Course summary

The BMus (Hons) Joint Principal Study (JPS) pathway at the RCS is a specialist four-year pathway that enables students with exceptional potential in two disciplines to pursue these in parallel at degree level. It is strongly practical and vocational in purpose, with most of your study time devoted to activities in the two principal study areas, but this is substantially complemented by a core curriculum in professional skills development, research skills, and development of critical and reflective thinking. The programme’s structure and content are designed to allow you to develop the full range of your creative and technical abilities and to equip you with the professional skills and knowledge that will enable you to pursue your musical interests and aspirations to the highest level. The BMus Programme offers a unique opportunity for you to immerse yourself in a creative and supportive environment dedicated to the study and practice of music in a multidisciplinary setting that includes dance, drama, film and production programmes alongside music. Our aim for our graduates is to prepare you for both postgraduate study and professional employment as performers, teachers, and in other careers as part of the portfolio career common within the contemporary music profession. JPS is a demanding programme and students taking this study additional credits (140 credits per year instead of the usual 120). At the end of each academic year, students on JPS will be asked if wish to continue on that route, or to specialise in one or other of their Principal Studies. To continue on the Joint Principal Study pathway, students must normally achieve a specified mininum grade for each Principal Study module; failure to achieve this level in both Principal Studies will normally result in the student being required to pursue the better Principal Study as a ‘single study’ (i.e. transfer to the Performance/ Composition/ Jazz route). The JPS pathway includes Conducting as a principal study. Applicants will need to demonstrate an existing level of achievement in this area in order to be considered for the Conducting pathway. Conducting cannot be taken as a “single study” pathway if a JPS student later transfers away from the Joint Principal Study pathway. Overseas Auditions If you want to audition live at one of our overseas locations, you must submit your application by the 2nd October 2025. We do not operate a pre-screening round of auditions. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions, please see our website for more information. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for some locations. Further details of audition dates and locations can be found on our departmental webpage, 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. Please note, the international deadline for recorded submissions for this programme is the 1st December 2025 (except for keyboard who's deadline is 2nd October 2025), but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2025 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship If you apply for the JPS pathway, you do not need to apply for the single specialism pathway, unless it is in a subject area out with what you have already selected