Help with Fees 2026
We're delighted to offer students the opportunity to apply for financial assistance through our Bursary schemes.
Support available for 2026
- National Bursaries – worth £385
- Training grants – available to NODA Regional Committee Members – worth £385
- The Stephanie Sorgo-Hudson Benevolent Fund
- Student-funded bursaries – for first timers regardless of age
If you'd like to apply, simply let us know when you book and we'll send you an application form via email. Please note, this is a manual process, if you have not received the application form within three working days, please contact summerschool@noda.org.uk
Applications for Bursaries/Training Grants for NODA Theatre Summer School 2026 open on 1st December 2025 and close on 13th January 2026
For 2026, we're particularly excited to prioritise younger members (minimum age 18 at commencement of the school) and first-time students, regardless of age. We're also pleased to offer support through our Benevolent Fund—see details below. Our National Bursaries are worth up to £385 each towards a full course. (For information on fees, please see our Terms and Conditions)
· Applicants for a Bursary or Training Grant must also apply for a place at NODA Theatre Summer School and pay their deposit. Should you be unsuccessful in securing a Bursary or Training Grant and therefore cannot attend, your deposit will be fully refunded. This is the only situation in which deposits may be refunded.
· It is a condition of these National Bursaries that applications are supported by the student's society. For Training Grants, applications should be supported by the Regional Councillor.
· We're able to award payments equivalent to two national bursaries or training grants, within any 10 year period, to a student during their time as a NODA member.
· If you've previously been successful with a bursary or training grant application, your second application must be in a different discipline.
When completing your application, you will be asked to supply information on:
· What you expect to gain from Summer School
· How attending Summer School will help you contribute to your Society
· Contact details for the NODA society that is supporting your application (not required by Regional Committee Members)
What happens next?
Applications will be reviewed by the NODA Theatre Summer School Chair and one other NODA Trustee. We may need to come back to you to ask some further questions.
When will I know if I have been successful?
We'll be in touch by 28th February 2026 to let you know the outcome of your application. If you're unsuccessful, you'll have until 11th March 2026 to notify head office whether you'll still accept the place on your chosen course without a bursary, or have your deposit refunded.
What if I don't get awarded a Bursary or Training Grant?
If your application is unsuccessful, you'll have until 11th March 2026 to let us know whether you'd still like to accept the place on your chosen course without financial assistance, or if you'd prefer to have your deposit refunded. You may also wish to consider requesting to pay your balance by instalments.
Payment by instalment
Students applying prior to 15th March 2026 may pay the balance of the fee in pre-arranged instalments. Instalment payments must be completed by 5th June 2026. To arrange this, please contact us at summerschool@noda.org.uk
Stephanie Sorgo-Hudson Benevolent Fund
If you don't fall within the categories to apply for a Bursary or Training Grant, you may still be eligible for financial support from the Stephanie Sorgo-Hudson Benevolent Fund. We're pleased to offer this additional assistance—the application process is totally confidential and the form is available on request by contacting us at summerschool@noda.org.uk
Student-funded bursaries
At the present time we have two bursaries funded by Summer School students, specifically for first timers. Applications as part of the main bursary scheme will be considered for this support.