Consumer Information
LIPA's retention rate of undergraduate students progressing from the first to the second year of their degree studies in 2023/24 was 94.5%. 81.25% of the 2021/22 intake graduated in 2024.
92% of our graduates are in work or further study after 15 months, according to the most recent Graduate Outcomes survey which was published in 2024.
LIPA participates in US Federal Financial Aid and is able to certify Direct Loans to eligible US nationals. Information regarding the loan application process can be obtained from LIPA's International Team by emailing international@lipa.ac.uk
Students and prospective students considering taking out loans should visit the following US Government websites.
https://studentaid.gov/sa/
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
A flow chart showing the processes involved in securing Direct Loans for study at LIPA can be downloaded at:
Direct Loans FlowchartThe certification of Direct Loans and private loans from US education loan companies are the only financial aid programmes that LIPA engages in. We do not offer any institutional student financial assistance programmes either need-based or merit-based.
The annual cost of attendance for studies at LIPA which includes tuition and fee, books and supplies, accommodation, food, transportation and all study-related costs can be downloaded below. Also included below is LIPA’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for Students in Receipt of Title IV funding.
LIPA offers a wide range of services to students with disabilities. Our Policy, Procedures & Quality Statements for Supporting Deaf & Disabled Students can be viewed as a downloadable document on our Student Support pages.
LIPA also offers comprehensive support to students who experience what are referred to by the US Govt. as "intellectual disabilities". A high proportion of LIPA students (a higher rate than the general population) have a specific learning difficulty and this is viewed positively as there is a strong correlation between these difficulties and creativity.
Information regarding our services for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dysgraphia can be found on our Student Support pages.
You can download LIPA's Academic Progress policy here.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Students in Receipt of Title IV Funding
You can download LIPA’s policy for Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Funds policy here.
U.S. Direct Loan Quality Assurance Policy and Procedures
Summary
Following published guidance by the US Department of Education, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has implemented a quality assurance system for U.S. Direct Loans as described in this document.
Procedures and policies relating to Title IV funding are designed with the following US Government quality assurance principles in mind.
Direct Loan Quality Assurance Requirement Overview
The Direct Loan Program regulations at 34 CFR 685.300(b) (9) require schools to implement and document a quality assurance process to ensure that they are complying with program requirement and meeting program objectives. A university should have a quality assurance process in place that documents that the school is:
Reporting loan records, disbursements and adjustments to disbursements correctly to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System.
Disbursing and returning loan funds in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Disbursing the correct loan amount to the correct student.
Completing monthly reconciliation and Program Year Closeout.
To be effective, the steps for implementing a Direct Loan quality assurance process will be unique to each university and need to consider the characteristics of a university’s academic policies and programmes and its borrower population. Universities are encouraged to use self-assessments to examine their procedures and act on an ongoing basis to strengthen areas of risk.
Options for Meeting the Direct Loan Quality Assurance Requirement
The Department of Education (the Department) does not mandate the method by which universities meet the quality assurance requirement. Universities may have institutional-designed assessments and quality assurance processing place to ensure that the Direct Loan quality assurance requirement is met.
Reporting Loan Records, Disbursements and Adjustments to Disbursements Correctly in The COD System.
Description of Process.
LIPA utilises student records systems and student borrowing requests to record and originate all Federal Direct Loans. A disbursement roster is produced prior to each disbursement and is shared across both the International and Finance Teams. The enrolment and satisfactory academic progress of students on the list is verified by colleagues in Registry. Once the International Officer or International Manager has released funds in COD, the Finance Officer draws down the funds from the US Department of Education’s G5 system and the Finance Team posts the credits to the student accounts within 3 days to meet Federal requirements. Any remaining funds, once outstanding tuition balances have been settled, are passed to the student and/or their parent within 14 days.
Measurable Assessment
Ensuring all loan records are maintained within LIPA systems until the end of year audit and subsequent US Federal Financia Aid Audit.
Monitoring student enrolment, engagement, Satisfactory Academic Progress, eligibility alerts and responding appropriately to any changes in student status.
