Our application form is available on this page until the closing date.

In-person audition places are limited so we recommend early submission of your application to guarantee your preferred audition date/time. We are unable to guarantee an in-person audition if places become full before the closing dates.

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

Our application form asks for:

1. Personal details
2. Place of academic education & Qualifications
3. Audition Link (if auditioning by video)
4. Place of dance education
5. Headshot photo
6. Personal statement (up to 500 words)
7. Equality & Diversity information

Please read our application guidance below for more detailed information:

> READ APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email from admissions@nscd.ac.uk and be asked to either:

a) book your audition, subject to availability (if auditioning in person) and pay the application fee of £20

b) pay the application fee (if auditioning by video)

Applications without payment will not be processed.

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

Application fee waivers

Application fee waivers are available to applicants from low-income households (under £25,000 annual household income).

If you meet the above criteria and would like to be considered for a fee waiver, please tick the relevant box when completing the application form. The Admissions Team will then be in touch to issue you with a code to use when booking your audition and/or paying the application fee, once they have checked your application.

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 NSCD Admissions Team regarding the fee, please feel welcome to contact us.

• Wednesday 5 April 2023 | 13:30 – 16:30

NSCD auditions are designed to give you a taste of what we offer in our training.  The audition includes technical and creative sessions, led by NSCD staff and supported by student demonstrators.

1. Ice-breaker/Improvisation session

Games & short tasks to help you relax, feel at ease and get to know the group. This is also an opportunity for you to show your individuality in response to specific improvisation tasks that focus on exploring quality/texture of movement. 

2. Technical Practices session

A combination of pre-learnt and unseen exercises/phrases. You will need to learn these two movement phrases ahead of your audition. These will be repeated in this session, along with additional phrases taught on the day. All phrases incorporate a mix of styles, drawing on a range of dance forms. If you wish to be considered for both CertHE pathways please learn  these two movement phrases also.

3. Creative/Choreography group task

Using material from the previous Technical Practices session, and the earlier Improvisation session, you will work in small groups to create a short piece of choreography.

4. Group discussion

We’ll ask you to reflect on the Creative/Choreography group task and discuss your ambitions and reasons for applying to NSCD. 

Watch our YOUTUBE SERIES for what to expect

For information: Applicants for the CertHE Contemporary and Cultural Dance Forms pathways attend the same audition, but will be given an opportunity to share their work on the pre-learnt movement phrases specific to each pathway in the Technical Practices session. If an applicant has stated they wish to be considered for both pathways, you will be given the opportunity to share your work on all the phrases you have learnt.

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 two set movement phrases PLUS one additional movement phrase of your choice – this can be in any style to demonstrate your individuality and ability. Further guidance included below
• Verbal discussion (max 4 mins) record your response to the previous tasks and your reasons for wanting to train at NSCD

> 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 in potential students? 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

Please note: Video submissions are viewed alongside in-person auditions, so video auditions will be considered at each audition point in December, February and April. Therefore video applicants will receive an outcome at the same time as in-person applicants, so it is dependent on when video applicants apply as to when they will hear the outcome.

Feedback can be requested and will be provided once the audition and offer process is complete. 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.