Study at The Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Why study at Royal Academy of Music

Study centres on weekly one-to-one principal-study tuition alongside chamber music, orchestral and ensemble work, with frequent public performances in the Academy's own venues. Departments span strings, piano, vocal studies and opera, woodwind, brass, composition, jazz and musical theatre, with historical performance, conducting, accordion, guitar, organ and academic studies also taught. The Academy runs a museum with historic instruments and manuscripts, and its first fully funded Foundation Year opened access to conservatoire training.

Location and student life

The Academy occupies a single central-London site on Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster, beside Regent's Park, where it has stood in custom-built premises since 1911. Its concert venues, museum, library and teaching spaces sit together on one compact campus, so rehearsals, lessons and performances all happen steps apart. The central position gives easy reach across the capital by Underground and bus, and places students close to London's concert halls, opera houses and theatres, in which Academy students regularly perform and build professional contacts.

Courses and subjects

Principal-study departments include strings, piano, vocal studies and opera, woodwind, brass, percussion, harp, organ, accordion and guitar, alongside composition and contemporary music, conducting, jazz and musical theatre, with historical performance and academic studies supporting the curriculum. The core offer is the four-year BMus degree, with postgraduate routes including the MA, the MMus, professional and advanced diplomas, postgraduate certificates and MPhil/PhD research degrees. The Academy has also introduced a fully funded Foundation Year, whose students receive a living-costs bursary and free hall accommodation.

Entry requirements for international students

Admission is by competitive audition (or interview and portfolio for composers) plus academic matriculation requirements, so requirements vary by course and instrument. For English, BMus Year One entry, the MA and the Postgraduate Certificate typically ask for IELTS Academic 5.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, while the MMus and MPhil/PhD ask for 7.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge C1 Advanced are also accepted. Check the course finder and entry-requirements page for the exact rules for your course.

Accommodation

The Academy does not own or manage any student accommodation buildings, but it holds a small number of allocated places in University of London halls of residence. Most students live in private rented housing across London, with guidance available through University of London Housing Services on finding rooms and living safely. Students on the fully funded Foundation Year receive free accommodation in University of London halls.

Scholarships and funding

Every applicant who auditions is automatically considered for an Entrance Scholarship, decided on audition or portfolio merit, with awards ranging from modest contributions to full tuition fees. Bursaries based on financial need are open to most international and all postgraduate students, and the Academy reports that 83% of students receive support, with over £5 million awarded each year. Academy students have also won external awards such as the LSO Conservatoire Scholarship of up to £16,000 a year. Awards change each year, so check the scholarships page.