Primary instrument/specialism
- Music Psychology
Course summary
Please note the deadline date for this course is 31 March 2026 This MA programme is for people with a strong interest or established practice in music. It can be studied as blended learning (online and intensive weekends at RCS) or fully online. This programme will develop your thinking and encourage your curiosity about the role music plays in our lives. You will gain a rich understanding of its significance and influence on the human mind. Over the 2-year programme you will be supported by the RCS music psychology team to explore three key areas of music psychology: developmental, performance and social. In addition, you will develop robust research skills before embarking on your own bespoke research project. The programme is designed to fit alongside professional work schedules, with flexible lecture and seminar times to ensure no matter where you are in the world you can attend and feel part of this growing community. We are looking for individuals from all walks of life ready to challenge their perceptions, explore the intersections of music and psychology, and make a positive impact on the world. You should be open to new and diverse views and be hungry to be part of the next generation of dynamic creative practitioners, looking to shape the future of music psychology. We warmly invite you to come and join our diverse and international community of learners. Curriculum Review We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate programmes starting in 2026, 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 visit our course webpage for more information
Assessment method
Please visit our course webpage for more information
How to apply
This course is not open to application until the 10th July 2025.
*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.
14Jan
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.
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 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire. To find out more please visit: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/
Entry requirements
As the second cycle of higher education, postgraduate study represents a continuation of learning, training and/or experience rather than a beginning. However, we recognise that traditional application processes, which show a bias towards prior learning and achievement, can perpetuate existing societal inequities, favouring those who already benefit. For this reason, we embrace the principles of widening access and participation and, whilst prior qualifications and experience may be taken into account, our application process places emphasis on students’ values, potential and readiness for Master’s level study. This is in accordance with the RCS Admissions Policy (including the Contextualised Admissions Policy). In fully supporting learners from diverse backgrounds, students may be required to complete successfully additional modules in criticality and academic writing, offered by the RCS, prior to commencing the Masters.
Additional entry requirements
Interview
Successful applicants will be invited for interview. The interview process is designed to provide the Programme Team with an insight into your level of suitability and readiness for study on the programme. All interviews are planned to take place online. A research article will be sent to you ahead of the interview. You will be asked to give a critical response to this article as part of the interview process. In formulating your response, you may wish to consider: *The value of the research presented *The effectiveness and appropriateness of the methods used to gather data *Whether the article offers new insights *Any gaps or weaknesses in or of the article For full information, please see our website for more information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ma-psychology-music/#how-to-apply
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 | 7.0 with a minimum score of 7.0 in speaking and no component below 6.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 94 | Overall score of 94, with minimum component scores of: Reading – 19, Listening – 20, Speaking – 23, Writing – 24 |
| PTE Academic | 66 | Overall score of 66 with a minimum of 66 in speaking and no component below 62 |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 185 with a minimum of 185 in speaking and no component below 176 | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 185 with a minimum of 185 in speaking and no component below 176 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Online | £55 | £55 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Not available at this location | |
Additional information
All applicants are required to create an Acceptd profile and application (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs) at the point of submitting their UCAS application. For futher information on what to prepare for the interview, please see our 'how to apply' section of the department webpage: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ma-psychology-music/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £8077* | Year 1 |
| EU | £8077* | Year 1 |
| International | £8077* | Year 1 |
| England | £8077* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £8077* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £8077* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £8077* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £8077* | 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
All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and Scholarship, please see our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Sponsorship information
There are currently no RCS scholarships available for our this programme. More information can be found about funding on our degree pages: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/ma-psychology-music/#fees-funding
Provider information
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB