By becoming an Equity member, you are joining the fight to make the entertainment industry a better place.
Plus you’ll get support, insurance, discounts and more - for as little as £3 a month.
If you are currently a student or studying, you can join Equity as an Education and Training member and receive a 75% discount on our membership fee while still enjoying all the benefits. Once you’ve completed your course you can become an Equity graduate member and receive a 50% discount.
Join today
Why join Equity as a student or graduate?
Kick start your career
- Get your Equity card and reserve your professional name
- Discounts for training, venues and relevant services
- £500 bursary to help with costs of beginning a career
- Learn from experienced union members and meet like-minded people in Equity’s networks, whether you’re a drag artist, studying puppeteering, or interested in campaigning for a Green New Deal.
Support and protection
- £10 million Public Liability insurance cover, accident (including if you’re injured on your course) and backstage possessions cover
- Tax and social security advice
- Free legal advice, representation and a 24 hour helpline
- Contracts checking and enforcing
Get involved
- Stand up for yourself and others by becoming a Student Deputy to represent your course mates.
- Campaign to improve your institution with our support.
- Join Equity’s campaigns to make the performing arts a better, fairer industry for all, including our current campaign, led by student members, to abolish audition fees for performing arts courses.
"Being a performer can sometimes be a lonely profession. But by being in Equity I know that I am part of a network, a community, a movement."
Dan de la Motte
Eligibility
Eligibility for Education and Training Membership
To join Equity under our education training membership, you need to either be studying on a NQF level 4 course or above that lasts at least one academic year
or
undertaking a training course that is:
- 3 months+ duration
- Aimed at people aged 16 years old or older
- Free or low cost
- With an organisation that has an existing relationship with Equity
- Training for the profession, not CPD for the existing workforce or for those with no professional credit.
- Supporting people to access careers in the sector where there are geographical/demographic barriers that might otherwise prevent them from going to drama school for example
- Strongly linked with working industry professionals
Eligibility for Graduate membership
Once you have completed your course, you can become an Equity Subsidised Member as a Graduate if your earnings are under £40,000 per year. You receive a 50% discount on the subscription fee for up to two years after your studies conclude, maintaining full access to the union’s benefits.
