Supported Application Scheme
Our Supported Application Scheme offers a free application, workshops, advice and guidance, invitations to performances and travel bursaries for auditions to eligible undergraduate applicants.
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2024 entry
2026 entry
Supported Application Scheme for 2026 entry
Applications for the Supported Application Scheme have now closed for 2026 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 2026 entry.
Eligibility and Application
All successful applicants to the scheme will receive:
- A free application for the undergraduate course they are applying to
- Invitations to workshops and events, both online and at the School
- 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
- Travel booked by our team if travelling to an on-site audition from outside of Greater London
In addition:
- Music offer-holders on the Scheme may receive one funded consultation lesson
- Production Arts applicants on the Scheme will receive one free ticket to a theatre show local to them - the team will liaise with them directly about this
- Where an offer is made, support with scholarship applications and transition to the School will be offered
- Scheme participants who enrol at the School in September 2026 will receive a £400 Access Start-up Fund award, to help them buy anything they need to start their studies (providing they also apply for a relevant Student Loan and Guildhall Financial Awards).
To be eligible for the 2026 Supported Application Scheme, you must:
- have no previous experience of university*
- be applying for a Guildhall School undergraduate programme.
- be UK-Domiciled and a resident of the UK, or have evidence that you have leave to remain as an asylum seeker or refugee.
*if you had started a university course, but completed less than one year of this, please contact the Access and Participation Team to discuss. Level 4 foundation programmes are exempt from this.
You must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
1.You are a Care Leaver or care-experienced person.
2. Your household income is £35,000 or below.
3. Your household income is between £35,001 - £43,000 and one of the following also applies to you:
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You are applying for a Music degree programme.
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You have a Greater London postcode.
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You have a home postcode classified as Quintile 1 or 2 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).
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You have recognised Young Carer status.
4. You have participated in Guildhall Access & Participation activity in the last 2 years. This includes:
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Get Backstage
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Glasshouse to Guildhall
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GYA Access Bursary
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Monologue Bootcamp
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Open Door
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Originate
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Participation Bursary
Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found in the detailed instructions for applicants in the further information section of this webpage.
Applications for the Supported Application Scheme for 2026 entry have now opened.
You apply for the Supported Application Scheme using this form.
- You should read the instructions for applicants before submitting an application.
- You must apply 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.
| Programme/pathway | Deadline for receipt of referrals for application fee waivers (midday) | Undergraduate application deadlines are as follows (4.30pm) |
|---|---|---|
| BMus Classical and Jazz programmes | Tuesday 30 September 2025 | Thursday 2 October 2025 |
| BMus Electronic + Produced Music | Monday 22 December 2025 | Monday 5 January 2026 |
| BA Acting | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
| BA Production Arts – Stage Management | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
| BA Production Arts – Theatre Technology | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
| BA Production Arts – Design Realisation | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
| BA Production Arts – Costume | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
| BA Performance Design | Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
- 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.
- Places on the Supported Application Scheme are in high demand, particularly for the Acting course. We ask that all applicants to the Scheme are seriously pursuing their application to Guildhall School, and intend to engage in the Scheme as much as possible.
Detailed guidance can be found in the below instructions for applicants:
2026 Entry - Instructions for Applicants.pdf
You can also find the Guildhall School’s policy on the Supported Application Scheme below:
Supported Application Scheme 2026 Policy - Final.pdf
What our participants say
I have not seen this type of support being offered by any other school I have applied to and am very grateful to Guildhall for trying to give opportunities to people who would usually feel unsupported in this process.
(2022 participant)
(2022 participant)
The Supported Application Scheme […] is a lifeline for someone in my position. As a woman of colour from a working class background, you don’t often have access to guidance and support of this quality and volume.
(2022 participant)
(2022 participant)
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.
(2021 participant)
Talking and interacting with graduates and teachers on the courses has been amazing and incredibly helpful.
(2021 participant)
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.
(2020 participant)
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.
(2020 participant)
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.
(2020 participant)
(2020 participant)
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Contact Us
More information & contact
You can contact our Access and Participation Team for more information about the scheme and if you have any questions.
You can also chat to the team by clicking on the cards below.
