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Music BMus at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

The BMus (Hons) degree at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will help you to realise your potential and prepare you for a career in the music profession, whether that is in performance, composition, or music technology. The programme will develop your specialist musical skills as well as developing your theoretical, historical, and practice-based knowledge, all the while encouraging your individual creativity. As a result, you will become an independent learner, a critical interpreter, and a reflective practitioner. You will have the opportunity to study in one of three Principal Study areas:

  • Performance (Instrumental or Vocal)
  • Composition
  • Music Technology
You will graduate with a named award that reflects the Principal Study area chosen. During your time at the Conservatoire, you will study within a particular Department that is determined by your Principal Study area. Our departments are arranged by both instrument and specialism and include: Brass; Composition; Historical Performance; Keyboard; Music Technology; Percussion; Strings (bowed and plucked); Vocal and Operatic; and Woodwind. With specialist tuition throughout all four years of the course, you will get the individual attention you need to prepare for a successful career. You will benefit from the care and attention of our highly qualified professional team of tutors and support staff, all of whom are dedicated to supporting and developing the potential of each student. You will be based in our £57-million Conservatoire building, which features the 440-seat Bradshaw Concert Hall; the smaller Recital Hall; our black-box performance space known as The Lab; our dedicated Eastside Jazz Club; seven recording studios, editing and mastering suites; not to mention a large number of practice rooms, ensemble rooms and teaching workshops. All our spaces are acoustically designed to provide a world-class music-making environment. Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is a friendly, welcoming, and highly supportive environment. We also benefit from being part of Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, which provides many opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary projects.

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:

Secondary specialism

You would like to study two specialisms, but one as your main specialism and the other as a secondary instrument.

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

  • Bassoon
  • Bassoon (Historical Performance)
  • Cello
  • Cello (Historical Performance)
  • Clarinet
  • Clarinet (Theatre doubling)

Secondary instrument/specialisms

  • Bassoon
  • Bassoon (Historical Performance)
  • Cello
  • Cello (Historical Performance)
  • Clarinet
  • Clarinet (Theatre doubling)

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:
1255
Institution code:
B34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Welsh Baccalaureate: 32 UCAS tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 32 UCAS tariff points. NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 32 UCAS tariff points. WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 32 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s). UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Pass overall Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Pass overall

Additional entry requirements

Audition

Entry to the BMus (Hons) is by audition only. Applicants will be required to demonstrate general musical knowledge and musicianship skills, including harmony and aural. Audition requirements differ per instrument/specialism applied for. Composition - you will be required to submit a portfolio of work of at least three compositions and a high-quality recording of at least one of these works at least two weeks before your audition date. Music Technology - you will be required to submit a portfolio of work. This must contain at least three pieces which may be recordings, productions, compositions, sound to picture or other appropriate material at least two weeks before your audition date.

English language requirements

IELTS 5.5 or equivalent is required in all four skills areas for international and EU students.

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
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire£77£77
Virtual Audition£77£77
China (Mainland) Performers only /local fee£77£77

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time FeeLate Fee
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire£108£108
Virtual Audition£108£108
China (Mainland) Performers only /local fee£108£108

Additional information

Entry to the BMus (Hons) is by audition only. Applicants will be required to demonstrate general musical knowledge and musicianship skills, including harmony and aural. Audition requirements differ per instrument/specialism applied for.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
EU £26195 Year 1
International £26195 Year 1

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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Music BMus at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - UCAS