Responding in a timely manner to COD School Monitoring Reports and COD 30 day Warning Reports.
Comparing the COD pending disbursement reports and Actual Disbursement Reports with student records for reconciliation and to ensure the student has received funding as per requested amounts.
Disbursing and returning loan funding accordance with regulatory requirements.
Description of Process
Before any loan is initiated, LIPA International Team require:
an Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) obtained via EdConnect;
formal confirmation of the loan request from the student and/or student’s parent;
Completed Entrance Counselling and a signed Master Promissory note covering each loan.
Any relevant comment codes on the ISIR must be resolved. The International Team verifies the aggregate loan limit in National Student Loan Database Systems (NSLDS) for each student. If any of these items are not received or if any items are flagged by either LIPA checks or by COD, we do not initiate loans or disburse funds to the student.
Prior to each loan disbursement the International Team confirms with LIPA’s Registry that Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is being met by each student. Once confirmed, the International Team releases the disbursements via COD, and the Finance Team initiates the drawdown of funds in G5. Funds are received via a third party (Convera), and instructions are provided to them by the Finance Team detailing the value of credits to LIPA in respect of fees, and details relating to the refund of any excess payments to students and/or parents. We must process all funds fully within three working days, thereby meeting the Federal requirements.
Regular monthly reports from LIPA’s student systems identify any changes in students’ enrolment status, thus indicating any potential change in student eligibility to continue to receive FSA funds. The student may also report any such changes to the Institute.
Where a student withdraws or interrupts, the Finance Team undertakes a Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation to determine if funds need to be returned to G5 and notifies the student accordingly. Where necessary funds are returned within the required timeframe and loans are adjusted as required on COD.
Measurable Assessments
Ensuring all loan records maintain “Registered” status within our student system until the end of the year closeout and audit.
Monitoring the enrolment, SAP, and eligibility alerts within the University records and responding appropriately.
Responding in a timely manner to COD School Monitoring Reports and 30 Day Warning Reports.
Comparing the COD Pending Disbursement Reports and Actual Disbursement Reports with LIPA’s internal student records.
Disbursing the correct loan amount to the correct student
Description of Process
The International Team schedules disbursement dates for approved funds to draw down funds. To meet US Department of Education guidelines these must be set in accordance with the defined periods of teaching within a programme and may vary from programme to programme. Disbursement takes place at the start of each period of teaching.
Direct Loan funds are drawn down based upon the disbursement schedule and received via a third party (Convera). Instructions are provided by the University to Convera detailing the value of credits to the University in respect of fees, and details relating to the refund of any excess payments to students. Funds received by the University in respect of fees are immediately applied to student accounts once funds are received from Convera.
Measurable Assessment
Ensuring all loan records maintain “Registered” status within LIPA systems until the end of the year closeout.
Monitoring the enrolment, SAP, and eligibility alerts and responding appropriately.
Responding in a timely manner to COD School Monitoring Reports, COD 30 Day Warning Reports
Comparing the COD Pending Disbursement Reports and Actual Disbursement Reports.
Completing Monthly Reconciliation and Program Year Closeout
Description of Process
Annually, LIPA creates a spreadsheet that monitors and reconciles the disbursement of funds in COD, to the funds requested via G5, and the amounts received via Convera and how they are applied to students’ records or the refund of excess payments to students.
Measurable Assessment
Maintaining timely and accurate monthly reconciliation records.
Maintaining timely and accurate year-end closeout documentation.
