Study at Leeds Conservatoire

Location and student life

Teaching takes place across three close city-centre sites in the Quarry Hill cultural quarter: the St Peter's Square building, Playhouse Square, and the conservatoire library, with performance spaces, studios, practice rooms and dance studios. The campus sits opposite Leeds bus station with Leeds train station a short taxi ride away, and Leeds Bradford is the nearest airport, so arriving international students have straightforward onward travel. Leeds has an active independent music and arts scene alongside major cultural institutions, giving students venues, gigs and creative networks on the doorstep. The conservatoire's own concerts, ensembles and booking agency add regular performance opportunities and a sociable student life.

Courses and subjects

Undergraduate degrees cover music pathways including Classical, Jazz, Popular, Film Music, Folk, Music Production, Songwriting and Music Business, alongside drama degrees in Acting, Actor Musician and Musical Theatre, with combined pathways and a one-year foundation route for those needing an extra year before degree study. Postgraduate study is a one-year programme with Master of Music and postgraduate diploma routes, plus drama-focused MAs such as Dramaturgy and Musical Direction. Teaching is performance-led, with professional partnerships, masterclasses and paid industry opportunities through the conservatoire's enterprise department and booking agency built into the student experience.

Entry requirements for international students

International applicants need academic qualifications equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points (UK A-Level CCC), assessed on an individual basis, plus an audition for performance and drama courses and an approved English language test. The published requirement for those needing a student visa is IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no sub-test below 5.5, and applicants must be at least 18 at the start of the course. Six- and twelve-week pre-sessional English courses are available for offer-holders slightly below the threshold. Requirements vary by country and course, so check the entry-requirements page and your chosen course before applying.

Accommodation

The conservatoire does not run its own halls. Instead it recommends nearby private halls within walking distance of campus, including One Mill Street, the Terry Frost Building, Clarence Dock Village and the Fabric Works, booked directly with each provider after reading the tenancy terms. For shared houses and flats it recommends Unipol, the Leeds student-housing charity, particularly for international students. Applicants can email the accommodation team for advice on which building suits them; care-experienced students without family support can be offered accommodation with no guarantor or deposit.

Scholarships and funding

For September 2027 entry the conservatoire offers twelve international Principal's Scholarships as partial tuition-fee waivers: eight undergraduate awards of £5,000 for new three-year degree students and four postgraduate awards of £5,000, decided on audition and personal statement with applications closing on 30 April 2027. Separate Excellence Scholarships of £1,000 to £7,500 reward audition excellence or shortage specialisms. Scholarship numbers and values change each year, so check the tuition-fees-and-scholarships page for the current round before applying.