Course summary

The MA Joint Principal Study (JPS) degree is intended for exceptional students who are capable of performing at masters level in more than one discipline. Your study will be shared between two departments, with both individual lessons and supporting classes split between disciplines. Possible combinations include: -Two instruments from different families within the performance strand, e.g. piano and cello -Two genres, such as jazz and traditional music; jazz and (classical) performance; or traditional music and (classical) performance -Two disciplines, such as composition and percussion The following strands are self-contained specialisms, and may not be combined with another strand as part of a JPS route: -Chamber Music -Conducting -Performance and Pedagogy -Performance and Musicology -Piano for Dance -Repetiteurship The following cases do not constitute joint principal study: -Students pursuing two instruments within the same family e.g. violin and viola, piano and harpsichord, flute and piccolo, and similar doublings -Jazz and Traditional students who both perform and compose as part of their discipline Acceptance onto the Joint Principal Study strand is exceptional, and is only offered to students who are able to demonstrate the requisite level of skill and commitment across both areas.. Overseas Auditions We are operating a pre-screening process for all our international audition locations. All videos must be submitted to your Acceptd account before the below deadlines. There is no set repertoire for the pre-screening round, and you are welcome to perform different repertoire should you be successfully offered a live audition. Please note some departments may have some additional requirements needed at audition, please check the relevant page on our website for more information. For live in-person auditions being held in Qingdao, Seoul, Singapore and Kuala Lumpa: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 2nd October 2025. For live in-person auditions being held in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Toronto: UCAS Conservatoire applications and Acceptd submissions must be submitted by the deadline of 1st December 2025. All keyboard applicants MUST submit their application by the 2nd October 2025 regardless of which audition location you choose (including the recording option). If successfully offered a live in-person audition at one of our overseas locations, then applicants applying from that country will be expected to attend in person. We strongly encourage people to attend in person to be able to meet some of our staff members face to face and ask questions about our programmes, and life at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. For live auditions, we cannot guarantee that a member of our teaching staff will be on the panel for your specific discipline. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for auditions. Further details of dates and locations can be found on our departmental webpages, 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. If you are unable to attend a live in-person audition, then we do offer a recorded submission option. Recorded submissions will go through the same pre-screening process, and applicants will be invited to a live online audition at the discretion of the relevant Head of Department. You may be asked to perform additional repertoire or complete a small aural task as part of this process. If you are recalled, further details and online meeting links will be sent to you. This programme is subject to validation for Academic Year 2026-2027