Irish World Academy of Music and Dance are currently accepting applications for the 2026/2027 intake of students (starting September 2026) for the MA Contemporary Dance Performance – Stepping Stones Scholarships are available for non-EU students.
Where: Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland
When: Applications for the course are ongoing until mid August 2026
Deadline for applications: 4pm, 20 February 2026
The MA in Contemporary Dance Performance is a one-year, full-time program designed for dance artists seeking an immersive, studio-based exploration of performance, choreography, and creative practice. Students engage in workshops, masterclasses, ensemble choreographies, solo-making, Screendance, and more—while building industry connections through collaborations with professional companies, placements and festivals.
Stepping Stones Scholarships for Non-EU Students give a full or partial fee waiver:
The scholarship prioritises:
• applicants experiencing demonstrable financial challenge;
• applicants from parts of the world underrepresented at the Academy;
• applicants with projects that resonate with the spirit of the Stepping Stones initiative: equality of arts practices, an interdisciplinary vision, and desire to build bridges between arts practices;
• applicants for programmes with a higher number of available places.
How to apply / register:
Applicants must apply for the MA programme through the normal university procedures. See here for details: https://www.ul.ie/gps/course/dance-performance-ma
On the University Programme application form, candidates should indicate that they will be applying for a Stepping Stones scholarship as a source of funding. Additionally, they should also include other forms of funding as appropriate.
The initial application for the scholarship will be coordinated by the course director of the programme. If a candidate has been offered a place and wishes to apply for the scholarship, they should send the following to the course director:
(1) A personal letter indicating how their application meets the scholarship criteria
(2) A letter from one of the referees included on their application form, indicating how their application meets the scholarship criteria
Costs for participants: €50
Contact details:
For further information, please contact course director Dr Jenny Roche – Jenny.Roche@ul.ie
For further information, please visit https://www.ul.ie/irish-world-academy
For more SCHOLARSHIPS opportunities visit https://dancingopportunities.com/category/scholarships/
