Skip navigation
Music Performance (BMus Hons) at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

BMus (Hons) Performance is a four-year, full-time programme aimed at honing performers’ potential. It is strongly practical and vocational in purpose, with most of your study time devoted to individual and ensemble performance activities. However, this is also substantially complemented by a core curriculum in professional skills development, research skills, and the 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. Please note the following: *The international deadline for keyboard students is the 2nd October 2024. *The international deadline for all other instruments the is the 2nd December 2024. We would encourage all international applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship** Overseas Auditions If you want to audition at one of our overseas locations, you must submit your application by the 2nd October 2024. 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 the audition. Details of audition dates and locations can be found on our website, 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.

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.

Primary instrument/specialism

  • Accordion (classical)
  • Bassoon
  • Cello
  • Clarinet
  • Cornet
  • Double Bass

Modules

More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.

Assessment method

More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.


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.

Application codes

Course code:
300F
Institution code:
R58
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. Please email [email protected] for more information. We do not offer deferred entry.

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 diversity to the Conservatoire.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

More entry requirement information can be found under the relevant section heading (entry requirements) on our webpage.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/bmus-hons-joint-principal-study/

Additional entry requirements

Audition

Please refer to the relevant departmental webpage for specific information on what to prepare for audition - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/music/ In general we ask for two - three contrasting pieces. Some departments will give sightreading in the audition. If you have requested an in-person audition at the RCS (Glasgow), an accompanist will be provided for you.

Interview

An interview will be part of the audition process. If you have submitted a recorded audition, then this will be online in-person.

Other

A strong indication of potential is sought at the entrance audition for this programme. Successful applicants will normally be of a standard at least equivalent to Grade 8 with Distinction of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in their Principal Study. You can apply and audition without having obtained Grade 8 with distinction, however as an indication only, applicants are normally expected to have reached this standard in their performance.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Applicants 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)80Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17
PTE Academic59Overall 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

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
Recording£65£65
RCS£65£65
Singapore£65£65
Qingdao£65£65
Seoul£65£65
United States - East Coast£65£65
United States - West Coast£65£65

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
RecordingNo fee charged
RCSNot available at this location
SingaporeNo fee charged
QingdaoNo fee charged
SeoulNo fee charged
United States - East CoastNo fee charged
United States - West CoastNo fee charged

Additional information

All applicants need to complete an Acceptd account profile, regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process. Applicants submitting performance recordings via our Acceptd platform, will go through a two round process. If successful, the second round will be a live online interview with the department you are applying for. For applicants auditioning in-person overseas, Heads of Department may follow up with an online interview. 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. 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/bmus-hons-performance/


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
50%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands £9250* Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250* Year 1
England £9250* Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250* Year 1
Wales £9250* Year 1
Scotland £1820* Year 1
EU £27968* Year 1
International £27968* 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* Associated programme costs may be required for this programme for any new student at the start of their studies. For more information on please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/

Sponsorship information

Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made following our audition period 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. You can find out about the funding and scholarships available for studying at RCS by visiting our dedicated page: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/apply/finance/feesandfunding/

Music Performance (BMus Hons) at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - UCAS