About the university
The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is a specialist dance conservatoire in Chapeltown, Leeds. It offers a CertHE, two three-year BA (Hons) degrees in contemporary dance performance and in choreography, producing and teaching, and several MAs, including the VERVE postgraduate dance company.
Overseas students can apply, and video auditions are accepted. NSCD issues the CAS with the unconditional offer, once it has your qualifications, financial evidence, English evidence and passport. It is a good fit only for Indian students with serious contemporary or street dance training.
- Type
- Specialist contemporary dance conservatoire (higher education institution)
- Campus
- 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH
- Intake
- September
- Selection
- Application plus audition (in person or by video) or interview
- Minimum age for Student visa applicants
- 18 on entry (undergraduate)
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance Performance
- Fee / year
- £20,160
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.0 in each skill (CEFR B2)
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Dance: Choreography, Producing and Teaching
- Fee / year
- £20,160
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.0 in each skill (CEFR B2)
- Postgraduate
MA Contemporary Dance Performance (VERVE)
- Fee / year
- £22,280
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 overall (CEFR B2)
- Postgraduate
MA Dance & Creative Enterprise
- Fee / year
- £20,160
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 overall (CEFR B2)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance Performance | 3 years full time | £20,160 | ≈ ₹24.6 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Dance: Choreography, Producing and Teaching | 3 years full time | £20,160 | ≈ ₹24.6 lakh |
| MA Contemporary Dance Performance (VERVE) | 1 year full time | £22,280 | ≈ ₹27.2 lakh |
| MA Dance & Creative Enterprise | 1 year full time | £20,160 | ≈ ₹24.6 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Northern School of Contemporary Dance with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Entry is by application and audition. NSCD usually asks for two A levels, a Level 3 BTEC National Diploma or equivalent professional or vocational dance training, plus English Language at GCSE level or equivalent.
- Student visa applicants must be 18 on entry. Video auditions are sent with the online application; the 2027 deadline is 17 March 2027.
Postgraduate
- MAs are open to graduates of two- or three-year higher education dance (or, for Dance & Creative Enterprise, performance) training, or artists with equivalent professional experience.
- VERVE needs an audition (in person or by video if shortlisted); Dance & Creative Enterprise has an online interview and no audition.
- MA Professional Dance Pedagogy and MA Teaching & Facilitating are part time, so they are not listed here.
Documents
- Passport
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- English language evidence
- Financial evidence
- Video audition and a headshot (undergraduate); written answers in the online application
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (undergraduate) | 5.5 overall with 5.0 in each skill (CEFR B2). IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are accepted. |
| IELTS (postgraduate) | 6.0 overall (CEFR B2). |
| Other tests | NSCD's overseas page asks for CEFR B2; ask NSCD which other tests it accepts. |
Accommodation and living costs
NSCD has no halls of its own. Most students rent shared houses of 4 to 8 people near the school, mainly in Chapeltown, through Unipol-accredited landlords; private halls such as IQ Leeds Cross Chancellor Street are about 15 minutes' walk away.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent paid by current NSCD studentsAbout 90% of students have utilities included | £115–135per week | ≈ ₹14,030 – ₹16,470 |
Campus and location
NSCD teaches at 98 Chapeltown Road in Leeds, with most students living within walking distance.
- Contemporary technique, ballet and street dance pathways in the BA audition.
- VERVE, the MA performance company, auditions in February.
- Shared student houses within walking distance in Chapeltown.
- Homestays can be arranged through Unipol.
Careers and graduate outcomes
NSCD trains dancers, choreographers, producers and dance teachers. It does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we opened. NSCD has a page on the Graduate visa; see also our UK guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
What are NSCD's fees for international students?
Course pages show overseas fees of £20,160 a year for both BAs and for MA Dance & Creative Enterprise, and £22,280 for MA VERVE. The pages do not state the fee year. A £1,500 deposit is due on acceptance.
Can I audition from India?
Yes. Undergraduate applicants can audition by video, sent with the online application. VERVE accepts video auditions from shortlisted applicants.
What IELTS score does NSCD need?
IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.0 in each skill for undergraduate courses and 6.0 overall for postgraduate courses.
Sources
- NSCD: homepage (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance Performance (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: MA Contemporary Dance Performance (VERVE) (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: undergraduate fees (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: postgraduate fees (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: overseas students, before you apply (opens in a new tab)
- NSCD: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.nscd.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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