Student support

  • Overview
  • Our services

We are with you through every step of your education to help you develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to embark on a successful career as a dance teacher and educator.

Whether you are onsite or on our distance learning programmes, we have a range of services to help you with your welfare, wellbeing and academic study skills. You will also have access to a global, online peer support community from Talk Campus, which offers 24/7 mental health support, any time of day, anywhere in the world.

Before you apply, you may have questions about what it’s like to study with us or are worried about how you will be able to manage your studies on top of having a family and full or part-time work. Or perhaps you are a student with a learning disability or medical condition that may affect how you participate in the programme. You may have questions about how we can support your learning while studying with us. The Student Support and Wellbeing Manager is here to answer your questions and we encourage you to contact us before applying.

  • Who’s who

    Tutors and mentors

    Our Tutors and Mentors are experienced dance education professionals who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and insights. They serve as valuable guides, helping you to gain a deeper understanding and insight of dance teaching in practice and help you develop essential skills. Tutors and Mentors become your champions, offering support, encouragement, and practical advice to help you reach your full potential.

    Teaching placements

    We place a strong emphasis on providing our students with real-world experience through teaching placements. These opportunities allow you to apply your knowledge in practical settings, gain hands-on experience, and develop a professional network. By working alongside experienced professionals, you will gain insights into different teaching contexts and settings, build confidence, and develop your practice-based skills.

    Who’s who

    The Student Support and Wellbeing Manager and the Study Skills Coordinator work closely together with the Faculty of Education tutoring team to provide a holistic approach to student support. The Student Support and Wellbeing Manager looks after the more pastoral aspects of your student experience as well as managing Personal Learning Support Plans for students with disabilities (including long term medical conditions, physical impairments, learning disability, mental health conditions and general wellbeing). The Study Skills Coordinator is directed towards supporting you with your academic work. This includes time management, note-taking, research, and developing writing skills.

    Email: studentsupport@rad.org.uk

  • Academic study skills

    Academic study skills

    The Study Skills Coordinator provides group tutorials and one-to-one support on a range of academic study-related topics. These include time management and making notes, as well as writing and research skills and preparing presentations.

  • Mental health support

    Mental health support

    We take your mental wellbeing seriously, and recognise that sometimes you may have to deal with difficult personal situations. Our Student Support and Wellbeing Manager is here to listen and offer a confidential service to talk through any troubling issues you may be facing and signpost you to support services.

  • Health and wellbeing

    Health and wellbeing

    Although we don’t have medical services on-site, if you’re studying with us at RAD headquarters, we can signpost you to local services, including GPs and physiotherapy. We also encourage students with injuries to use the specialist NHS dance clinic at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London. If you’re studying by distance learning, the Student Support and Wellbeing Manager can talk to you about the support you may need to find within your country of study.

  • Disability support

    Disability support

    We welcome applications from students with disabilities (including long term medical conditions, physical impairments, learning disabilities and mental health conditions) who wish to pursue a career in the dance teaching profession. For on-site programmes, we encourage you to visit us before applying, to view classes and facilities and discuss any support or adjustments that may be required. The earlier you can let us know about your disability the better, so that we can work with you to implement a Study Support Plan.

  • Study Support Plans

    Study Support Plans

    If you disclose an existing disability or become disabled during the programme, you will be offered a Study Support Plan. This is an agreement developed between you and the Student Support and Wellbeing Manager to identify your support needs and any necessary reasonable adjustments for on-site learning, distance learning and teaching placements. After obtaining your consent, this information will be passed on to the relevant teaching staff and teaching placement mentors in a confidential report. If you would like further information about the programme content or additional support needs, please contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Manager or the Programme Manager of the programme you are interested in.

  • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

    Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

    As well as some support from the RAD, UK-based students can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to cover some of the extra costs of studying because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other physical impairment or learning disability. UK-based students can get the allowances on top of other student finance, and DSAs do not need to be repaid.

    We encourage students to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance* prior to starting a programme with us. This enables us to get your support up and running as soon as you arrive.

  • Support for Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties

    If you know that you have dyslexia or another specific learning difficulty, we strongly encourage you to let us know as soon as possible. This will help us develop a Study Support Plan for you, and, if you’re based in the UK, to apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance if you have not already done so. To apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance, a diagnostic assessment is required. These can be obtained by contacting the following: a Specialist Teacher/Assessor with an Assessment Practising Certificate, or Chartered Psychologist specialising in Specific Learning Difficulties, registered with the Health Care Practitioners Council (HCPC). Wherever possible this should be obtained from your secondary school or college before leaving. If this is not possible, we can help you arrange to have a diagnostic assessment. These assessments are expensive (usually between £400–£500), but eligible students can apply for financial assistance to contribute towards the cost.

    For successful DSA applications, if you have been allocated a specialist Study Skills tutor, we can help you set this support up and we can book you a regular room to meet your tutor on a weekly basis. If during the programme you identify some difficulties that you think may be dyslexia-related, we will arrange for you to have an online screening to help you identify the type of support you may need. * More information on how to apply for DSA for students from:

    Scotland: SAAS
    Northern Ireland: NI Direct
    England: DSAS
    Wales: Student Finance