Scholarships & Bursaries

Find out about our scholarships and bursaries.

Open Days

Leeds Conservatoire provides a range of additional Scholarships and Bursaries, to ensure that no applicant is deterred from applying for financial reasons.

If you have any queries please contact us via email: studentfunding@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk

Audition Travel Costs Bursary for Applicants

Audition fees are no longer charged for any Undergraduate or Postgraduate course at Leeds Conservatoire to make our courses accessible to as many applicants as possible.

We provide financial assistance to applicants from the following backgrounds:

  • lower income households (income less than £25,000)
  • underrepresented Ethnically Diverse or Minoritized Communities

This is to ensure that no one is deterred from attending an audition or interview at the conservatoire due to their background or cost.

If you would like to apply for a refund of your travel costs, please complete our Audition Travel Refund form here.

Accommodation Start-up Fund for Applicants

An accommodation start up grant worth £100 for essential items, is available to applicants starting their course in September 2023, who have been receiving benefits or are estranged from their family. Applications will open late June 2023 for applicants who will be starting their studies in September 2023.

Leeds Conservatoire Bursary

The conservatoire will provide a cash bursary for lower income Home (UK) students, as follows:

Students who commence their first year of study in 2023

  • Household income: £0-£25,000
  • Bursary: £800
  • Household income: £25,001-£42,875
  • Bursary: £400

The information about the household income is obtained from the financial assessment which is undertaken in order to receive the income assessed part of the maintenance loan, so you must have applied for income assessed student finance in order to be eligible. 

Applicants will not need to undergo another means test. The bursary will be paid in 2 instalments, 50% in November, 50% in March.

How do I apply for the bursary?
You do not need to apply for the Bursary – we will calculate your entitlement automatically. Leeds Conservatoire reserves the right to review and change bursary provision.

Leeds Conservatoire Postgraduate Progression Scholarship

15 scholarships are available to alumni who have an offer of a place on a MA course at Leeds Conservatoire and belong to one or more of our underrepresented groups, will be automatically awarded a 10% discount on tuition fees. This is an additional 10% discount to your alumni discount, which means you will receive a total of 20% discount on the full price of your course.

See more details about the Leeds Conservatoire Postgraduate Progression Scholarship.

The Leverhulme Trust Arts Scholarship 2023

Generous support from the Leverhulme Trust has enabled us to provide 12 scholarships, to help towards living costs, for exceptional UK students, for the first year of study on the following courses:

Eligible Courses

BA (Hons) Music (Jazz)

BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting)

BA (Hons) Music (Folk)

How do I apply for the scholarship?

When you receive an offer from Leeds Conservatoire, complete this online application form. The form should take around 5 minutes to complete. See below for closing dates. Awards are subject to the provision and conditions of funding from the Leverhulme Trust and may change.

Eligibility

  • Be eligible to pay the home rate of fees.
  • Songwriting Scholarship  - household income of £25,000 or less. This must be assessed by Student Finance England or equivalent funding agency.
  • Potential identified at audition and interview.

Closing Date*

Jazz Scholarship: 3rd  March 2023
Folk Scholarship: 31st  May 2023
Songwriting Scholarship: 31st  May 2023

*Please note if no successful applicants are identified applications will re-open.

The Alan Hawkshaw Foundation Scholarship

Three scholarships of £1,500 per year are awarded to support gifted students on the conservatoire’s Classical and Jazz undergraduate programmes.

The award is open to all instruments, however selection may be partially on the basis of instruments in short supply so we especially welcome applications from instruments such as (but not exclusively): Trombone, tuba, bassoon, French horn, oboe, double bass, Violin and Viola, although this may vary each year.

Alan Hawkshaw was a successful composer of television and film scores. The Alan Hawkshaw Foundation has been established to put investment back into the industry by supporting gifted musicians and provide young musicians with opportunities they would otherwise not have access to.

How do I apply for the scholarship?

When you receive an offer from Leeds Conservatoire, complete this online application form. The form will take about 5 minutes to complete. See below for closing date. Awards are subject to the provision and conditions of funding from the Alan Hawkshaw Foundation and may change.

Eligibility

  • Potential identified at audition and interview
  • Priority will be given to applicants whose principal instrument is in short supply
  • Priority will be given to those from the lowest income households

Closing Date*

3rd March 2023

*Please note if no successful applicants are identified applications will re-open.

The Reuben Vincent Trombone Scholarship

The Reuben Vincent Trombone Scholarship supports up to two student trombone players annually, studying at Leeds Conservatoire.

Each scholar is awarded £2500 to either purchase a new instrument, or to support them financially throughout their studies.

Reuben Vincent was an accomplished jazz trombonist who played professionally. He qualified as a physiotherapist, later entering into sales and marketing with medical companies before founding his own manufacturing company in 1974.

His wife, Carole, wishes him to be remembered for his enduring love of jazz, his great sense of humour and powerful personality, as well as being a highly successful businessman, with this scholarship. As such, she has endowed the conservatoire with the Reuben Vincent Trombone Scholarship.

How do I apply for the scholarship?

When you receive an offer from Leeds Conservatoire, complete this online application form. The form will take about 5 minutes to complete. See below for closing date. Awards are subject to the provision and conditions of funding from Medasil and may change.

Closing Date*

3rd March 2023

*Please note if no successful applicants are identified applications will re-open.

Leeds Cathedral Scholarships

Four choral scholarships, one choral conducting scholarship and one organ scholarship, are available to undergraduates on any pathway.  

Scholars are paid £1,000 and up to an additional £500 for extra events. 

How do I apply for the scholarship?
The award is by application and audition during enrolment week.  Read more about Leeds Cathedral choirs here.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship (BA Musical Theatre)

One Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to support a gifted home student facing cultural, social or economic barriers on the conservatoire’s three year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre programme. The scholarship provides:

  • Full tuition fees for the duration of the course
  • £750 per year of the course to cover living costs

Awards are based on merit and financial need.

How do I apply for the scholarship?

Suitable candidates will be identified after enrolment and invited to apply.

Additional Sources of Funding

There are many charities and trusts that give additional funding to students in various circumstances.   

The Scholarship Hub and the charity turn2us have search engines on their websites with some great tips so start looking early to ensure you can apply in good time. You can also find some ideas and tips on the Save the Student  website.

National Youth Arts Trust offer music, dance and drama bursaries of up to £1,000 each for UK students who receive Pupil Premium and/or Free School Meals, or whose household receive state benefits.

Open Days

Find out what it's like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to one of our Open Days. 

As well as talks and tours specific to the courses you're interested in, you can also chat to our staff and students.

Plus, get immediate access to our On-Demand Open Day.

Open Days
Ahead of graduating @tashadmusouk is making their professional debut in Vernons Girls at @RoyalCourtLiv from 9 June… https://t.co/dXWt7jVMkI
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