UCAS Conservatoires: finance and support
Not sure how to pay for your performance-based course, or how you’ll cope during your studies? Don’t worry, there’s a range of support available.
Student finance
Higher education is a big investment, so you may need a student or career development loan – which you’re advised to apply for three months before your course starts. You might be eligible for additional funding from other organisations too.
- How much an undergraduate course costs and how to get finance and funding
- How much a postgraduate course costs and how to get finance and funding
- How to repay your loan after your course
Student support
Conservatoires can offer support in many ways – from any worries or anxieties you have to issues with accommodation, student visas, impairments, or care leavers.
- Use your students’ union to join socials, activities and societies
- Get support for worries or concerns about conservatoire life
- Help with auditions – Open Door is a non-profit organisation that helps talented applicants from London and the East Midlands with financial support and resources.
Individual needs
Conservatoires have different ways they can support you in higher education – see our support for individual needs section.
You might need to arrange a student visa to study in the UK.
- If so, you’ll need to prove your English language skills, and make an application through UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- Your conservatoire will help you to apply, and you can enter your passport details here on ucas.com when you fill in your application or after you have submitted it.
If you have a physical or mental health condition, learning difference, or long-term illness, you can let the conservatoire know on your application. However, it's a good idea to contact them directly to discuss your support needs as early as possible – even before sending your application.
If you're a refugee or asylum seeker applying to higher education, there's support available to help you with finance and your studies.
It's a good idea to contact conservatoires before you apply, to discuss what support they can offer you. This will depend on your circumstances, and you will need to let them know your refugee status.
If you have any concerns about starting your conservatoire course, just make sure you’re prepared.
- Make a schedule and arrange any childcare you need.
- Ask for help if there are any skills you need to update.
- Take time to settle in and talk to other students and support staff.
If you're applying for student finance through Student Finance England or Wales
If you are an independent student and you're estranged from your parents, you can find information about support, financing your studies and accommodation options in the StandAlone student guide.
There’s plenty of support in higher education for care-experienced students – with finances and accommodation, as well as help with settling in to your new surroundings.