Before you apply

Places on all our courses are offered after successful application and audition or interview.

All our offers are conditional until we have received the relevant entry requirements as specified in your offer letter.

All Entry Requirements can be found on the Course Pages.

The academic qualifications we require from you are equivalent to those required for UK students.

These are likely to be either:

• a school leavers certificate if applying for an undergraduate course

or

• an undergraduate degree if applying for a postgraduate course.

At the point of an offer the NSCD admissions team check your qualifications with ENIC to confirm equivalence.  You do not need to submit this qualification with your application or before your audition but if you are offered a place it will be conditional upon you submitting it by the end of the academic year; usually by June/mid-July at the latest.

Please ensure your academic qualification documents are translated into English.

If you have any questions regarding academic qualifications please get in touch via admissions@nscd.ac.uk 

Places on all our courses are offered after successful application and audition or interview.  All our offers are conditional upon receipt of the relevant Academic and English Language entry requirements for the specific course.

If your first language is not English you will need meet the minimum English language entry requirements in order to enrol on any of our courses. This is set at CEFR level B2 for undergraduate courses and high B2 or C1 for postgraduate courses.

This usually means passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider; IELTS for UKVI, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT or PTE Academic UKVI.

As NSCD is a Higher Education Provider (HEP) we can assess your level of English through an alternative qualification providing it meets the required level. This is assessed on a case by case basis.

To enrol on an undergraduate course your English language qualification must be equivalent to the examples below:

IELTS for UKVI with an overall band of 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in each component skill.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT with 33 – 38 score per skill.

To enrol on a postgraduate course your English language qualification must be equivalent to the examples below:

IELTS for UKVI with an overall band of 6.0 with no less than 6 in Reading and Writing and no less than 5.5 in Speaking and Listening.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT with 33– 37 per skill for Reading and Writing, 25-32 per skill for Speaking and Listening. 38 – 50 per skill to achieve 6.5 across all skills.

You may find this webpage useful: IELTS | Compare IELTS

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of the following countries, or are from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA. 

• You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you proved your level of English in a previous visa application. 

• In certain countries English subjects studied at school are comparable to B2 standard, provided these subjects have been taken and successfully passed in the final examinations with the required grades where stated. If you are offered a conditional place, after your audition, qualifications that you have gained, including grades that you believe are comparable to the B2 level should be submitted to the admissions team for them to check with UK ENIC (The UK National Information Centre, previously known as UK NARIC). You will then be notified whether you are exempt from taking additional English language tests for entry. Equally, if you studied/are studying recognised qualifications in English at an International School, or took a GCSE English as a first or second language, you may be exempt. 

Yes, NSCD accept IELTS Online: IELTS | IELTS Online

Yes, NSCD accept the IELTS One Skill Retake: IELTS | One Skill Retake 

If English is your second language and you are studying the MA Professional Dance Pedagogy, or MA Teaching and Facilitating (Creative Subjects), you need to meet the postgraduate English Language criteria listed above. Exemption guidelines set out above apply here. 

You need to submit a bank statement showing you have enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months) as stated in your conditional offer letter. 

The funds must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before the application. 

You have enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months).  

Personal bank or savings accounts that allow immediate access are accepted. Business or corporate accounts are generally not allowed. 

Funds must be in an account controlled by the applicant, parent(s), or legal guardian(s). If using parent/guardian funds, you must provide a birth certificate or adoption certificate, plus a letter from them confirming you can use their funds. 

No, you do not need to provide financial evidence. 

Applying for a Student Route Visa is only relevant once you have:

1. Attended in-person audition or submitted a video audition
2. Received a Conditional Offer
3. Submitted Entry Requirements (listed in your offer letter)
4. Received an Unconditional Offer from the Access & Admissions Manager, which includes your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Study)

Apply for a Student Route Visa using this link: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply-online (You will need your CAS to apply along with other documents as listed on the website)

Once you have received an outcome from UKVI regarding your Student Route Visa you must do the following:

1. Email NSCD with your ShareCode to prove your Visa Status.
2. Read and complete the Student Visa Responsibilities Declaration.
3. Book your accommodation and travel arrangements.

Once you have got your Visa you can enter the UK on or after the start date as stated on your Visa.

You must not enter as a tourist with the view to switch to your student visa internally as this will cause complications.

When travelling to the UK ensure you bring any documentation (paper or digital) with you in case you need to present this to Border Control.

Once you have arrived in the UK you must send send your flight ticket/boarding pass to NSCD

NSCD will be in touch with you about Induction Week and Enrolment.

All Overseas students are required to apply for a Student Route Visa unless they have a British Passport, Right to Remain (or another  immigration status which allows you to live, study and work in the UK without restriction) or EU Pre-Settled or Settled Status.

If you are unsure whether you need a visa or not you can check here.

NSCD requires all students who are on a Visa to be Over 18 at the start of their course.

This includes CertHE applicants.

For more information on the EU Settlement Scheme please see the link: EU Settlement Scheme

If you are offered a place on one of our courses at NSCD you will be asked to provide confirmation of your settled or pre-settled status as evidence that you are not required to apply for a Student Route Visa. You will be asked to provide your EUSS Share Code.

