Study at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Why study at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Its best-known areas include acting, musical theatre, modern ballet, classical performance, jazz and traditional Scottish music, alongside production arts, production technology and filmmaking. Degree-awarding powers were granted in 1993, and postgraduate study extends to master's degrees and the Doctor of Performing Arts. It has placed in the QS top ten for performing arts education ten times since 2016, ranking ninth for Performing Arts and seventh for Music in 2026.

Location and student life

The main building is on Renfrew Street in Glasgow city centre, opposite the Theatre Royal, with the Wallace Studios dance, rehearsal and production facility on Garscube Road nearby. Teaching spaces include concert halls, theatres, studios and workshops arranged for performance disciplines.

The city-centre site puts housing, shops and bus and rail links close by, and the conservatoire sits among the city's theatres and concert venues. With hundreds of student performances a year plus short courses and junior programmes, the campus has a busy, practical atmosphere.

Courses and subjects

Teaching covers Music, Drama, Dance, Production and Film, plus Education. Undergraduate degrees include BA Acting, BA Musical Theatre, BA Filmmaking, BA Modern Ballet, BMus Performance, Composition, Jazz and Traditional Music (including piping), Production Arts and Design, Production Technology and Management, and a Bachelor of Education in Music.

Postgraduate options include MMus, MA and MFA programmes in areas such as acting and musical directing, alongside research study including the Doctor of Performing Arts. There is no general academic foundation year; audition and interview are central to entry, while younger applicants can use the Junior Conservatoire, short courses and access programmes.

Entry requirements for international students

International applicants apply through UCAS Conservatoires and are assessed mainly by audition or interview alongside academic records, so requirements vary by course and applicants should check the relevant course page. Published English-language thresholds include IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5 for School of Music courses and up to 7.5 with 7.5 in speaking for some programmes. A six-week pre-sessional English programme is available for Music applicants who need to reach 6.0.

Accommodation

The conservatoire does not own its own halls. It recommends Base Glasgow, purpose-built student accommodation close to campus, where a quota of rooms is reserved for its students each year; students book directly and early booking is advised. Its website also gives guidance on private renting in Glasgow, including the UK-guarantor requirements that can affect international students paying in instalments.

Scholarships and funding

Each year the conservatoire disburses around £1.5 million in scholarships to new and continuing students on the basis of merit and financial need, with awards ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. Named international awards include the GREAT Scholarships, offering £10,000 each to postgraduate students from mainland China and India on one-year courses. Award amounts and eligibility change each year, so applicants should check the scholarships pages for current details.