The Drama Therapy Fund annually offers a limited number of scholarships toward conference registration fees for the annual conference of the North American Drama Therapy Association to new students.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Any student member of the North American Drama Therapy Association who is in their first semester of a Drama Therapy Master’s program or, Alternative Training student who has signed and submitted the AT Contract on or after May 3, 2026 (for the 2026 year). Students must submit verification of current membership as part of the application.
AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP: The scholarship will cover registration for NADTA Conference in student registration category. It will not cover any events/items outside of the registration. The recipient’s conference registration will be paid for them in full by the Drama Therapy Fund; however, they will still need to fill out the online registration using the award code provided. Drama Therapy Fund will not reimburse for registrations already paid for. You must register with the code provided.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION: We anticipate a highly competitive process this year. A very limited number of scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria:
1. Evidence of financial need.
2. Quality of Essay
3. Submission on or before deadline. (Applications submitted after deadline will not be considered.)
4. Distance from region in which Conference is being held.
5. Evidence of student membership in NADTA starting after May 3, 2026
6. Ability to actually be able to financially afford attending the conference with the additional help provided by the scholarship. Drama Therapy Fund scholarships only cover the registration fee to the full conference. Please take into account additional expenses such as the travel, lodging, and meal costs when applying.
7. International members who have monetary exchange rate difficulties will be given priority.
These scholarships are made possible by private donors specifically for new students who may not have been aware of the conference before start of semester.
REQUIRED REPORT: The Drama Therapy Fund requires that within 60 days of the end of the Conference, all recipients of scholarships send a one-to-two-page essay about what they learned at the Conference and how they will apply it to their drama therapy work. Failure to provide required report will result in denial of future funding.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Complete the Online Application with the following information:
1. Name
2. Address
3. Email
4. Phone Number
5. Region (East, Central, West, Canada, or International)
6. Which University Program you are enrolled in, or your BCT name, if Alternative Training
7. Screenshot of NADTA membership card, confirming student member category. (As a student at a university, your program usually covers this. As an AT student, your membership begins when your AT contract is filed. For questions on your student membership please talk to your BCT.)
8. An essay is required and may be pasted in or attached to the online application.
In your essay address your financial needs, reasons for wanting to attend the conference, and other any special circumstances, such as unemployment, disability, school loan repayment, etc. of which you think the Scholarship Review Committee should be made aware.
Your essay will remain confidential.
You May Submit Your Application and Essay online here: Online Scholarship Application