Supported Application Scheme for 2020 entry
The Guildhall School encourages applications from students whose backgrounds are underrepresented in higher education. We are pleased to offer 220 places on the Supported Application Scheme, with places available for all our undergraduate programmes for 2020 entry.
We are no longer accepting referrals to the Supported Application Scheme for 2020 entry to Bachelor of Music or BA Acting. Please do look into the Scheme over the summer should you decide to apply for 2021 entry.
What is the Supported Application Scheme?
Successful applicants to the scheme will receive:
- A free application for the undergraduate course they are applying to
- Invitations to workshops at the School.
- Free tickets for a Guildhall School performance (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 Officer.
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 2020 Supported Application Scheme, you must:
- have no previous experience of university.
- be applying for an eligible undergraduate programme (listed above).
- be UK-Domiciled
- be referred by a member of staff in your state school, partner school or youth organisation
- be living in a household with an annual income of below £33,000 and/or in receipt of Free School Meals or a 16-19 bursary
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, result is in the first column of the table).
- Be in care, a recent care leaver or estranged from your family.
- Attend one of our partner schools or youth organisations.
- You have a declared disability on your application to the School.
- 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; alternatively email wp@gsmd.ac.uk with home postcode and we will look into this).
Please note that applicants will be ineligible for the scheme if they have received two application fee waivers when applying to the School in previous years.
Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found in the detailed instructions for applicants and teachers/advisors.
Please check our lists of eligible schools and youth and community organisations to check your eligibility.
How can I apply for the Supported Application Scheme?
Read detailed instructions for applicants (PDF).
A teacher or adviser must refer you to the scheme, via the link listed in the ‘Teacher and Advisor’ guidance (found below).
If your school or youth organisation agrees to refer you to the scheme, this must be done 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.
When will I need to apply by?
Programme/Pathway
| Deadline for receipt of referrals for Supported Application Scheme
| Undergraduate application deadlines |
BMus | Friday 4 October | Wednesday 9 October |
BA Acting | Monday 16 December | Wednesday 22 January |
BA Production Arts - Design Realisation |
BA Production Arts - Stage Management |
BA Production Arts - Theatre Technology |
BA Production Arts - Costume | Monday 17 February | Wednesday 4 March |
BA Video Design for Live Performance |
What else do I need to know?
- Referrals are considered as soon as applications open (2020 applications open end of July 2019). Places on the scheme are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so an early application is recommended. A small number of places will be reserved for courses with March application deadlines.
- 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.
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.
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 Officer for more information about the scheme.
