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During my time here, I organised an international conference based around my subject involving delegates from 4 continents

Emily Baines
DMus, ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments as a Source for Historical Performance’

Emily Baines
The research community at Guildhall is a really interesting place to be

Stefania Donini
PhD

Stefania Donini
I found it very beneficial to take a break from a busy teaching career to think and reflect on my teaching value, principle and strategies

Yushan Li
PGCert Performance Teaching

Yushan Li
Studying at Guildhall is really cool because you are in a setting where the arts are valued by an entire community

Natasha Mbwana
BA Performance & Creative Enterprise

Natasha Mbwana
The projects we work on are real - we are in effect constantly getting work experience

Laurie Lumley
BA Video Design for Live Performance

Laurie Lumley
Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.

Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano

Jonathan Ferrucci
One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll be with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

Millie Ashton
I had access to people I would never have been able to meet as a young composer starting out.

Na'ama Zisser
Doctoral Composer in Residence

Na'ama Zisser
I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

Eden Lonsdale
I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

Dave Adsett
At Guildhall, they don't hold your hand, but they're going to push you to become the actor that you want to be.

Daniel Adeosun
BA Acting

Daniel Adeosun
It's the scale of productions that really makes Guildhall stand out. It gets to the point where you think, wow, this is massive. In other places, you just wouldn't have that opportunity to learn on the job.

Sian Clare
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Costume)

Sian Clare
Home > About the School > How To Apply > Supported Application Scheme

Supported Application Scheme for 2022 entry

Applications for the Supported Application Scheme are now closed for 2022 entry.

Guildhall School encourages applications from students whose backgrounds are underrepresented in higher education. We are pleased to offer 350 places on the Supported Application Scheme, with places available for all our undergraduate programmes for 2022 entry.


What is the Supported Application Scheme?

Successful applicants to the scheme will receive:

  • A free application for the undergraduate course they are applying 
  • Invitations to workshops and events, both online and at the School (COVID-19 restrictions permitting), including the week-long Festival of Support.
  • Free tickets for a Guildhall School performance or access to digital performances (dependent on availability – each participant will be invited to at least one show, with a choice of dates available)
  • Advice and guidance from the Access and Participation Team
  • A Travel Bursary if travelling to an on-site audition from outside of Greater London

In addition:

  • Where an offer is made, support with scholarship applications and transition to the School will be offered.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

To be eligible for the 2022 Supported Application Scheme, you must:

  • have no previous experience of university.
  • be applying for an eligible undergraduate programme (listed above).
  • be UK-Domiciled
  • be living in a household with a gross annual income of below £33,000 OR which receives means tested state benefits and/or in receipt of Free School Meals, a 16-19 bursary OR a means tested bursary in a Centre for Young Musicians or Junior Guildhall

You must also meet at least one of the below criteria:

  • Have a home postcode which is classified as Quintile 1 or Quintile 2 in the POLAR4 data (visit the Office for Students website to find out, using the postcode checker tool*).
  • Have a home postcode which is classified as Decile 1-4 in the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Government dataset (visit the IMD website to find out, result is in a downloadable spreadsheet, found in column F.)*.
  • Be Black, Asian or ethnically diverse.
  • Be in care, a recent care leaver or estranged from your family.
  • Attend one of our partner schools or youth organisations
  • Have a disability, which will be declared on your undergraduate application.

*Alternatively, email wp@gsmd.ac.uk with your home postcode and we will check eligibility for these criteria for you.

Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found in the detailed instructions for applicants (PDF) and teachers/advisors (PDF).

Please check our lists of eligible schools (PDF) and youth and community organisations (PDF) to check your eligibility.

How can I apply for the Supported Application Scheme?

Applications for the Supported Application Scheme are now closed for 2022 entry.

You can either apply directly to the programme, or be referred by your school, college, theatre group or youth organisation. You should read the above instructions before submitting an application.

You must apply, or be referred, before you submit your online application to the School – application fees already paid cannot be refunded*. You will be contacted by email if your application to the Scheme has been successful, with instructions on how to proceed with your application to the School. A successful application to the Scheme is not an application to the undergraduate programme.

*If you have already submitted an application to the School, you may still apply to the Scheme and benefit from the support, minus the free application.

When will I need to apply by?

Programme/
Pathway
 Deadline for receipt of referrals for Supported Application Scheme
 Undergraduate application deadlines


BMus

 
Monday 27 September 2021


Friday 1 October 2021

BA Acting

 Monday 3 January 2022

 Wednesday 19 January 2022

BA Production Arts - Costume

BA Production Arts - Design Realisation

BA Production Arts - Theatre Technology

BA Production Arts -
Stage Management

BA Digital Design & Production


What else do I need to know?

  • Scheme applications are considered as soon as applications open for each programme. Places are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so an early application is recommended. Please note that we cannot process a free application for a programme until applications are open for it.
  • We cannot refund application fees once they have been paid, so please do not submit your online application to the School until you have email confirmation of a place on the Scheme. This email will provide instructions on how to submit your free application.
  • The Supported Application Scheme is subject to the eligibility requirements above, and we regret that we cannot offer the scheme to applicants who do not meet them.
  • The application deadlines for the Scheme are final, and late applications will not be processed.

Information for schools and organisations

If you are a teacher or youth worker and you would like more information about the scheme, you can read further instructions (PDF).

You can find the Guildhall School’s policy on the Supported Application Scheme (PDF).

Please note that places on the Supported Application Scheme are in high demand, particularly for the Acting course. We ask teachers and advisors to use discretion when referring young people for the scheme, prioritising those most in need of the support that the scheme offers, as we may be required to cap the number of participants per school/organisation.

More information & contact

Please contact our Access and Participation Team for more information about the scheme.

What our Supported Application Scheme participants say

“It’s allowed me to see shows, hear from students and come to the School on multiple occasions. It’s bridged the barrier that I once saw between myself and Guildhall, which has now allowed me to approach my auditions with so much more confidence, knowing that I’ve attended and been given these sessions.”

“I can apply to drama school and actually look forward to the process. There’s a huge weight off my shoulders because questions have been answered, and I’ve met people like me who are doing things like me.”

“Before applying for the scheme I felt anxious, worried and I tended to overthink a lot, through taking part on the scheme I have learnt so much and I am still learning. Talking and interacting with graduates and teachers on the courses has been amazing and incredibly helpful.”