You are required to create an account via our online application portal in order to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence.

Our application form asks for the following:

1. Personal details
2. Place of academic education & place of dance education (if any)
3. Application Questions (Up to 250 words per answer):
   1. 1. What are your future dance ambitions?
      2. What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
      3. What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
4. Headshot photo (Passport style, doesn’t have to be professional)
5. Equality & Diversity information

Please read our application guidance below for more detailed information:

> READ APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email from admissions@nscd.ac.uk and be asked to book your audition, subject to availability, and pay the application fee of £20

Applications without payment will not be processed.

The application fee is a one-off payment of £20 and covers the cost of processing applications and auditions.

Application fee waivers

Application fee waivers are available to applicants from low-income households (under £25,000 annual household income).

If you meet these criteria the Admissions Team will review your application and be in touch with a code to use at checkout. If your household income is under £25,000 then please wait to be contacted by Admissions before booking your audition.

If you are unsure about the criteria listed above or have any questions regarding this please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk. Additionally, if you do not meet these criteria but would like to speak with our Admissions Team regarding the fee, please feel welcome to contact us.

• Thursday 17 April 2025 | 11:00 – 15:45

This is a CertHE specific audition, for those applying directly for CertHE. There are other Undergraduate Auditions taking place in December, April and February in which applicants are considered for both BA and CertHE.

In-person auditions take place here at NSCD, 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH.

For 2025 Entry NSCD are hosting the following undergraduate overseas auditions:

Undergraduate Audition at Rom for Dans, Norway

• Sat 11 January | 09:30 – 13:00

Apply by Sunday 05 January

Undergraduate Audition at City Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong

• Tue 18 February | 09:30 – 13:00

Apply by Sunday 09  February

Undergraduate Audition at de! Kunsthumaniora Hedendaagse Dans (Wilrijk), Belgium

• Sat 22 February | 09:30 – 13:00

Apply by Monday 17 February

Undergraduate Audition at Singapore School of the Arts. Singapore

• Sat 22 February | 09:30 – 13:00

Apply by Sunday 09  February

The audition schedule for all of the above auditions will be as follows:

• 9-9.30 – Registration
• 9.30-10.15 – Icebreaker / Improvisation
• 10.15-11.30 – Technical Practices
• 11.45-12.30 – Creative & Choreography Session
• 12.30-13:00 – Group Discussion

Applicants who want to attend any of the above auditions should complete an application form and then book onto the relevant audition (link will be provided in confirmation email).

NSCD auditions are designed to give you a taste of what we offer in our training.  The audition includes technical and creative sessions, led by NSCD staff and supported by student demonstrators.

1. Ice-breaker/Improvisation session

Games & short tasks to help you relax, feel at ease and get to know the group. This is also an opportunity for you to show your individuality in response to specific improvisation tasks that focus on exploring the quality/texture of movement. 

2. Technical Practices session

A combination of pre-learnt and unseen exercises/phrases. You will need to learn the relevant movement phrases below in preparation for your audition. If you would like to be considered for both pathways then learn all of the below material as you will have the opportunity to show your work on both.

• CertHE Dance: Contemporary movement phrases
• CertHE Dance: Street Dance Styles movement phrase

 These will be repeated in this session, along with additional phrases taught on the day. All phrases incorporate a mix of styles, drawing on a range of dance forms. 

3. Creative/Choreography group task

Using material from the previous Technical Practices session, and the earlier Improvisation session, you will work in small groups to create a short piece of choreography.

4. Group discussion

We’ll ask you to reflect on the Creative/Choreography group task and discuss your ambitions and reasons for applying to NSCD. 

Watch our YOUTUBE SERIES for more on what to expect

Places are awarded to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to benefit from the course, regardless of previous dance experience. The audition panel assesses your physical potential, performance ability and creativity, as well as critical thinking and reflective engagement.

See What is NSCD looking for? for more information

Visit the course page for entry requirements

We aim to let successful candidates know the outcome of their audition within 2-3 weeks.

All auditionees receive one of the following:

• An offer (with 3 weeks in which to accept)
• A place on the shortlist
• No offer

Feedback can be requested and will be provided once the audition and offer process is complete. Please note: Due to high applicant numbers we are unable to provide detailed feedback but we do provide a standard feedback format which is designed to give applicants an indication of how the panel scored their audition.

Please ensure you have submitted your application and included your audition video link before the application deadline.

You are required to create an account via our online application portal in order to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence.

Our application form asks for the following:

1. Personal details
2. Place of academic education & place of dance education (if any)
3. Audition Video Link
4. Application Questions (Up to 250 words per answer):
   1. 1. What are your future dance ambitions?
      2. What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
      3. What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
5. Headshot photo (Passport style, doesn’t have to be professional)
6. Equality & Diversity information

Please read our application guidance below for more detailed information:

> READ APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email from admissions@nscd.ac.uk and be asked to book your audition, subject to availability, and pay the application fee of £20

Applications without payment will not be processed.

The application fee is a one-off payment of £20 and covers the cost of processing applications and auditions.

Application fee waivers

Application fee waivers are available to applicants from low-income households (under £25,000 annual household income).

If you meet this criteria the Admissions Team will review your application and be in touch with a code to use at checkout. If your household income is under £25,000 then please wait to be contacted by Admissions before booking your audition.

If you are unsure about the criteria listed above or have any questions regarding this please contact admissions@nscd.ac.uk. Additionally, if you do not meet these criteria but would like to speak with our Admissions Team regarding the fee, please feel welcome to contact us.

Video auditions should be provided as a single YouTube or Vimeo link as part of your application. Please include the following in your video:

• Creative/ Improvisation task (2 minutes) – record yourself doing the creative task detailed in the guidance below
• Technical Practices task (max 2 minutes) – record yourself doing the relevant movement phrases below in preparation for your audition. If you would like to be considered for both pathways then learn all of the below material as you will have the opportunity to show your work on both. PLUS one additional movement phrase of your choice – this can be in any style to demonstrate your individuality and ability. Further guidance is included below
  • CertHE Dance: Contemporary movement phrases
  • CertHE Dance: Street Dance Styles movement phrase
• Verbal discussion (max 4 mins) record your response to the previous tasks and your reasons for wanting to train at NSCD

> VIDEO AUDITION GUIDANCE

Places are awarded to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to benefit from the course, regardless of previous dance experience. The audition panel assesses your physical potential, performance ability and creativity, as well as critical thinking and reflective engagement.

See What is NSCD looking for? for more information

Visit the course page for entry requirements

Video submissions are viewed on a rolling basis as they are received. We aim to let successful candidates know the outcome of their audition within 2-3 weeks.

All auditionees receive one of the following:

• An offer (with 3 weeks in which to accept)
• A place on the shortlist
• No offer

Feedback can be requested and will be provided once the audition and offer process is complete. Please note: Due to high applicant numbers we are unable to provide detailed feedback but we do provide a standard feedback format which is designed to give applicants an indication of how the panel scored their audition.