Current holders of a Student Route Visa will need to apply for a new Student Visa to start a new course in the UK. Your new course will need to lead to a higher level qualification than your last course to show the required progression.

UK companies which are part of MA Professional Placement Scheme in Dance are only open to Home Students (British National, Right to Remain) and those with either EU Pre-Settled or Settled Status due to Visa restrictions.

Overseas companies which are part of MA Professional Placement Scheme in Dance are open to all.

You will receive your CAS, alongside your Unconditional Offer letter, once NSCD have received all entry requirements which can include: 

• Academic entry requirements – these may not be available until after you have completed your current studies 

• Financial evidence 

• English Language Entry Requirements 

• Current passport or other valid travel documentation 

You will also need to ensure you have paid your Acceptance Administration Fee and Course Fee Deposit. See here for more info: Fees & Finance 

If you are offered a place on any of our courses at NSCD the Admissions Team will support your transition to enrolment by guiding you through the Student Visa process and helping you find local accommodation.

Throughout your course our dedicated Student Services Team provide a full range of support which includes Health and Well-being support, Injury support and English Language support. You will find out more information about these services during the Induction Week.

Further information is available at: Student Life

The UK government has introduced a restriction that refuses visas for people applying for certain UK visas on specific routes and for specific nationalities. This is known as a visa brake.

Currently this brake applies to Student visa applications made outside the UK from main applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan

For information please see: Visa brake: changes to the UK visa system – GOV.UK

If you have a British or Irish passport you do not need a Student Route Visa to study in the UK. Please let Admissions know that you have dual citizenship/nationality and make sure to send over copies of all passports. If you are unsure whether you need a Student Route Visa please email admissions@nscd.ac.uk 

For information on Dual Citizenship see here: Dual citizenship – GOV.UK

If you currently hold a Student visa for a different institution, you cannot use that visa to study at NSCD. A Student visa allows you to study a course with a particular sponsor only. If you wish to make your new student visa application for NSCD inside the UK, you can only start your course after obtaining the new digital e-visa showing NSCD’s sponsor licence number or having provided evidence of submitting an in-time application for a new student visa for NSCD.

If you have already completed a course at NSCD and are continuing to a further course of study here, in line with Home Office policy you must apply for a new Student visa within six weeks of the official new course start date or before your current permission expires, whichever is earlier. You must provide evidence to NSCD which confirms you have submitted your new visa application.

Change over to the new UK eVisa system

The UK’s eVisa system is a digital alternative to traditional physical documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and visa stickers. It aims to streamline the immigration process, improve security, and align with global digital trends. Here’s a brief overview of the eVisa system for overseas students:

• Digital Access: The eVisa is an electronic record of your immigration status, accessible online through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
• Security: Unlike physical documents, eVisas cannot be lost, stolen, or forged, providing better protection for your immigration status.
• Convenience: The eVisa allows you to view and prove your permission to be in the UK online, making it easier to manage your immigration status.
• Financial Requirements: International students must provide updated evidence of financial capability to cover living expenses.
• Transition Timeline: The eVisa system is being rolled out, with a grace period until March 2025 for those transitioning to the new digital platform.

For a smooth transition, students should create a UKVI account and verify their identity online. The eVisa will help students show their immigration status to employers, educational institutions, and landlords, providing a more secure and convenient way to manage their stay in the UK.  You can only create a UKVI account once your visa application has been approved.

For more details on the eVisa, visit the UK government’s eVisa page.

What should applicants do now?

Whether you’re a prospective student preparing to arrive in September or a current student already in the UK, transitioning to an eVisa is straightforward:

Set Up a UKVI Account:

This account is where you’ll access and manage your eVisa. Once your visa is approved go to the following link to set up your UKVI account eVisas: access and use your online immigration status: Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa – GOV.UK

Verify Your Identity:

Use the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app to confirm your identity and link your eVisa to your UKVI account.

Access and Share Your eVisa:

Once verified, you can view your visa details online, share your status with landlords, employers, and educational institutions, and update your information as needed.

Click here to watch a useful step-by-step guide on how to create your UKVI account and access your eVisa.

Pre-enrolment on your course

You will need to provide evidence of your immigration status to NSCD once you arrive in the UK and before you start your studies. You will also need to provide evidence of when you entered the UK. NSCD will ask you to provide a copy or screenshot of your boarding pass.

Instructions will be sent to you by the Quality Office prior to you starting your studies.

ACTION: Send the Quality Office a copy/screenshot of your boarding pass

ACTION: If your passport expired and you have a new passport between applying for the course and arrival in the UK, please send the Quality Office a copy of your new passport.

Enrolment on your course

In the early part of registration and induction week we are required to prove that we have seen you and received all up-to-date information governing your right to study in the UK. Please communicate with NSCD as soon as possible if there are any unexpected delays to you attending NSCD or entering the UK.

ACTION: Submit your online Enrolment (will be sent out by the Quality Office in September), and confirm your UK contact details. NOTE: returning students in subsequent years must also complete the enrolment form and update their details.

ACTION: Present your new passport (if relevant) and send your eVisa sharecode to the Quality Office eVisas: access and use your online immigration status: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status – GOV.UK (for verifying and updating your student record)