Skip navigation
Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

The one year Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music, is designed to allow students with an existing masters qualification 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 *Traditional performance *Jazz performance It is not available for Conducting, Composition, HIPP and Piano for Dance. Overseas Auditions If you want to audition at one of our overseas locations, you must submit your application by the 2nd October 2024. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions, please see our website for more information. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for the audition. Details of audition dates and locations can be found on our website, 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. Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 2nd December 2024 (except keyboard, which is the 2nd October), but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for first round of scholarship Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2025, 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:

Single specialism

Only one instrument is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument formatively, 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
  • Accordion (classical)
  • Bassoon
  • Bodhran
  • Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Cello

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 60 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
United States - East Coast£65£65
United States - West Coast£65£65

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
RecordingNo fee charged
RCSNot available at this location
SingaporeNo fee charged
QingdaoNo fee charged
SeoulNo fee charged
United States - East CoastNo fee charged
United States - West CoastNo fee charged

Additional information

All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account profile regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process. Applicants submitting performance recordings via our Acceptd platform, will go through a two round process. If successful, the second round will be a live online interview with the department you are applying for. For applicants auditioning in-person overseas, Heads of Department may follow up with an online interview. Once we receive your application we will email you with details of your audition. You can view the audition requirements and what to prepare for this course at the following page on our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/advanced-pgdip-music/.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands £12760* Whole course
England £12760* Whole course
Northern Ireland £12760* Whole course
Scotland £12760* Whole course
Wales £12760* Whole course
Republic of Ireland £12760* Whole course
EU £27968* Whole course
International £27968* Whole course

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

*Please note, fees are subject to change for AY25 entry* Associated programme costs may be required for this programme for any new student at the start of their studies. For more information on please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/

Sponsorship information

The Royal Conservatoire is able to offer a number of entrance scholarships to music degrees which are awarded as part of the audition/selection process on the basis of merit and financial need. Please see our website for more information - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/apply/finance/scholarships/.

Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS