Fees and Financial Support

With effect from 1 August 2022, the School’s registered Higher Education provider is the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). All BOVTS students are covered by UWE Bristol’s fees policy. For further information, please see the School policies and procedures page.

There is an application fee of £25 for BA (Hons) Professional Acting. Please note that all application fees are non-refundable.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is pleased to be able to offer a number of free audition places via its fee waiver scheme. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

You are a current UK resident
You have no previous degree qualification
You have an annual household income of less than £25,000 before tax

Fee waivers are processed on a first-come basis, so you are advised to apply early.

The fund closes to applications on Monday 20th February 2023, but may close earlier if funds are exhausted before this date.

You should apply for your fee waiver before submitting your application.

Please click this link to apply for the fee waiver: https://fs6.formsite.com/CtgtAs/2vjl7skkt7/index.html

If you apply before Friday 10^th February 2023, we will endeavour to give you a decision by Friday 17^th February 2023.
Last date to apply by is Monday 20^th February 2023, we will endeavour to give you a decision by Friday 24th February 2023.

Applications for this course will close completely at 4pm (GMT) on Tuesday 28th February 2023

Undergraduate – BA (Hons) and FdA Courses

UK Students

• The annual tuition fee for UK undergraduate students commencing their studies in 2023 will be £9,250. This includes students from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

International Students

• The tuition fee for international (non UK) students on our undergraduate courses will be £22,050 per year.

Postgraduate – MA and MFA Courses

UK Students

• Tuition fees for UK students on a 38-week (one year) course will be £11,700

International Students

• Tuition fees for the 40-week MFA Professional Acting for International Students will be £27,000
• Tuition fees for international students (non-UK) on a 38-week (one year) course will be £26,000

Tuition fees are liable to increase in each subsequent year and these increases will be in line with UK Government policy.

ⓘ Please note that from 2021 entry onwards, EU students are considered as international fee payers. Permanent Irish residents will be classed as ‘home’ student status as a result of the Common Travel Area agreement and are not liable for international fees.

Undergraduate – BA (Hons) and FdA Courses

UK Students

• The annual tuition fee for UK undergraduate students commencing their studies in 2022 will be £9,250. This includes students from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

International Students

• The tuition fee for international (non UK) students on our undergraduate technical courses, will be £22,050 per year.

Postgraduate – MA and MFA Courses

UK Students

• Tuition fees for UK students on a 38-week (one year) course will be £11,400

International Students

• Tuition fees for the 40-week MFA Professional Acting for International Students will be £26,510
• Tuition fees for international students (non-UK) on a 38-week (one year) course will be £25,500

Tuition fees are liable to increase in each subsequent year and these increases will be in line with UK Government policy.

ⓘ Please note that from 2021 entry onwards, EU students will be considered as international fee payers. Permanent Irish residents will be classed as ‘home’ student status as a result of the Common Travel Area agreement and are not liable for international fees.

Are you eligible for government support?

Most of our students on undergraduate courses are funding their courses through student loans.

If you are a UK student, in addition to tuition fee support, you can also apply for funding towards your living costs, and the amount available to you will vary according to where you are from in the UK. You will be able to access a basic maintenance loan towards your living costs regardless of your household income level and if you are from a lower-income household you will also be eligible to receive additional means-tested maintenance support.

You should apply to your regional funding agency (see below) each year before the end of the Easter holidays to ensure that funding is in place for the following year of your course.

What does it mean to be ‘means-tested’ or ‘financially assessed’?

If you want to be considered for a higher level of maintenance loan (students from England) or a non-repayable maintenance grant (students from Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales), you will need to complete a financial assessment as part of your application to your funding agency in order to calculate your household income. Although much of this process is automated, you may need to provide financial information to support your assessment.

What is household income and how is it calculated?

Your household income is made up of your income plus that of the people who live with you, such as your parents / step-parent / partner. Household income is assessed based on gross taxable income for the last full tax year. If your household income is likely to drop by at least 15% you can request a Current Year Income Assessment Form from your regional funding agency.

What if I suspend my studies?

If you decide to suspend your studies for any length of time you will need to inform your regional funding agency. If you repeat any years of study, you should be aware that this might affect your entitlement to financial support.

For further information about funding your studies, please see the UK undergraduate funding pages on the UWE Bristol website.  

The UK Government offers postgraduate Master’s loans through Student Finance England. Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you usually live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Information about the Master’s Loan scheme is available from UK Government website.

The loans, which are valued at up to £11,836 per student for entry after 1 August 2022, are a contribution towards the cost of study. They can be used for fees, maintenance or other costs associated with your study. They are not means tested and paid directly to the student into a UK bank account

What you’ll get

Further information about funding postgraduate training can be found on the UWE Bristol,  Prospects and Find A Masters websites.

Each year, the School and UWE Bristol administer a range of bursaries and scholarships. If you are called to interview or audition, course staff will explain more about the funding options available.

Bursaries are available to students from low income backgrounds, those with childcare responsibilities, and those who have spent time in care. For eligibility criteria, please see the UWE Bursary webpage. BOVTS students are also eligible to apply for a range of other UWE bursaries and scholarships – for further information on eligibility criteria, please see the UWE website.  

If you have concerns about financing your training, or require further information about the support available, please contact us for further advice. 

EU students commencing training after 2021 will classified as international students for tuition fee purposes. Please note that permanent Irish residents will be classed as ‘home’ student status as a result of the Common Travel Area agreement and are not liable for international fees.