Primary instrument/specialism
- Composition
Course summary
The Advanced Professional Diploma in Composition (APD) is for students seeking a final-stage bridge to professional work. The course supports development of a range of industry-related skills (as appropriate to the individual profile) with course supervision provided in addition to one-to-one lessons. Successful applicants will have highly developed compositional skills and a detailed understanding of their individual professional development needs. This will need to be articulated in the form of a deliverable set of outcomes/goals for the work during the course. APD students will be supported in developing a high degree of independence in their work through the course, in order to be able to meet professional expectations. The course is at level 8 of the FHEQ, which demands a high level of autonomy and initiative. This course is right for you if you are almost ready to enter the profession and have a strategy for refining or developing specific skills to make the transition. It is designed to enable students to make the most of the artistic and educational opportunities afforded by the Academy and its location in the heart of London.
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.
Assessment method
Please see https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/about-our-courses
How to apply
This course is not open to application until the 10th July 2025.
*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:
- W304
- Institution code:
- R53
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
At the Academy we pride ourselves on our diverse international community. Over 800 students study here every year, with around sixty different nationalities from all over the world. https://www.ram.ac.uk/student-life/international; https://www.ram.ac.uk/accommodation. For details about how to prepare the application, please see the Audition Requirements section for your Department on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments. We are offering a choice of video or in-person interview to all candidates selected to progress to Round Two after their portfolio has been assessed. When you submit the portfolio in Acceptd you will be asked to indicate your preference for the interview. The application deadline is 2 October 2025, 18:00 UK time, for both the UCAS Conservatoires application and also your application profile in Acceptd.
Entry requirements
A Master’s qualification or equivalent (in a relevant subject), but the Academy welcomes applications from students who may not meet the normal academic requirements
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | Minimum score of 5.5 in every section of the test |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Minimum score of 59 in every section of the test |
We accept IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online, and Cambridge C1 Advanced.
English Language requirements are published on our website:
https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/entry-requirement/english-language-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
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio upload | £100 | £100 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio upload | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
Please see the information on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/audition. The entry point for this course is Year 1. Your uploaded portfolio is assessed by the Composition department entry panel. The upload portal and the portfolio requirements are available through https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments/composition-and-contemporary-music/courses. The portfolio assessment is the equivalent of the first-round live performance given by an instrumental or vocal candidate to a panel at the Academy. You will be informed around the beginning of November whether you have been selected for a Round Two panel interview. Interviews for candidates selected after their portfolio submission will take place during the main audition period in London in December. We are offering a choice of video or in-person interview to all candidates selected to progress to Round Two after their portfolio has been assessed. When you submit the portfolio in Acceptd you will be asked to indicate your preference for the interview.
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
Tuition fees are published on www.ram.ac.uk/fees
Sponsorship information
There is no separate scholarship application process, and entrance scholarship awards are confirmed in candidates' offer details. You can find more details about financial support on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/fees-scholarships-and-bursaries.
Provider information
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Marylebone Road
Westminster
NW1 5HT