You are required to create an account via our online application portal Quercus to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence. 

Our application form asks for the following: 

1. Personal details 
2. Place of education  
3. Qualifications  
4. CV and Showreel – you can find showreel guidance here
5. Equality and Diversity information

Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email from admissions@nscd.ac.uk and be asked to book your audition, subject to availability, and pay the application fee of £20.  

Applications without payment will not be processed.  

The application fee is a one-off payment of £20 and covers the cost of processing applications.

Instructions on how to make payment will be included in your confirmation email.

We are unable to process your application until we have received payment.

If you are applying for more than one course please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk and you will be issued with a code to use at checkout to ensure you only pay the application fee once.

Leeds
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
98 Chapeltown Road
Leeds
LS7 4BH

• Monday 16 February 2026 | 9:00 – 17:00 
• Tuesday 17 February 2026 | 9:00 – 17:00 

London
Studio Wayne McGregor
Broadcast Centre, Here East
10 East Bay Lane
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
London
E15 2GW 

• Saturday 07 February 2026 | 10.00 – 18.00 

Saturday 07 February 2026

Stage 1 

• 9.30-9.55 | Sign in and warm up 
• 10.00-11.30 | Gaga into centre ballet 
• 11.30-12.30 | Contemporary technique movement phrases 

Break 

• 12.45-13.45 | Repertoire 1 from VERVE
• 13.45-14.30 | Creative session 

Lunch (Applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted to stay for Stage 2) 

Stage 2 

• 15.30-16.30 | Repertoire 2 from VERVE 
• 16.30-17.30 | Devising session 
• 17.30-18.00 | Closing chat 

The creative session concludes the audition and is an opportunity for you to show us your full range of skills. You are encouraged to work creatively and individually on a task whilst integrating your personal qualities, including any other dance styles, text or use of voice. 

Monday 16 February 2026  

Stage 1 

• 9.00-10.30 | Gaga into centre ballet 
• 10.30-11.30 | Contemporary technique movement phrases 

Break 

• 11.45-12.45 | Repertoire 1 from VERVE 
• 12.45-13.30 | Creative session 

Lunch (Applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted to stay for Stage 2) 

Stage 2 

• 14.30-15.30 | Repertoire 2 from VERVE 
• 15.30-16.30 | Devising session 
• 16.30-17.00 | Closing chat 

Tuesday 17 February  

Stage 1 

• 9.00-10:30 | Gaga into centre ballet 
• 10.30-11.30 | Contemporary technique movement phrases 

Break 

• 11.45-12.45 | Repertoire 1 from VERVE 
• 12.45-13.30 | Creative session 

Lunch (Applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted to stay for Stage 2) 

Stage 2 

• 14.30-15.30 | Repertoire 2 from VERVE 
• 15.30-16.30 | Devising session 
• 16.30-17.00 | Closing chat 

Following the recall auditions, applicants will be notified if they have been selected for an interview. If shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview on one of the following dates: 

• 18 Feb 2026 
• 19 Feb 2026 
• 20 Feb 2026 

VERVE Artistic Director and Programme Lead, Matteo Marfoglia notes:

“VERVE is looking for students with curiosity and openness in embodying a diverse range of approaches which challenge the artform of contemporary dance. Students should demonstrate an enthusiasm for working within a company setting with a collaborative and supportive approach towards themselves and other members of the company.”

Visit the course page for entry requirements.

• All applicants from Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be notified as to whether they have been shortlisted or not.
• Offers for MA Contemporary Dance Performance (VERVE) are made following Stage 3 Interviews
• Applicants who are not made offers following the interview will receive either a Shortlist or Unsuccessful Outcome
• All candidates have 3 weeks from receipt of an offer in which to make a decision. This timeframe may change later in the Admissions cycle, i.e. if we need to make further offers in the summer.
• Shortlisted candidates who are not initially offered a place after their auditions are placed on our reserve list with potential further offers being made over the following weeks. We cannot guarantee when and if we are able to make further offers.

Important

If you have applied for more than one course at NSCD and receive an offer for one course and choose to accept this, your application would automatically be withdrawn from the other courses/you would be removed from any shortlists you might be on.

There is a procedure in place for candidates to ask for feedback in relation to the audition process and a complaints policy surrounding admissions once the audition and offer process is complete. This information is available on here.

Please note: Due to high applicant numbers, we are unable to provide detailed feedback, but we do provide a standard feedback format which is designed to give applicants an indication of how the panel scored their audition.

You are required to create an account via our online application portal Quercus to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence.

Our application form asks for the following: 

1. Personal details 
2. Place of education  
3. Qualifications  
4. CV and Showreel – you can find showreel guidance here
5. Equality and Diversity information

Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email from admissions@nscd.ac.uk and be asked to book your audition, subject to availability, and pay the application fee of £20.  

Applications without payment will not be processed.  

The application fee is a one-off payment of £20 and covers the cost of processing applications.

Instructions on how to make payment will be included in your confirmation email.

We are unable to process your application until we have received payment.

If you are applying for more than one course please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk and you will be issued with a code to use at checkout to ensure you only pay the application fee once.

Applicants are only required to submit the below material if they are shortlisted from Stage 1. Applicants will be informed if they have been shortlisted to submit the below material on 31st January 2026 and will need to submit this by 7th February 2026.  

Please prepare your Stage 2 video in the event you are shortlisted.  

Important: In cases where the Stage 1 submission meets the criteria for Stage 2 the panel may progress the applicant to the Stage 3 interview, without the need to provide Stage 2 material. 

• Improvisation (max 3 minutes): During your improvisation video, take the opportunity to play with dynamics, levels and the range of your physicality from detailed work to full embodiment exploration. This is not a set choreographic exercise but rather just a filming in the studio where you show us a range of your movement possibilities and styles. This should be your own work.  

• Technical Work – Contemporary (2 exercises, max 5 minutes): Specific technical work is required to be learnt using this link and filmed as part of your video audition. 

• Technical Work – Ballet (2 exercises, max 5 minutes): Specific technical work is required to be learnt using this link and filmed as part of your video audition. 

• Verbal Personal Statement (max 3 minutes): Tell us about yourself, your background and why you are applying for postgraduate study at NSCD.

Following the recall auditions, applicants will be notified by NSCD admissions team if they have been selected for an interview. If shortlisted, applicants will be invited to an online interview on one of the following dates: 

• 18 Feb 2026 
• 19 Feb 2026 
• 20 Feb 2026 

VERVE Artistic Director and Programme Lead Matteo Marfoglia notes:

“VERVE is looking for students with curiosity and openness in embodying a diverse range of approaches which challenge the artform of contemporary dance. Students should demonstrate an enthusiasm for working within a company setting with a collaborative and supportive approach towards themselves and other members of the company.”

Visit the course page for entry requirements.

• Stage 1 applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for the Stage 2 audition. 
• Stage 2 applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for the Stage 3 interview. 
• Shortlisted applicants will be informed if they have been successful or not. 
• All candidates have 3 weeks from receipt of an offer in which to decide. This timeframe may change during the Admissions cycle, i.e. if we make offers later in the summer. 

Important 

If you have applied for more than one course at NSCD and receive an offer for one course and choose to accept this, your application would automatically be withdrawn from the other courses/you would be removed from any shortlists you might be on. 

There is a procedure in place for candidates to ask for feedback in relation to the audition process and a complaints policy surrounding admissions once the audition and offer process is complete. This information is available on here.

Please note: Due to high applicant numbers, we are unable to provide detailed feedback, but we do provide a standard feedback format which is designed to give applicants an indication of how the panel scored their audition.