International Admissions
Of the 1000 students across our programmes, 35 per cent come from outside Britain, representing more than 40 countries, and we welcome applications from all international academic backgrounds. We place great value in the diversity of cultures in the school, and are committed to maintaining a student body which reflects London’s culture of international inclusivity.
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How to Apply
How to Apply
Guildhall School takes direct applications for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, rather than through an intermediary agency or a centralised system such as UCAS or CUKAS. Instead all enquiries and applications are handled by our helpful teams in Registry and Student Recruitment.
Please complete and submit an online application found on our how to apply page if you are interested in being considered for one of our programmes. You may be invited to London to audition or interview, however if you would prefer to interview in a location closer to home, please indicate on your application which of this year’s international audition locations would be most suitable for you. Due to the challenge of international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately our international auditions will be restricted this year. Those unable to attend should submit a recorded audition.
Application procedures and entry requirements will differ depending on the faculty and programme that you choose. Students applying for Music, Acting, or Production Arts will receive instructions relevant to their programme of study.
Once you have submitted an application, our team will be in touch to provide information about the various documentation you will have to provide both to complete your enrolment and obtain any visa that might be necessary for you to come and study with us.
EU FAQs
In response to the UK's departure from the EU, Guildhall School have issued a formal statement to express our continued commitment to supporting and welcoming students from the EU. The following FAQ answers some common questions about the practicalities of coming to study with us under these new conditions.
Yes, we will continue to welcome students from all over the world to train at Guildhall and be part of our international community. However, the UK’s decision to leave the EU means that students from the EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals wanting to study abroad in the UK will need to pay international tuition fees rather than home (UK) fees. They will also not be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England and must fund their studies privately. Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply for Guildhall School scholarships, and should do so via the School's usual scholarship application process once a place has been offered.
EU/EEA/Swiss students who began their degrees in or before the academic year 2020-21 are still eligible for home student fees and financial support.
EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin their degrees in the academic year 2021-22 and beyond will need to pay international tuition fees unless they benefit from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
No. This does not apply to Irish nationals living in the UK and Ireland. Your right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
The countries in the European Economic Area are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
You will require a student visa if you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland and want to study a full time course at the Guildhall School. If you were resident in the UK prior to 1 January 2021 and hold a valid status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you will not require a student visa. If you are starting your studies from the academic year 2021/22, you will be required to provide evidence of your online status by providing us with your share code in order to verify your status in the UK.
Following the UK's departure from the EU on 31 December 2020, Guildhall School has been required to instigate changes to our study abroad offer. The School is exploring partnerships with institutions across the world.
The most up to date information on inbound and outbound opportunities can be found on our Study Abroad & Mobility page.
Funding
For information about your fee category and any available funding, please visit our Fees and Funding page. For further information and guidance, contact the Student Funding Officer.
For a full guide to funding opportunities for North American students, please see our guidance on Funding for North American Students (PDF link).
Guildhall School also accepts Federal Loan applicants.
Fee Assessment
Guildhall School is a publicly funded educational institution and must charge two levels of fee: the lower 'home' fee and the higher 'overseas' fee. Students pay the 'home' or 'overseas' fee depending on whether they meet certain criteria as set out by the fee regulations. For information on how fee status is assessed, please see our Fee Assessment page.
Visas
If you think you will require a visa to visit the UK for an audition or interview, Guildhall School can provide you with a letter of support that confirms your invitation. You can request this from Registry once the dates and details of your audition/interview have been arranged. Alternatively, the School offers overseas audition venues for some programmes, please see our Auditions/Interviews page for details.
Applicants from outside the UK are likely to require a visa to study in the UK. Details on the Student visa can be found on the gov.uk website.
Once you have accepted your place, the School will support your student visa application; however all conditions of entry must have been met before Guildhall School will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). You will also need to ensure you have sufficient funds in your bank account so please check the Student Visa Policy Guidance well in advance.
We may not be able to sponsor all students for a student visa and you should ensure you have researched the type of visa you will need in order to study with us, especially if you have already studied at degree level in the UK. Please contact immigration@gsmd.ac.uk if you are unsure.
Please note that students who require a Student visa can only study on full-time programmes. The School can assist you with your Student visa application and will provide further information and guidance if you are offered a place at the School.
Free student immigration advice and very helpful information sheets are available at the UKCISA website. They have an advice telephone line which is available daily which you can find here.
International Entry Requirements
Guildhall School recognises a wide range of international qualifications and curricula.
Individual programmes have their own specific requirements and you may require an audition or interview. You can see a full list of our academic entry requirements, as well as the international equivalent qualifications on the Academic Entry Criteria page of our website. This information is for guidance purposes only, as each application is judged on its own merits. Performance ability and creative or technical talents might not be reflected in your grades but can be demonstrated in your application.
In addition, please ensure that you are aware of the English language requirements. The language of instruction is English and it is vital that all students have a good command of the language. For those without English as a first language, please see our English Language Entry Criteria page for the requirements by programme. Optional English language classes are available during the autumn and spring terms.
Please email the Admissions team via the Registry email, if you have any further questions: Registry@gsmd.ac.uk
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