Primary instrument/specialism
- Drama Performance
Course summary
The application deadline for this course is 31 MARCH 2025. We want to work with aspiring Musical directors on this exciting new Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Direction at Scotland’s national conservatoire. This one-year programme is designed to teach you the core skills and processes required to progress into the industry or on to full-time master’s study. Studying within a safe and collaborative environment, you will have the opportunity to work closely with key skill practitioners, performers, actors, musicians, and other artists from across RCS. The design of this programme is weighted towards skills, with a focus placed on grounding, developing, and gaining fresh insight. By allowing space to prepare and learn from each session, students are given the opportunity to ground and develop the essential skills needed as a growing Musical Director. These skills are structured into the 5 areas highlighted below: *Keyboard skills *Conducting skills *Scoring and arranging techniques *Vocal technique and repertoire coaching, *Programming and Sound Once confidence and consistency are gained in each area, project preparation sessions are then introduced. These sessions are designed to break down and explore the process of Musical Directing out with a larger process, before giving the opportunity to integrate this learning into a small project. These sessions will include: *Note learning sessions *Voice warm-ups *Keys depping processes *Conducting small and large ensembles *Techniques for coaching the voice *Working with a creative and production team You will work with specialist project and Industry mentors to support your individual aims and goals, and to gain insight into how your artistic practice relates to musical theatre more broadly. Opportunities to observe, assist and lead on projects will be explored as you grow in skill and experience, with the aim of supporting the next generation of innovative and highly skilled musical directors. Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate programmes starting in 2025, 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 departmental web page for more information about the course.
Assessment method
Please see our departmental web page for more information about the course.
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.
29Jan
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:
- 705F
- 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 60 different nationalities and add a rich multicultural diversity to the Conservatoire.
Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to hold an appropriate undergraduate degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.
Additional entry requirements
Audition
Your Musical Directing audition will be split into three parts (audition, folio, consultation lesson), details of which are below: Audition: Ensemble Singing Workshop (approx. 20 minutes) In-person candidates will be asked to lead a vocal workshop with a small group, which should include: *The teaching of a short section of ensemble repertoire of the candidate’s choosing – please bring suitable material for the vocal ensemble. *Elements of vocal guidance *Elements of style and interpretation Online candidates will be asked to submit a recording of you leading a workshop with the areas highlighted above, uploading to your profile on Acceptd. If you are unable to work with an ensemble in person, we would be happy for you to submit a recording of you working with an ensemble via an online platform. Please do try and submit this prior to your audition/interview but if not possible, please let us know and you can then submit this up to 3 weeks after your interview. Sight Reading (approx. 15 minutes) The candidate will be asked to play two songs of varying styles and complexity chosen by the panel. Candidates will be given around 10 minutes to scan the piece before the process of sight-reading each song. Candidates may be redirected through this process.
Interview
Interview (approx. 15 minutes) The candidate will be asked a series of questions in relation to their skills, knowledge, and experience as an emerging Musical Director. Focus will be placed on areas of communication, knowledge, and awareness of style and genre shown by each candidate.
Portfolio
Folio Submission – including your CV, and the set arrangement Candidates will be asked to arrange the following extracts for your choice of ensemble and upload your scoring of the set arrangement below. This may be discussed further at your audition. The Life of the Party (extract) – bar 86 to the end. Please arrange for an instrumental ensemble of 6-10 instruments of your choosing Anthem – Vocal Arrangement (extract) – bar 41 to the end. Please arrange for a vocal ensemble of your choosing
Other
Consultation Piano Lesson (approx. 30 minutes) You will be given a consultation piano lesson working through varying pieces of repertoire chosen by them. This session will explore a range of varying keyboard skills through a one-to-one workshop. In-person candidates will be asked to bring a small selection of song accompaniments for this session; online candidates will have this lesson via an online platform. Please see our website for full audition details under the 'how to apply' section: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/professional-graduate-diploma-in-musical-directing/
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7.5 | 7.5 with a minimum score of 7.5 in speaking and no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 102 | Overall score of 102, with minimum scores of: Reading -18, Listening -17, Speaking -27, Writing -17 |
| PTE Academic | 76 | Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 76 in speaking and 59 in all other components (reading, listening, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | £55 | £55 |
| Online | £55 | £55 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | Not available at this location | |
| Online | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process. Once we receive your application we will email you with details of your audition. For the best audition experience, we would encourage all UK applicants (and where possible international applicants) to attend in-person.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £11118* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £11118* | Year 1 |
| EU | £17609* | Year 1 |
| England | £11118* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £11118* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £11118* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £11118* | Year 1 |
| International | £17609* | Year 1 |
*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
*Please note, fees are subject to change for AY25 entry*
Please note, all new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies. For more information on this please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/
Sponsorship information
The School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film scholarships are awarded for a mixture of financial need and merit. Scholarships within the School of DDPF are applied for and awarded on an annual basis. If you are offered a place at the Conservatoire for drama, dance, production or film (DDPF), you will be forwarded the link to Apply for a DDPF Scholarship. - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/.
Provider information
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB