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Bachelor of Music with Honours at Royal Northern College of Music - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

The RNCM Bachelor of Music with Honours (BMus Hons) degree supports the education of creative, inquisitive, well-rounded musicians, complementing your passion for performance or composition with academic and professional training to the highest standard. In addition to Principal Study, your artistic and technical expertise will flourish through group tuition, classes and masterclasses with high-profile artists, and a range of performance opportunities. You’ll also be encouraged to follow your own path, developing specialisms, connections and a personal musical style as the programme progresses. With a clear emphasis on success, fulfilment, and musical wellbeing, the course will help you master the skills necessary to build and enjoy a musical career in the 21st Century.

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.

Joint main specialism

You would like to study two specialisms, both studied equally.

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
  • Cello
  • Clarinet
  • Composition
  • Cornet
  • Double Bass

Secondary instrument/specialisms

  • Bassoon
  • Cello
  • Clarinet
  • Composition
  • Cornet
  • Double Bass

Modules

The BMus (Hons) comprises of 480 credits over four years and is made up of three complementary components: Principal Study, Career Development (including Placements and Projects), and Academic Studies. Within its core structure, students also have the chance to develop emerging specialisms through optional practical and vocational electives. Years 1 and 2 include:

  • At least one hour per week in your one-to-one lesson with your vocal, instrumental or composition tutor.
  • Attending various other classes with your School, including masterclasses with visiting artists, performance classes, and ensemble training.
  • Attending weekly lectures and seminars to study music from a diversity of cultural, social, and historically-contextualised perspectives, engaging with topical debates while developing core skills and knowledge by studying a wide range of music.
  • Attending classes to develop your artistic identity as a creative musician, learning about and reflecting on the many tools, skills, and abilities needed for a career in music.
Years 3 and 4 include:
  • Continuing with your weekly one-to-one lesson.
  • Choosing specialist areas of study from a choice of electives, including options exploring education, health and wellbeing, psychology, history, theory and analysis, technology, and the music industry. You can also choose from a wide range of practical and performance electives relating to and complementing your Principal Study work, including options in conducting, chamber music, jazz improvisation, opera, and historical performance.
  • Undertaking performance studies, including the option to specialise in repertoires such as brass band, jazz, and contemporary music. In Year 4, you will have the option to take an additional elective in an area of emerging specialism.
  • Completing a work-based learning placement in an area such as music and health, arts administration, education, sound engineering, and recording.
  • Completing an independent creative project. This can range from organising a charity concert or music competition, to staging a musical in a park, recording an EP, scoring a video game, or undertaking a tour with a musical ensemble or as a soloist. You will receive training in entrepreneurial skills, and you are assigned a mentor to advise on your project.
Along with this tuition, instrumentalists and singers join a variety of RNCM ensembles and opera casts, delivering performances throughout the year. Composers hear their own compositions for any ensemble performed in full. You many also gain opportunities to perform as part of your own ensemble(s) or as a soloist in a wide range of concerts and productions.

Assessment method

Assessment methods are designed to develop and evaluate various skills in all students. Feedback is provided on all assessments, enabling you to enhance your learning by acting on constructive criticism and appraisals given in the context of all modules, both formatively and in relation to summative, credit-bearing assessments. Assessment methods are diverse, and include: live performance or composition portfolio assessment, written assessment, reflective portfolio, presentation, vlog or blog, arrangements, theory tests, aural and improvisation assessment.


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:
300F
Institution code:
R57
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

BMus (Hons) Three-Year FT Accelerated Pathway: As well as meeting the standard requirements for this course (below), entrants to the three-year BMus shall meet the following additional requirements: - Passes at GCE A Level (or equivalent) at grade A or A* in at least three different subjects, normally including Music (i.e., AAA at A2). - Pass in the Diploma in Music Performance of the ABRSM (DipABRSM), or a Level 4 equivalent, normally in the principal study instrument, to have been achieved by 30 April prior to September in the year of entry. - For those requiring English Language qualification, a pass at IELTS Level 7.0 or equivalent (CEFR C1) normally by 1 April prior to September in the year of entry.

International applicants

Over 900 students from more than 60 countries currently call the RNCM their home, and our vibrant community is continually enriched by the international students we welcome each year. If you are hoping to join us from overseas and your first language is not English, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability. For the BMus (Hons), an IELTS score of 5.5 (or CEFR B2) in all components is required. For further information, visit rncm.ac.uk/international

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

All applicants must have passes at GCE A level (A2) in a minimum of two subjects at grade E or above, normally including music, and passes in three different subjects at GCSE level (grades A*-C/9-4) or acceptable equivalent. Applicants whose first language is not English must have IELTS 5.5 or equivalent in each and every component (or CEFR B2).

Additional entry requirements

Audition

All instrumental and vocal applicants must pass an RNCM audition in the year prior to entry, demonstrating a high standard of performance and potential, of at least ABRSM Grade 8 standard.

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Interview

Portfolio

All composition applicants must submit a portfolio of three works as part of their main application which will be reviewed by a shortlisting panel. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an interview and score analysis exercise during our main audition period.

Other

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age on 31 December in the year of entry. All auditionees are required to complete an online multiple choice theory test as part of the application process. The test isn’t pass or fail, but results do tell us about your knowledge of music theory, general musicianship and contextual awareness.


English language requirements

If you are hoping to join us from overseas and your first language is not English, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability. For the BMus (Hons), an IELTS score of 5.5 (or CEFR B2) in all components is required. For further information, visit rncm.ac.uk/international


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
Online£80£80
RNCM, Manchester£80£80
Singapore£80£80
New York£80£80

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
Online£120£120
RNCM, Manchester£120£120
Singapore£120£120
New York£120£120

Additional information

Visit rncm.ac.uk/youraudition for full audition requirements.


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni 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

The RNCM charges tuition fees to all students for each year of study. To determine the status of undergraduate students for fee purposes, we follow regulations issued by the UK Government. If you don’t qualify for Home status, you’ll be enrolled as an International student. Visit rncm.ac.uk/fees for course fees and information about scholarships and bursaries.

Sponsorship information

Scholarships are offered to applicants who demonstrate outstanding ability and potential at audition. There’s no separate application process for these as everyone is automatically considered. Scholarship Awards are for the first year of study only (unless specifically stated otherwise). A limited number of Bursaries are also available for International and postgraduate students, allocated on the basis of need and merit. If you’re successful in gaining a Bursary, this will be deducted from your tuition fees, leaving you with a net balance to pay. Visit rncm.ac.uk/fees for information about scholarships and bursaries.

Bachelor of Music with Honours at Royal Northern College of Music - UCAS