not to pay national insurance contributions while they are in full-time education. Full details can be obtained from your local Department for Work and Pensions office or the website www.hmrc.gov.uk

Additional funds may also be available for students with dependants or students with a disability.

You should apply for these funds as soon as possible - do not wait for a firm offer of a place. You can apply online at www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk or call 0845 607 7577 for advice.

Further information is available as follows:

View the "Money for Uni" DVD online at www.direct.gov.uk/unimoney

England: www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk
Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk
Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Access to Learning Fund

The Access to Learning Fund is a Government scheme administered by the School that provides financial assistance to full and part-time UK undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Awards may be given as grants or loans depending upon a student's circumstances. The Fund is particularly aimed at students with low incomes who need extra financial support to access and remain in Higher Education.

EU (non-UK) students

The following Government support is available, and most students will not need to pay any fees while they are studying unless they choose to:

Tuition fee loan

All EU students embarking on their first undergraduate degree can receive a low cost tuition fee loan from the Government which is not means-tested and will be repayable after you graduate.

You should apply for these funds as soon as possible - do not wait for a firm offer of a place. When applying for the tuition fee loan, please take care that you state the correct tuition fee, which for 2009/10 is £3,225. You can find information and application forms at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or by contacting the EU Customer Services Team on the details below:

EU Customer Services Team
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road, Darlington
DL3 9BG, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)141 243 3570
email: EUTeam@slc.co.uk

Funding assistance from other sources

Applicants are advised to start looking for funding as soon as they decide to apply for a programme of study. A fundraising information sheet with useful links is available here.

For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 100 900.

A small number of grants and awards may be available for non-EU students in their own countries. Students should consult their local British Council office early in the application process to find out what awards may be open to them. Prospective applicants are also advised to read the in-formation and advice on the British Council's website www.educationuk.org

The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) is an independent advice agency for EU applicants seeking funding for further or higher education. Telephone the EGAS information line on +44 (0)20 7254 6251.

Postgraduate music applicants from the USA may be eligible for a Guildhall Marshall scholarship. Please see www.marshallscholarship.org for more information.

US Stafford Loans programme

The School is certified to participate in the United States Stafford Loans (FFEL/Direct Loans) programme administered by the US Department of Education. Please download our information sheet about how to access Federal Stafford Loans in the United Kingdom. Additional information is available from www.ed.gov

Applicants to whom this scheme refers should contact the Registry before they apply since the process for international institutions is slightly different to US institutions. The Guildhall School ID number is 021967.

Download funding guidelines and fundraising advice

Guidelines to financing your studies at Guildhall School (UK/EU first time undergraduates) (PDF, 82KB)

Guidelines to financing your studies at Guildhall School (non EU undergraduates) (PDF, 45KB)

Guidelines to financing your studies at Guildhall School (postgraduate) (PDF, 54KB)

Guidelines to financing your studies at Guildhall School (postgraduate MA in Training Actors) (PDF, 41KB)

Fundraising advice (PDF, 66KB)