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I want to apply for NIDA in the future. What subjects should I study at school?
If I am accepted, can I defer?
Does NIDA help students find accommodation?
How do students travel to NIDA each day?
How much are the tuition fees at NIDA?
What are the other costs and fees, apart from tuition fees?
Does NIDA offer student scholarships?
Can I work when I am studying at NIDA?
What other financial assistance is available to NIDA students?
What other support is available for students at NIDA?
I want to apply for NIDA in the future. What subjects should I study at school?
NIDA expects all students to have completed the Higher School Certificate or equivalent but entry to NIDA is not based on these results. NIDA does not require students to have studied any particular subjects at school. However, it is beneficial during their period of study at NIDA for students to have a high level of literacy and to have read widely. A strong working knowledge of subjects such as English and History is helpful to provide an understanding of historical context and literary references in theatre and literature. It is helpful to have an understanding of drama and, if possible, to have attended a range of theatre and films. A knowledge of a language other than English and understanding of other cultures is also beneficial.
If I am accepted, can I defer?
Due to the highly competitive nature of NIDA's admissions process, you must enrol for the year in which you have been offered a place. You cannot defer acceptance of a place; if you want to enrol in a subsequent year, you will need to apply again the following year and go through the audition/interview process again. There is no guarantee that you will be offered a place next time.
Does NIDA help students find accommodation?
Students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. Many NIDA students share privately rented accommodation in suburbs near NIDA such as Randwick, Kensington, Kingsford and Coogee or, slightly further away, in Newtown or Surry Hills. Students setting up house for the first time sometimes find the costs of getting established to be higher than they expected.
NIDA is located at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Accommodation in the immediate vicinity of UNSW and NIDA is not usually easy to find at short notice, and can be expensive. Especially during the first three months of the year demand for accommodation in the area close to NIDA is very high.
NIDA students requiring accommodation may seek assistance from the UNSW Housing Office. Detailed information is provided on www.housing.unsw.edu.au, including listings of all types of housing, information on accommodation at UNSW colleges and halls of residence and information on temporary accommodation when first arriving in Sydney. Students should allow 1 - 2 weeks to find accommodation before term begins.
At the beginning of the year other NIDA students may have accommodation available in shared houses and may give these details to NIDA for providing to new students. Students can contact NIDA Reception on 02 9697 7600 to ask for this information.
Rents vary according to the number of bedrooms, condition and location of the flat/apartment or house. Electricity, gas and telephone costs are additional. When renting a flat/apartment or house it is usual to sign at least a six month lease and pay some rent in advance as well as providing a refundable security deposit/bond. Houses and flats/apartments are usually unfurnished, so it is necessary to allow for purchase of household items such as furniture, linen and kitchen utensils.
How do students travel to NIDA each day?
Parking is limited in the area around NIDA. Regular and express bus services connect NIDA with the major transport hubs and surrounding suburbs. While some students drive to NIDA, students mainly travel each day by train or bus or live within walking distance. A few students cycle to NIDA.
What are indicative living costs for NIDA students?
On average NIDA students spend about $500-550 per fortnight on food, rent, household costs and transport. In addition there are mobile phone costs and other sundry items.
NIDA also encourages students to see as much live theatre, film and other arts events as possible. While many theatre companies are generous with provision of complimentary or discounted tickets, ticket costs are an additional item of expenditure for NIDA students.
There are also initial establishment costs for people moving to Sydney for rental bond payment (usually four weeks rent) and purchasing basic furniture and other items for rental accommodation.
It is important to make allowance for establishment costs, including the purchase of furniture and equipment.
How much are the tuition fees at NIDA?
All students are required to pay annual tuition fees. Details of the tuition fees for 2010 are available here.
NIDA students who are Australian citizens or who have an Australian permanent humanitarian visa can apply for FEE-HELP, the Australian government loan scheme that assists eligible students to pay their tuition fees. A loan fee of 20% applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses. Students repay their loan through the tax system once their income is above the minimum level for compulsory repayment. For more details on FEE-HELP go to www.goingtouni.gov.au
New Zealand citizens pay the same tuition fees as Australian citizens but are not eligible to apply for FEE-HELP and must pay their annual fees up-front on enrolment each year.
Overseas students are required to pay the full cost of the course and must pay their fees upfront on enrolment each year.
What are the other costs and fees, apart from tuition fees?
There is an optional annual fee of $35 to join the Student Council of NIDA (SCON).
Students have to pay for text books, materials and tools depending on their course of study.
While students are provided with the script of any plays they are involved in as part of the NIDA Play Production Program, students are encouraged to purchase other scripts and textbooks for subjects such as History of Theatre. Acting students must pay for their own make-up, rehearsal clothes, tights and shoes. Design, Production Crafts and Production students are required to purchase specific tools and equipment, which should be considered as life long investments. Design students are expected to purchase their own art equipment, drawing paper, cardboard and other material for models and should allow around $1000 for this each year.
All students are expected to have a set of full length black clothes (ie. long sleeved black top and long black trousers) and black shoes for production work. In addition, Design, Properties, Production and Scenery Construction students are also required to have protective footwear (such as rubber-soled Blundstones or something similar) for usage in all workshop areas and theatre spaces. Costume students also need enclosed comfortable shoes to be worn in the workrooms and theatre spaces.
Safe working clothing is compulsory when in the workshop area and closed shoes must be worn at all times in the workshop studios and theatres.
While students have access to IT facilities at NIDA, the number of computers is limited and students, especially Production and Design students, will find it helpful to have a laptop computer.
Does NIDA offer student scholarships?
There are no scholarships for assistance with tuition fees. Through the support of donors to NIDA and bequests, second and third year students can apply for scholarships that provide a small amount of financial assistance for living costs
The scholarships are not usually available to students in their first year or to overseas students.
Can I work when I am studying at NIDA?
NIDA students are not permitted to undertake professional work in the arts/entertainment industry while studying at NIDA without getting the prior permission of the Director.
While many NIDA students need to supplement their income with casual work while at NIDA, the long hours required for attendance and study, as well as commitments to the Play Production Program, can make it difficult to retain a regular job. Unlike students at university, NIDA students attend classes, rehearsals etc at NIDA from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. In pre-production and performance weeks, students may be required at NIDA until 11 pm and, on Saturdays for rehearsals or matinee performances.
NIDA students usually work in the retail or hospitality sector but require an understanding employer who accepts that attendance may be on an irregular basis.
What other financial assistance is available to NIDA students?
Eligible NIDA students can apply to Centrelink for Austudy, Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY.
What other support is available for students at NIDA?
In addition to the support provided by NIDA staff, NIDA students can meet with the Student Counsellors through the UNSW Student Counselling Service. Those with learning difficulties can use the resources of The Learning Centre at UNSW.
Indigenous students can also use the services of the Nura Gili Indigenous Programs Centre at UNSW.
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