Primary instrument/specialism
- Composition for Screen
Course summary
The Royal College of Music offers a diverse two-year Masters programme with multiple study routes, which allow students to work towards the qualification most suited to their needs. The Master of Composition in Composition for Screen qualification develops your composition skills to a professional level through a range of intensive training and varied performance opportunities. Composition for Screen allows students at postgraduate level to concentrate on developing the skills necessary for a demanding but rewarding profession. Our postgraduate programme in Composition for Screen will help you to develop professionally in this rewarding yet competitive field. London is one of the busiest production centres in the world for the film, television ad advertising industries, and studying here will see you at the heart of this fertile creative environment. The Composition for Screen programme offers one-to-one tuition by leading composers and experts, emphasising a practical approach to this area of study. Group tutorials and lectures focus on practical skills, critical self-reflection, historical, aesthetic and narrative considerations. There are performance opportunities of your work by fellow RCM students as well as visiting and resident professional ensembles. You will have the opportunity to attend networking events and workshops with film, television, and new media professionals as well as collaborations and joint tutorials with students from London-based film schools. This course is also available on a part-time basis over 3 years upon request. Please note that due to the intensive nature of the Composition for Screen course, it is not possible to accommodate study of a secondary specialism.
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.
Modules
Alongside your Principal Study, the programme offers a range of options. In most cases, these are divided into Faculty Options, which are exclusive to your specific faculty, and Professional Options, which offer skills relevant to any aspiring music professional.
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.
02Oct
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 705F
- Institution code:
- R56
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
The Royal College of Music has a long tradition of welcoming international students from all over the world. Our broad community of staff and students makes the RCM an exciting and diverse hub of musical activity. Almost half of our students are from outside the UK, studying at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The application process and deadline are the same for applicants of all nationalities. Composition interviews take place in London and by online interview. We are unable to offer composition interviews at our international audition locations.
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree or an equivalent international qualification, usually in music.
Additional entry requirements
Interview
Portfolio
Portfolios must be submitted by the application deadline. Details of how to submit your portfolio are available at http://www.rcm.ac.uk/apply/auditions/
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 5.5 | Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 5.5 is required in all components. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid. |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 59 is required in all components. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Level B2 | Overall score of 160-179 and no less than 160 in any component. |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity ISE II certificate. Must include a pass in all components. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 72 | Overall score of 72, with minimum component scores of: Reading -18, Listening -17, Speaking -20, Writing -17 |
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UK Home Office) do not need to sit an English test if you can provide a valid passport from an English speaking country. Some other exceptions apply - please consult our website for details.
The RCM's English Language Requirements are available in full at this link:
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
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| London | £115 | £115 |
| Online Interview | £115 | £115 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| London | Not available at this location | |
| Online Interview | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
Composition for Screen applications are assessed through a two stage process. Composers audition by submitting a portfolio of work to the RCM for consideration. Candidates whose portfolios demonstrate potential will be invited to interview. Prior to interview Composition for Screen candidates will be sent a short vocational task to complete (such as composing a short excerpt to accompany an image or scenario). Please see www.rcm.ac.uk/composition/auditionrequirements/ for further details of how to submit your portfolio.
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
Our tuition fees are still to be confirmed for the 2025-26 academic year. More information can be found at www.rcm.ac.uk/apply/feesandfunding/
Sponsorship information
All composers invited for an interview, both in person and by video, will automatically be considered for a scholarship or study award. There is no separate application process. Scholarships are awarded on merit based on the strength of portfolio and interview.
Provider information
Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road
Kensington and Chelsea
London
SW7 2BS