Changes to The Royal Ballet School’s auditions

The Royal Ballet School will open applications for full-time and Mid, Senior and Advanced Associate training programmes on Tuesday 3 September.

Following a review of the audition process, there will be some changes to The Royal Ballet School’s audition applications for the 2025/26 academic year.

As one of the most celebrated centres for classical ballet training and in keeping with the School’s commitment to extending opportunities to students from all backgrounds, we welcome applications from all, regardless of personal circumstances or academic ability.

Audition eligibility

Held across the UK, all applicants will be offered a preliminary audition for entry to:

• Years 7, 8 and 10 at White Lodge
• 1st, 2nd and Pre-professional Years at Upper School
• Junior, Mid, Senior and Advanced Associate programmes.

The School’s full-time training is structured into four clear programmes: Foundation Programme (Years 7-9, ages 11-14), Development Programme (Years 10-11, ages 14-16), Vocational Programme (Upper School 1st and 2nd Years, ages 16-18) and Pre-professional Programme (ages 18-19).

We will no longer accept students to join the School in the final year of either the Foundation (Year 9) or Development (Year 11) programmes. This decision is made to prioritise students’ well-being and avoid disruption to their academic education, allowing them to settle into school life and develop in the School’s System of Training and style before being asked to audition for the following training programme.

Students in these age groups are welcome to audition for the Mid or Senior Associate programmes in the UK and/or audition for full-time training the following year.

For those students successful at a preliminary audition, semi-final auditions are held in person for applicants aged 10-11 applying for female training in Year 7 at White Lodge. Applicants aged 13-14 applying for Year 10 at White Lodge and those applying for Upper School who are successful at the preliminary stage will be asked to provide a video of classwork.

We hold final auditions in London for all applicants following successful preliminary and semi-final auditions with a panel comprising the Artistic Director and members of the Artistic staff.

International auditions

In our commitment to seeking and training the best dancers from the UK and worldwide, we invite international candidates who cannot attend a preliminary audition in the UK to submit a video audition.

Successful applications at the preliminary and semi-final stages will be invited to attend a final audition in London.

More information on The Royal Ballet School’s auditions

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