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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 > Life At The School > Care Leavers & Looked After Children

Care Leavers and Looked After Children

Definition

The School defines a care leaver as a young person who has been in the care of a local authority for at least 13 weeks including at the time of their 16th birthday. 

The School is committed to doing its best to ensure that students from all backgrounds feel able to apply and take up a place at the School. Students from a care background may face particular challenges in progressing to Higher Education so the School has put in place two contacts who can help you navigate the application process and the start of your Higher Education career.  This support will continue all the way through to graduation. Please feel free to contact either member of staff at any time

The Student Funding Officer works in the Registry and can help with completing application forms and with any questions you may have about external and internal funding opportunities, including the Access Bursary. Find out more about the funding available to undergraduate students.

The Student Life Officer works in Student Affairs and can advise students on a range of matters from accommodation and finding a job to social events. Student Affairs supports all students in non-academic matters. Find out more about student Affairs.

The Access and Participation Officer runs the Supported Application Scheme, which could offer you a free application and lots of support through the application and audition process. They also oversee the Access Bursary, and are available to answer questions that might help with your decision making process. Find out more about Access and Participation.

Confidentiality

All information provided by care leavers will be held in the strictest confidence, and only shared when required.

If you declare on the application form that you are a care leaver and subsequently are offered a place then you will need to confirm your eligibility by providing us with a letter from the local authority that looked after you. After this point we will not ask for any other personal information about you or your family.

Financial Support from the School

The School offers a range of scholarships for both maintenance and tuition fees in order to try and ensure that no student is prevented from taking up a place at the School because of financial hardship. Applicants and enrolled students who are Care Leavers will be given special consideration for scholarship support where it is declared on the scholarship form (this does not necessarily guarantee an award). Scholarships have to be applied for on an annual basis.

UK undergraduate students who qualify as care leavers, or estranged students (who have no contact or support from their parents) and independent students on low incomes will be able to apply for the Guildhall Access Bursary for 2019/20. Bursaries of between £3,000 and £5,000 a year will be given (with a maximum of 15 bursaries awarded). Students will be expected to provide evidence to support their eligibility for this award and will be expected to reapply each year. See further details and how to apply to the Access Bursary Policy.

Accommodation

Sundial Court Halls of Residence is owned and run by the School, offering accommodation to students from the start to the end of the academic year.  More information on accommodation can be found here.

When is support available?

  • Pre-application: Please feel free to email either contact.
  • Post application submission: If you have declared that you are a care leaver but have not contacted either member of staff then you will be contacted by email with the offer of support
  • Audition/Interview day: If you are coming on your own and would like support during any waiting times then either the SFO or SLO will try to make themselves available.
  • You are offered and accept a place: You will be invited to meet with the SFO and SLO to assist you in filling in all the required forms to access funding, scholarship support, accommodation and generally help you to get things organised. The enrolment requirements will be explained to ensure that you have all the required documents ready in good time for September.
  • Enrolment Week: The first week of term (enrolment week) can be very busy, with academic inductions, tests and other meetings.  During enrolment week you will be invited to events to help you settle in and ensure you make the most of your time at the School and opportunities available to students. If needed the SFO or SLO will help you prioritise your timetable during this week to balance the necessary with the ‘extra curricula’ activities provided.
  • After enrolment week: The SFO and SLO will be available for regular meetings to address any concerns.  Support from the SFO and SLO will be ongoing until you graduate and can be accessed at any time during the calendar year subject to School closure times.

Further information and support 

Standalone, the charity supporting people who are estranged, offers an advice centre for prospective university students, providing information about support, finances and accommodation options.