Primary instrument/specialism
- Accordion
- Bassoon
- Bassoon (Historical Performance)
- Cello
- Cello (Historical Performance)
- Clarinet
This course is closed for the 2024 academic cycle. Please contact the provider or view the 2025 courses.
Royal Academy of Music, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
The BMus combines focused study in performance with supporting academic studies. Every aspect is designed to help you towards realising your full musical potential, and to prepare you for your career in music. You will have at least one hour of one-to-one tuition per week in your Principal Study, with numerous performance opportunities. We offer a wide range of activities, events, training sessions and modules for you to hone your skill in such things as studio recording and editing techniques, self promotion and marketing, writing CVs, making funding applications, understanding the music business and working in arts management. At the end of your third and fourth years, you submit a portfolio of materials to help prepare you for professional life after the Academy. The application deadline for London auditions or video auditions is 2 October 2023. The application deadline for our New York audition centre is 8 January 2024.
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
Individual lessons on your instrument, and a combination of masterclasses, performance classes, chamber music, concerts and everything else that you do in your specialism. A range of core modules reinforces your awareness as a listener, develops your interpretive abilities and extends your knowledge and imagination. A range of electives encourages you to pursue your individual interests as you prepare for a musical career.
Assessment method
Your principal study will be assessed during the year by technical testing and chamber music, and at the end of the year by recital examination. Also see the information on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/about-our-courses
How to apply
This course is closed for the 2024 academic cycle. Please contact the provider or view the 2025 courses.
*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:
- 302F
- Institution code:
- R53
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
This will require satisfactory transcripts to show that you have passed Year 1 or Years 1 and 2 of a music degree at another institution, and that you have successfully covered the study areas which you would have to complete at the Academy to progress into Year 2 or Year 3. Please note that it is not possible to transfer into Year 4 of our BMus programme.
International applicants
At the Academy we pride ourselves on our diverse international community. Over 800 students study here every year, with around sixty different nationalities from all over the world. https://www.ram.ac.uk/student-life/international; https://www.ram.ac.uk/accommodation. For details about how to prepare a video audition, please see the Audition Requirements section for your Department on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments We are holding auditions in New York, Buenos Aires and São Paulo during February 2024 for candidates from North and South America who cannot travel to London for their audition. The deadline for applications to audition at those centres is 8 January 2024 midday UK time.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PPP
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher - DDD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PP
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H5, H5, H5, H5
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - P3, P3
T Level - P
If you are not taking Music as a subject in your school exams, we recommend gaining knowledge of Music Theory at Grade 6 level (ABRSM or Trinity College London) before you commence your studies with us. For international qualifications, in general, a secondary school certificate of a sufficiently high level to permit university entry will be acceptable, however applications will be examined on an individual basis by the Admissions Board.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Audition
Evidence of professional performing potential in your principal study, sound general musicianship and a good aural response.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 5.5 | Minimum score of 5.5 in every section of the test. Overall score of 6.0 required to join BMus Year 2 or Year 3. |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Minimum score of 59 in every section of the test. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 72 | Minimum scores for Reading: 18, Listening: 17, Speaking: 20, Writing: 17. |
We accept IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online and Cambridge C1 Advanced.
English Language requirements are published on our website:
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Video Recording: Upload | £100 | £100 |
| New York | £100 | £100 |
| London | £100 | £100 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Video Recording: Upload | Not available at this location | |
| New York | Not available at this location | |
| London | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
Please see the information on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/audition. For details about how to prepare a video audition, please see the Audition Requirements section for your Department on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments. We are holding auditions in New York during February 2024 for candidates from North and South America who cannot travel to London for their audition.
Student Outcomes
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Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
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
No fee information has been provided for this course
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
Tuition fees are available on www.ram.ac.uk/fees
Sponsorship information
Entrance Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit following the entrance assessment during our advertised audition sessions. There is no separate scholarship application process, and entrance scholarship awards are confirmed in candidates' offer details. The UK Student Finance Company allows eligible students to apply for tuition fee loans to cover the tuition costs, and eligible students can also apply for maintenance awards to assist with living costs. You can find more details about financial support on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/fees-scholarships-and-bursaries.
Provider information
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Marylebone Road
Westminster
NW1 5HT