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International student entry requirements

How to Apply

Applicants should apply through the Conservatoires UK Admission Service (CUKAS: www.cukas.ac.uk), quoting the RNCM’s institution code R57 as well as the relevant course code:

BMus(Honours) Performance/Composition: 300F
PGDip Solo Performance (1 Year): 601F
PGDip Composition (1 Year): 620F
PGDip Chamber Music (1 Year): 611F
PGDip Orchestral Studies (1 Year): 641F
MMus Solo Performance (2 Years): 801F
MMus Solo Performance (1 Year Intensive): 805F
MMus Composition (2 Years): 820F
MMus Composition (1 Year Intensive): 823F
MMus Chamber Music (1 Year Intensive): 811F
MMus Orchestral Studies (1 Year Intensive): 841F
PhD Performance/Composition/Musicology/Music Psychology (Full Time): 941F
PhD Performance/Composition/Musicology/Music Psychology (Part Time): 941P
Foundation Degree in Popular Music Practice (Session Musician): 113F

Only pre-established ensembles can apply for the 1 year Chamber Music pathway, in which case the members of the ensemble must be specified within their individual personal statements. Students on the 2 year MMus Solo Performance can change their pathways to Chamber Music or Orchestral Studies for the second year of the programme. 

In addition to the standard entry requirements, all overseas candidates must also submit photocopies of any general educational, English language proficiency (where applicable) and music examination pass certificates.

Candidates who are unable to attend a live audition must submit by post an authenticated good quality DVD (DVD-R preferred) or audio recording [VHS (UK) PAL format) of your audition pieces (see Audition Guidelines). The postal address for recordings is: Admissions, RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, UK, M13 9RD.

Confirmation of the offer of a place will normally depend on a subsequent successful live audition and interview at the College. This will take place immediately prior to initial registration in September.

Deadlines for Application

Undergraduate: 1 October
Graduate School: 1 October

The RNCM aims to be as flexible as possible in dealing with overseas applicants and, depending on the circumstances, will accept late applications. For further details please fill in this form .

Qualification and Academic Assessment

Applicants for our undergraduate courses will need to provide satisfactory evidence of university-entry level secondary education to demonstrate the capacity to complete the RNCM course successfully. Postgraduate applicants should normally possess (or be about to complete) a qualification equivalent to a British Bachelor's Degree (Hons). All MMus candidates are also required to undergo additional academic assessment. Please click here for more information on entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

For entry to the College's programmes of study, students whose first language is not English are required to provide certification through an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment (or equivalent) of proficiency in English as follows:

2010 Entry 

BMus (Hons): IELTS 5.5
PGDip: IELTS 5.5
MMus: IELTS 6.0-7.0 (depending on options selected)
MPhil/PhD: IELTS 7.0

2011 Entry 

BMus (Hons): IELTS 5.5
PGDip: IELTS 6.0
2-year MMus: IELTS 6.5
1-year MMus: IELTS 7.0
MPhil/PhD: IELTS 7.0

These are normal standards. In exceptional circumstances, the normal IELTS level may be lowered by 0.5, subject to the approval of the Programme Director. Acceptance onto a small number of the more academically orientated options is subject to higher minimum entry requirements.

A copy of the IELTS certificate (or other recognised English test result) should be sent to the Admissions Office by 1 May, although the original document still needs to be produced at registration. Where an applicant's IELTS score is below that indicated, entry may still be possible with extra language support offered through the RNCM's Summer School and in-session English Language provision. Please fill in this form for advice.

Overseas Auditions 

Overseas live auditions are held in certain areas. Please contact our agent in your country:

People's Republic of China:
Professor Song Yi
Tel: +86 13911212507/13126686390

Japan:
Suguru Minamide
Tel: +81 (0)3 33527310
Fax: +81 (0)3 33521665

For auditions in Beijing and Guangzhou, please contact Song Yi as above. For auditions in Shanghai and Hong Kong, please contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Further information about RNCM courses and the application process can be found on RNCM招生简章. You can also download a RNCM招生面试海报.