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 academic education and place of dance education (if any)
3. Application questions (up to 250 words per answer):
   – What are your future dance ambitions?
   – What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
   – What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
4. Headshot photo (passport style is accepted – it doesn’t have to be a professional headshot)
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 supports processing applications and auditions. 

Application fee waivers are available to applicants from low-income households (under £25,000 annual household income). If you meet these criteria the Admissions Team will review your application and be in touch with a code to use at checkout. 

If you are unsure about the criteria listed above or have any questions regarding this, please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk.  

Additionally, if you do not meet these criteria but would like to speak with our Admissions Team regarding the fee, please feel welcome to contact us.

• Monday 8 December  
• Tuesday 9 December  
• Monday 16 February 
• Tuesday 17 February 
• Wednesday 18 February 
• Thursday 19 February 
• Monday 13 April 
• Tuesday 14 April 

For those applying for Street Dance Styles pathway then you must attend the Tuesday 14 April only please. This is so we can include the Street Dance movement phrases in the Technical Practices Session.  

In-person auditions take place here at NSCD, 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH. 

• 10.30-11.30 | Intro, Icebreaker, Improvisation 

Break 

• 11.45-13.00 | Contemporary Technique / Street Dance Styles (depending on pathway)

Lunch 

• 13.45-14.15 | Ballet  

• 14.15-14.45 | Afro-fusion  

Break 

• 15.00-15.30 | Group Choreography 

• 15.30-16.00 | Discussion 

Places are awarded to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to benefit from the course, regardless of previous dance experience. The audition panel assesses your physical potential, performance ability and creativity, as well as critical thinking and reflective engagement. 

See What is NSCD looking for? for more information

Visit the course page for entry requirements.

We aim to let successful candidates know the outcome of their audition within 2-3 weeks. 

All auditionees receive one of the following: 

• An offer (with 3 weeks in which to accept) 
• A place on the shortlist 
• No offer 

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 academic education and place of dance education (if any)
3. Application questions (up to 250 words per answer):
   – What are your future dance ambitions?
   – What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
   – What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
4. Headshot photo (passport style is accepted – it doesn’t have to be a professional headshot)
5. Equality and Diversity information 
6. Include a link to your recorded video footage
7. Pay the £20 application fee to confirm your application

Please read our application guidance below for more detailed information: To be added – application guidance Canva doc 

The application fee is a one-off payment of £20 and supports processing applications and auditions. 

Application fee waivers are available to applicants from low-income households (under £25,000 annual household income). If you meet these criteria the Admissions Team will review your application and be in touch with a code to use at checkout.

If you are unsure about the criteria listed above or have any questions regarding this, please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk.  

Additionally, if you do not meet these criteria but would like to speak with our Admissions Team regarding the fee, please feel welcome to contact us 

Video auditions should be provided as a single YouTube or Vimeo link as part of your application. Please include the following in your video: 

• Creative/Improvisation task (2 minutes): Record yourself doing the creative task detailed in the guidance below 
• Technical Practices task (max 2 minutes): Record yourself doing the relevant movement phrases below plus one additional movement phrase of your choice e.g. Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, Break Dance, Vogueing, House etc. to offer the chance to demonstrate individuality and skills. 
  – CertHE Dance: phrases 
• Verbal discussion (max 4 minutes): Record your response to the previous tasks and your reasons for wanting to train at NSCD 

For more details about the tasks please view our Video Audition Guidance

Places are awarded to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to benefit from the course, regardless of previous dance experience. The audition panel assesses your physical potential, performance ability and creativity, as well as critical thinking and reflective engagement. 

See What is NSCD looking for? for more information

Visit the course page for entry requirements.

Video audition outcomes will be received by successful candidates during either January, March or April 2026.

All auditionees receive one of the following: 

• An offer (with 3 weeks in which to accept) 
• A place on the shortlist 
• No offer 

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 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.