Secondary specialism
You would like to study two specialisms, but one as your main specialism and the other as a secondary instrument.
Course summary
The principal aim of our Postgraduate Diploma in Music course is to enable a period of focus on your Principal Study, so that you can graduate as a more assured practitioner, and to supplement that advanced training with knowledge and skills in complementary areas relevant to your professional development. You will thus graduate better prepared to address the challenges involved in becoming a professional musician in the twenty-first century, whether you enter the profession straight away, or after a further period of study. A distinctive feature of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s postgraduate provision is that it will give you the opportunity to make choices within your course directly relevant to your future career aspirations, both within your Principal Study area and in your supporting studies. All routes include a core Career Development module designed to get you thinking about your future professional plans, and a broad menu of optional Professional Development modules designed to help you work towards achieving your personal career aspirations. You will have the opportunity to study in one of several Principal Study areas, all of which also offer the option to study at MMus level.
- Instrumental Performance (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
- Vocal Performance (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
- Orchestral Performance (Strings) (MMus, PgDip)
- Conducting (MMus, PgDip)
- Jazz (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
- Experimental Performance (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
- Composition (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
- Music Technology (MMus, PgDip, PgCert)
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
- Bassoon
- Bassoon (Historical Performance)
- Cello
- Cello (Historical Performance)
- Cello (Orchestral Performance)
- Clarinet (Classical)
Secondary instrument/specialisms
- Bassoon
- Bassoon (Historical Performance)
- Cello
- Cello (Historical Performance)
- Cello (Orchestral Performance)
- Clarinet (Classical)
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.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UK students should normally hold an honours degree, ideally but not necessarily in Music. Non-UK students should hold a Bachelor's degree or a similar degree-equivalent diploma, ideally but not necessarily in Music. Experimental Performance applicants are required to submit a portfolio presented as one single pdf document. This portfolio should show us all the aspects of your artistic practice that you find important. The pdf document can contain descriptive or artistic text and images but also links to other websites (for example of video/audio recordings of your work). The nature of the work submitted, and its presentation, is up to you; however, please bear in mind that we need to clearly understand your personal approach to creating performances and making art. Make thoughtful decisions about specific elements of your work that you absolutely want us to see, for example by highlighting important sections through smart video editing or giving us timecodes so that we can easily locate essential moments within the documentation. The portfolio also must contain a motivational statement, explaining your reasons for applying. This can be delivered in the form of written text (max one side of A4) or via a link to a video or audio recording (or equivalent). Applicants for all other Principal Study areas will be auditioned. For full audition requirements and audition advice, please visit the Music Auditions section of the Conservatoire website.
Additional entry requirements
Audition
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Birmingham Conservatoire | £77 | £77 |
| Virtual Audition | £77 | £77 |
| China (Mainland) Performers only /local fee | £77 | £77 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Birmingham Conservatoire | £108 | £108 |
| Virtual Audition | £108 | £108 |
| China (Mainland) Performers only /local fee | £108 | £108 |
Additional information
For more information on audition entry requirements, please visit www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/music/auditions/requirements
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
£2,013 per 20 credits
Provider information
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Birmingham Conservatoire
200 Jennens Road
Birmingham
B4 7XR