Download Quality Assurance 2025Links to our academic programmes can be found on our homepage
LIPA's policy follows that of its validating body Liverpool John Moores University which and can be found at: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/~/media/sample-sharepoint-libraries/policy-documents/188.pdf?la=en
Staff and students must at all times comply with copyright law. The legal framework surrounding copyright can be found at: http://cla.co.uk
Students who break copyright law subject themselves to criminal liabilities. Further information including penalties can be found at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted/data.htm
LIPA's degree programme are validated by Liverpool John Moores University. www.ljmu.ac.uk LIPA is a publically-funded higher education institution and, as such, is subject to review and assessment by the Higher Education Funding Council Executive and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education www.qaa.ac.uk
Information about loan interest rates, repayment options, forbearance and default can be found on the US Department of Education Direct Loan Website: https://studentaid.gov/
As a public authority, LIPA is obliged to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000. The Act makes two basic provisions:
- That LIPA should maintain a list of the information it makes available as a matter of routine, called the Publication Scheme. Information on this can be found here.
- That from 1 January 2005, any person making a request for information is entitled to be informed in writing whether LIPA holds the information specified in the request, and if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them.
The FoI Act complements the Data Protection Act 1998, which makes provision for the access and proper management of information relating to living people.
Information on the wide range of student services offered at LIPA is available in or Student Support section.
All students taking out Direct Loans for study at LIPA will have details of their lending along with personal details (age, SSN, enrolment status and anticipated graduation date) to the US National Student Loan Database System.
Undergraduate degree students accepted onto the following BA (Honours) degree programmes are asked to read the following books prior to enrolment.
Acting
- The Actor And His Body by Litz Pisk ISBN: 9780245527210
- Respect For Acting by Uta Hagen ISBN: 9780025473904
- Acting – The First Six Lessons by Richard Boleslavsky ISBN: 9780878300006
- Freeing The Natural Voice by Kristin Linklater ISBN: 9780896760714
- The Voice Book by Michael McCallion (first half) ISBN: 9780878309870
- Stanislavski: An Introduction by Jean Benedetti ISBN: 9780878305780
- A Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder, et. al. ISBN: 9780394744124
- Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus by Marina Calderone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams ISBN: 9780896762527
- The Oxford Illustrated History Of Theatre by Brown, John Russell, Oxford University Press. Oxford 1995. ISBN: 9780192880628
Applied Theatre and Community Drama
- Jackson, A . (2007) Theatre, Education and the Making of Meanings, Manchester: Manchester University Press ISBN: 9780719065439
- Prentki, T & Preston, S. (Eds) 2008, The Applied Theatre Reader, London: Routledge ISBN: 9780415428873
- Drain, R. (1995). Twentieth-century theatre: a sourcebook. London: Routledge. ISBN: 9780415096195
- Johnstone, K (1992) Impro, London: Routledge ISBN: 9780878301171
- Zarrilli, P. B. (2010). Theatre histories: an introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. ISBN: 9780415462242
Management of Music, Entertainment, Theatre and Events
- Donald S Passmann, All You Need to Know About the Music Business, London, Penguin (new edition 2008). ISBN: 9780141031156
- John Tusa, Engaged with the Arts: writings from the frontline, London I.B.Tauris, 2007. ISBN: 9781845114244
All LIPA staff working in the field of US Federal Financial Aid and Private Loans for US nationals are duty bound to abide by the code of conduct stipulated by the US Government which prohibits:
- Revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
- Receiving gifts from lenders, guarantors, or loan servicers.
- Contracting arrangement providing financial benefit from any lender or affiliate of a lender.
- Directing borrowers to particular lenders, or refusing or delaying loan certifications.
- Offers of funds for private loans.
- Call centre or financial aid office staffing assistance.
- Advisory board compensation.
LIPA advises that all UK and international students born after 1982 should seek MMR vaccination (and should receive both the recommended doses) prior to their studies with us. Information about the vaccination can be found here:
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/
Most UK students will have been vaccinated against Meningitis C, international students are recommended to have the Meningitis C vaccination or Meningitis A & C or the ACWY vaccine.
More information about Meningitis C vaccine can be found here.
We are concerned to protect you against the risks arising from the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol and, to this end, our premises remain a drug-free zone.
Staff Policy On Alcohol And Drug Abuse - April 2024We are concerned to protect you against the risks arising from the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol and, to this end, our premises remain a drug-free zone.
Please visit https://studentaid.gov/, for current information about the Direct Loan Program.