Last Updated on July 28, 2023
Royal Academy of Music is a member of the University of London. Students will receive their final degree from the University of London which is one of the oldest and largest universities in the UK. The Academy offers Bachelor of Music, Postgraduate Certificate, Master of Arts, Master of Music, M. Phil and PhD courses to students. There are 14 departments within the academy such as department for Vocal Studies, Strings, Piano Accomplishment, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Guitar, Harp, Bass, etc. More than 500 events are held every year at the Academy. The Royal Academy of Music represents talents from more than 60 countries.
Some points to be kept in mind while applying to the Royal Academy of Music are listed below:
- The Academy offers full transparency during the admission process.
- Each application received for admission is assessed on the basis of the eligibility criteria and evaluated on the basis of audition.
- The Academy’s UCAS Conservatoire ID is R53.
- Students who wish to apply for a different course in the same specialism must apply for the higher level course as choices can be adjusted later on.
- Applications for admissions in September 2021 will be available in October 2020.
- Applicants must be 18 years by December 31 in the year of joining to be eligible for admission.
- The deadline to upload videos for programs excluding Conducting, Musical Theatre, Musical Direction and Coaching is October 19.
- Applicants for the Master of Music program are automatically considered for Master of Arts. Therefore, students interested in pursuing MA should apply for MMus as there will be a common audition for both.
- Students who miss the application deadline must contact [email protected] before submitting the application.
COVID-19 Admission Updates
- Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no auditions will be held at any international centers and the applicants wishing to apply can send in their videos.
Highlights
| Application Portal | UCAS Conservatoire |
| Application Fee | 126 GBP |
| Mode of Payment | Credit/Debit Card |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Intake Season | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships, loans, grants, work-study |
| Selection Criteria | Audition |
Royal Academy of Music Admission Deadlines
Royal Academy of Music accepts applications from both domestic and international applicants provided they submit applications within the deadlines stated below:
| Application | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Most programs whose audition is by video | October 1, 2020 |
| Conducting (including pre-screening video upload), Musical Theatre, Musical Direction and Coaching | November 1, 2020 |
| Choral Conducting, Répétiteur | January 6, 2021 |
| Research Degree, Continuing and Professional Development Diploma | January 15, 2021 |
| Financial Assistance | January 31, 2021 |
Royal Academy of Music International Student Admissions
Royal Academy of Music accepts international applications after checking their eligibility criteria and conducting auditions. The process for domestic and international applicants is similar. However, international applicants must meet some additional requirements.
Application Portal: Students can apply online through the UCAS Conservatoires.
Application Fee: Application fee payable to UCAS is 126 GBP which include:
- UCAS Conservatoires application fee of 100 GBP
- Registration fee for UCAS Conservatoires 26 GBP
Basic Admission Requirements: International applicants must satisfy the following requirements for admission to the Royal Academy of Music:
- Evidence of Professional Performing Potential
- Knowledge of Music Theory at Grade 6 Level
- International Baccalaureate – 24 points for Diploma/ Certificate/ IBCP
- Secondary school leaving certificates
- Official high school transcripts/ certificates
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Two letters of reference
- Copy of passport
- Academic work on a musical subject and project proposal (for graduate programs)
Students must mail all the required documentation to the Admissions Team at [email protected]
English Proficiency Test Score for International Students
All the international students whose first language is not English are required to submit their English language proficiency test scores.
| Test | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 |
| TOEFL – IBT | 72 |
| PTE | 51 |
Visa Process for International Students
- To study at the Royal Academy of Music, international students are required to have a Tier 4 Student Visa.
- After getting the CAS number from the Academy, the student can apply online for the visa to study in the UK.
- The students are recommended to apply three months prior to their admission or start of their study program.
- The application fee to apply for the Tier 4 Student Visa is 348 GBP.
- When applying for the visa, the following documents must be submitted:
- Copy of passport
- Evidence of sufficient funding is to be shown along with the current bank statement.
- Current passport size photograph
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Evidence of academic qualifications
- An interview is conducted for students before the visa is issued.
Royal Academy of Music Undergraduate Admissions
Bachelor of Music is the main undergraduate course offered at Royal Academy of Music. Gap year courses and Organ foundation courses are also offered by the Academy.
Where to Apply: UCAS Conservatoire
Application fee: 126 GBP (including 100 GBP UCAS Conservatoires fee plus 26 GBP registration fee)
Admission requirements: Both musical and academic requirements must be fulfilled to get accepted by the academy:
- Evidence of professional performing potential
- Knowledge of music theory at grade 6 level (if music is not a subject in school examination)
- Secondary school leaving certificate
- Official academic transcripts
- Reference letters
- English language proficiency test scores
Royal Academy of Music Graduate Admissions
The master’s degrees offered by Royal Academy of Music are Master of Arts in Performance or Composition, Master of Arts in Musical Theatre and Master of Music in Performance or Composition. At the graduate level, the academy also offers Professional Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Creative Music Leadership or Conducting, Performance and Opera.
Where to Apply: UCAS Conservatoires
Application Fee: UCAS Conservatoires fee of 100 GBP plus 26 GBP UCAS Conservatoires registration fee.
Admission Requirement: The requirements for admission to graduate programs depend on the choice of programs. The table below depicts requirements for various graduate programs offered at the academy:
| Requirements | Master of Arts and Master of Music | Professional Diploma | Advanced Diploma in Performance | Royal Academy Opera |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Requirements | Music Performance Diploma | Clear sense of specialism for further study | Distinction at master’s level | Applicant’s ability to sustain the standard requirements to participate in Royal Academy Opera productions. |
| Audition | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| English language requirement | IELTS score of 5.5; or TOEFL-IBT score of 95 PTE score of 51 | IELTS score of 5.5; or TOEFL-IBT score of 72 PTE score of 51 | IELTS score of 6.0; or TOEFL-IBT score of 72 PTE score of 58 | IELTS score of 6.0; or TOEFL-IBT score of 72 PTE score of 58 |
| Written Documents | Written academic work on a musical subject between 1000-2000 words; project proposal | Proposal document outlining chosen specialization and reason for making the choice. | Repertoire list and recording portfolio; ideas for the year including professional engagements that you have already made. | None |
Applications at the Royal Academy of Music are carefully examined as the academy thrives to admit the best talents from around the world. The music audition is a crucial part of the application assessment. The UCAS Conservatoire offers a ‘Track’ option which can be used to keep a track of the interview and audition dates depending on the location of students. Results for admission are also issued through UCAS Conservatoire after the decision is made by the Academy’s Selection Board. For the autumn admission, decisions can be expected in December after the London audition.
