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Music Performance at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS

Course summary

The Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music is designed to allow students with existing masters qualifications to progress further within their discipline. You will have the opportunity to extend and deepen your skills, knowledge and understanding in and through performance within a rich conservatoire environment. The Advanced Postgraduate Diploma is available to performers in the following disciplines: *All string, woodwind and brass instruments, solo, chamber or orchestral *Guitar and harp *Timpani and percussion, including marimba *Piano solo and ensemble, harpsichord, organ, accordion *Vocal Performance *Scottish folk/traditional performance *Jazz performance It is not available for Conducting, Composition, HIPP and Piano for Dance. Overseas Auditions We are operating a pre-screening process for all our international audition locations. All videos must be submitted to your Acceptd account before the below deadlines. There is no set repertoire for the pre-screening round, and you are welcome to perform different repertoire should you be successfully offered a live audition. Please note some departments may have some additional requirements needed at audition, please check the relevant page on our website for more information. For live in-person auditions being held in Qingdao, Seoul, Singapore and Kuala Lumpa: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 2nd October 2025. For live in-person auditions being held in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Toronto: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 1st December 2025. All keyboard applicants MUST submit their application by the 2nd October 2025 regardless of which audition location you choose (including the recording option). If successfully offered a live in-person audition at one of our overseas locations, then applicants applying from that country will be expected to attend in person. We strongly encourage people to attend in person to be able to meet some of our staff members face to face and ask questions about our programmes, and life at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. For live auditions, we cannot guarantee that a member of our teaching staff will be on the panel for your specific discipline. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for auditions. Further details of dates and locations can be found on our departmental webpages, under the 'How to apply' section. Please note, our locations are subject to change at short notice. If you choose a location that becomes unavailable we will be in touch to offer an alternative, this will likely be a recorded submission. If you are unable to attend a live in-person audition, then we do offer a recorded submission option. Recorded submissions will go through the same pre-screening process, and applicants will be invited to a live online audition at the discretion of the relevant Head of Department. You may be asked to perform additional repertoire or complete a small aural task as part of this process. If you are recalled, further details and online meeting links will be sent to you. Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2026, these courses are currently designated 'subject to revalidation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.

Course details

Principal study options

During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:

Main specialism

Only one specialism is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.

Instrument/specialisms

For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.

Primary instrument/specialism

  • Accordion (classical)
  • Bassoon
  • Bodhran
  • Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Cello
  • Cello (Jazz)

Modules

More information about what the course entails across the programme can be found on our website.

Assessment method

More information about what the course entails across the programme can be found on our website.


How to apply

*If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.

Application codes

Course code:
445F
Institution code:
R58
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire.

Entry requirements

Candidates are normally expected to hold a Masters Degree in Music.

Additional entry requirements

Audition

All auditions are planned to take place in-person at our campus in Glasgow in November 2024.  Should you apply on time, you will be e-mailed directly with details of your audition date and time, and your UCAS Conservatoires track will be updated with this information. International applicants are welcome to submit a recorded submission via Acceptd. Through audition, applicants will be required to demonstrate: * a high degree of technical competency on the instrument or voice in the service of specific repertoire * an ability to demonstrate a considerable degree of understanding of the repertoire performed * an ability to perform specific repertoire convincingly * a considerable degree of self-confidence and creativity with respect to the repertoire performed * a degree of self-sufficiency, initiative and independence in selecting, preparing and performing a particular programme * a developing musical personality An interview, if held, will assess the candidate’s suitability for the programme in terms of knowledge, experience and commitment.

Other

All applicants are required to create and Acceptd profile regardless of where you are auditioning. More information on this can be found on our website.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component) is required of applicants to the School of Music.
TOEFL (iBT)80Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17
PTE Academic59Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing)

More information about our english requirements can be found at the following link

https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/


Assessment locations

In the event of a successful assessment, applicants may be invited for a further interview prior to being made an offer.

Remote assessment recordings may be accepted in the event that you cannot attend an assessment in person.

Single specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
Recording£65£65
RCS£65£65
Singapore£65£65
Qingdao£65£65
Seoul£65£65
New York£65£65
Los Angeles£65£65
Chicago£65£65
Kuala Lumpur£65£65
Toronto£65£65

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
RecordingNot available at this location
RCSNot available at this location
SingaporeNot available at this location
QingdaoNot available at this location
SeoulNot available at this location
New YorkNot available at this location
Los AngelesNot available at this location
ChicagoNot available at this location
Kuala LumpurNot available at this location
TorontoNot available at this location

Additional information

All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account profile and application regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process. All live in-person auditions will be scheduled through the Acceptd platform. If you don't have an acceptd application, we won't be able to audition you. You can view the audition requirements and what to prepare for this course on the relevant programme page on our website.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Fees are variable depending on the mode of study. Please consult the Conservatoire's website for more information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/ Please note, all new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.

Sponsorship information

Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made in January following an audition and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered. More information can be found at: www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/

Music Performance at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS