Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB
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Course contact details
Main Contact
Email:admissions@rcs.ac.uk
Phone:0141 332 4101
Fax: 0141 332 8901
Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music (Taught)
- AdvPgDip
- 1 Years
- Full-time
- 22/09/2025
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
The one year Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music, is designed to allow students with an existing masters qualification to progress further within their discipline. You will have the opportunity to extend and deepen your skills, knowledge and understanding in and through performance, within a rich conservatoire environment.
The Advanced Postgraduate Diploma is available to performers in the following disciplines:
*All string, woodwind and brass instruments, solo, chamber or orchestral
*Guitar and harp
*Timpani and percussion, including marimba
*Piano solo and ensemble, harpsichord, organ, accordion
*Vocal Performance
*Traditional performance
*Jazz performance
It is not available for Conducting, Composition, HIPP and Piano for Dance.
Overseas Auditions
If you want to audition at one of our overseas locations, you must submit your application by the 2nd October 2024. We may not be able to audition certain instruments at our overseas auditions, please see our website for more information. Where required, all applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano) and accompanist for the audition. Details of audition dates and locations can be found on our website, under the 'How to apply' section. Please note our locations are subject to change at short notice. if you choose a location that becomes unavailable we will be in touch to offer an alternative, this will likely be a recorded submission.
Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 2nd December 2024 (except keyboard, which is the 2nd October), but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for first round of scholarship
Curriculum Review
We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate music programmes starting in 2025, these courses are currently designated 'subject to revalidation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.
Course details
Principal study options
During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:
Main specialism
Only one specialism is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.
Instrument/specialisms
For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.
Primary instrument/specialism
- Accordion
- Accordion (classical)
- Bassoon
- Bodhran
- Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
- Cello
- Cello (Jazz)
- Cello (Traditional Music)
- Clarinet
- Clarinet (Jazz)
- Cornet
- Double Bass
- Double Bass (Jazz)
- Drumkit (Jazz)
- Electric bass (jazz)
- Euphonium
- Fiddle
- Flute
- Flute (Jazz)
- Flute (Traditional Music)
- Gaelic Song
- Guitar (Classical)
- Guitar (Jazz)
- Guitar (Traditional Music)
- Harp
- Harpsichord
- Highland Bagpipes
- Horn (French)
- Horn (Tenor)
- Mandolin (Traditional Music)
- Marimba
- Oboe
- Organ
- Percussion & Timpani
- Percussion (Jazz)
- Piano
- Piano (Jazz)
- Piano (Traditional Music)
- Piano Accordion (Traditional Music)
- Pipe Band Snare Drum
- Saxophone (Classical)
- Saxophone (Jazz)
- Scots Song
- Scottish Harp
- Trombone (Alto)
- Trombone (Bass)
- Trombone (Jazz)
- Trombone (Tenor)
- Trumpet
- Trumpet (Jazz)
- Tuba
- Vibraphone (Jazz)
- Viola
- Violin
- Violin (Jazz)
- Voice (Alto)
- Voice (Baritone)
- Voice (Bass)
- Voice (Bass-Baritone)
- Voice (Contralto)
- Voice (Counter-Tenor)
- Voice (Jazz)
- Voice (Mezzo-Soprano)
- Voice (Soprano)
- Voice (Tenor)
- Whistle
Modules
More information about what the course entails across the programme can be found on our website.
Assessment method
More information about what the course entails across the programme can be found on our website.
How to apply
This course is closed for the 2025 academic cycle. Please contact the provider or view the 2026 courses.
If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.
Apply by
2 October
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- 445F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 60 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire.
Entry requirements
Candidates are normally expected to hold a Masters Degree in Music.
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- All auditions are planned to take place in-person at our campus in Glasgow in November 2024. Should you apply on time, you will be e-mailed directly with details of your audition date and time, and your UCAS Conservatoires track will be updated with this information. International applicants are welcome to submit a recorded submission via Acceptd. Through audition, applicants will be required to demonstrate: * a high degree of technical competency on the instrument or voice in the service of specific repertoire * an ability to demonstrate a considerable degree of understanding of the repertoire performed * an ability to perform specific repertoire convincingly * a considerable degree of self-confidence and creativity with respect to the repertoire performed * a degree of self-sufficiency, initiative and independence in selecting, preparing and performing a particular programme * a developing musical personality An interview, if held, will assess the candidate’s suitability for the programme in terms of knowledge, experience and commitment.
- Other
- All applicants are required to create and Acceptd profile regardless of where you are auditioning. More information on this can be found on our website.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component) is required of applicants to the School of Music. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing) |
More information about our english requirements can be found at the following link https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £12760* | Whole course |
| England | £12760* | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £12760* | Whole course |
| Scotland | £12760* | Whole course |
| Wales | £12760* | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £12760* | Whole course |
| EU | £27968* | Whole course |
| International | £27968* | Whole course |
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Please note, fees are subject to change for AY25 entry
Associated programme costs may be required for this programme for any new student at the start of their studies. For more information on please see our website - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/
Sponsorship information
The Royal Conservatoire is able to offer a number of entrance scholarships to music degrees which are awarded as part of the audition/selection process on the basis of merit and financial need. Please see our website for more information - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/apply/finance/scholarships/.
Related courses
At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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