Primary instrument/specialism
- Collaborative Piano
Course summary
The deadline for all applicants, including international, to apply to this programme is the 2nd October 2025 a team of highly experienced professional accompanists and chamber musicians, you will engage in a range of collaborative opportunities to prepare you for this demanding profession working with students and lecturers from all departments at RCS. Developing core accompaniment skills form the foundation of the Accompaniment programme. In addition to the extensive development of standard accompaniment repertoire, additional supporting skills are also cultivated in regular group classes including; sight-reading, orchestral reductions, transposition, figured bass, choral accompaniment, vocal and instrumental coaching and languages. MA Collaborative Pianists also enjoy extensive performing opportunities, whether in concerts, competitions or accompanying students. The programme provides a wide range of choices for assessment, including studio recordings, commissions of new collaborative works, independent projects and full-length recitals. Students who have graduated in this course have gone on to have professional careers as accompanists and work for a wide range of institutions and organisations throughout the world. Graduates also work in the fields of music education, arts management and administration, and music in the community, where an MA degree is highly valued. Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2026, these courses are currently designated subject to validation. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.
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
Please see our course webpage for more information.
Assessment method
Please see our course webpage for more information.
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:
- 831F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire. To find out more please visit: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/
Entry requirements
Candidates for both the MMus and MA are normally expected to hold a good honours (at least 2:2) degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme. In addition to the general entry requirements, candidates will preferably already have public performance experience of working with singers and instrumentalists. Knowledge of a specialist area of relevant repertoire (e.g. vocal, string, wind) is also desirable.
Additional entry requirements
Audition
Repertoire details will be provided two weeks prior to the audition or recording submission date. This will include one movement from a Classical sonata for violin, as well as one German and one French song for soprano. In-person auditions will feature a sight-reading test, whilst recorded auditions will include a quick preparation test, which will be received and completed on the submission day. You do not need to supply any recordings at the point of application. Specific information on what to prepare will be sent to the applicant after the application closing date (2 October 2025). Please refer to our course webpage, under the 'how to apply' section, for more information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-collaborative-piano/
Interview
An interview will form part of the audition process.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 in each component (with no component below 5.5) is required. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing) |
More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink.
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Recording | £65 | £65 |
| RCS | £65 | £65 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Recording | Not available at this location | |
| RCS | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account profile and application regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs) and needs to be completed once your UCAS application has been submitted. All live in-person auditions will be scheduled through the Acceptd platform. If you don't have an acceptd application, we won't be able to audition you. Applicants submitting performance recordings via our Acceptd platform, may be asked to a follow-up live online interview with the department you are applying for. For the best audition experience, we would encourage all UK applicants (and where possible international applicants) to attend in person. You can view the audition requirements and what to prepare for this course at the following page on our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-collaborative-piano/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £18483* | Whole course |
| England | £18483* | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £18483* | Whole course |
| Scotland | £18483* | Whole course |
| Wales | £18483* | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £18483* | Whole course |
| EU | £36283* | Whole course |
| International | £36283* | Whole course |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
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
All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and Scholarship, please see our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Sponsorship information
Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made in January following an audition and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered. More information can be found at: www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/
Provider information
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB