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Traditional Music (BMus Hons)

  • BMus (Hon)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 22/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
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UCAS Conservatoires
More about Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Aspiring performers on this course explore Scotland's unique and dynamic musical traditions as a conceptual, critical and creative framework within which to achieve a distinctively personal voice as an artist. This is interwoven with a solid basis in contemporary and eclectic performance practice. Our curriculum recognises that the innovative nature of Scottish traditional music today must be embraced, and that the creative development of the individual is the most important way to ensure traditional music flourishes from one generation to another. You can expect to learn in a busy department where your musical roots and creative artistry will be nurtured and developed through one-to-one tuition, academic context, performance opportunities, masterclasses and lots of ensemble work, all aimed at helping you fulfil your potential.

The programme offers the following Principal Studies
*Accordion
*Cello
*Fiddle
*Flute/Whistle
*Gaelic song
*Guitar
*Percussion - pipe band snare drum, bodhran
*Piano
*Scots song
*Scottish Harp - normally gut-strung

You will work closely with some of the worlds top solo and collaborative teachers and performers to consolidate your performance technique, repertoire and personal style as a traditional musician, interwoven with development as a critical, creative, entrepreneurial and/or teaching artist. This includes exploring both the distinctive parameters of folk and traditional music and the shared technical vocabulary that links folk to other genres. External learning opportunities include an Isle of Skye residency, teaching placements and work placements in Scotland and overseas, as well as appearances at high-profile events, including Glasgow's renowned Celtic Connections and Piping Live Festivals.

The BMus with Honours, places emphasis on the creative development of the individual and allows the curriculum to be relevant to aspiring musicians from anywhere in the world. We have welcomed students from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and from as far afield as Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 1st December 2024, but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2024 to be guaranteed consideration for the first round of scholarship

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
  • Bodhran
  • Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Cello (Traditional Music)
  • Fiddle
  • Flute (Traditional Music)
  • Gaelic Song
  • Guitar (Traditional Music)
  • Mandolin (Traditional Music)
  • Piano (Traditional Music)
  • Piano Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Pipe Band Snare Drum
  • Scots Song
  • Scottish Harp
  • Whistle

Modules

More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.

Assessment method

More information about what the course entails can be found on our website.

This course is closed for the 2025 academic cycle. Please contact the provider or view the 2026 courses.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BMus (Hon) • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 22/09/2025

Apply by
2 October

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
250F
Institution code:
R68
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

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:
250F
Institution code:
R58
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. Please email admissions@rcs.ac.uk for more information.

We do not offer deferred entry.

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

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

A* - E
Passes in two subjects at GCE Advanced level Recommended Subjects are: • History at Advanced level • English at Advanced level • The study of Gaelic and/or another European language at least to GCSE

Scottish Higher

A - C
Passes in three subjects at Higher level Recommended subjects are: • History at Higher • English at Higher • The study of Gaelic and/or another European language at least to National 4/5 or Standard Grade

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

45 - 24 points
minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level

For further information, or alternative qualifications that we accept, please visit the weblink.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Audition
A strong indication of potential is sought at the entrance audition for this programme. You can apply and audition without having obtained any performance grades, however as an indication only, applicants are normally expected to have reached a high standard in their playing. Details of what to prepare for your audition are listed on our webpage. Please ensure you read this to get the most out of your audition experience.
Interview
You will be required to take part in an interview as part of the audition process. For those auditioning live in-person, this will be part of your audition timeslot. For those who have submitted a recorded audition, if successful to round two, the interview will take place live online. Details will be sent via our admissions team.
Other
All applicants are required to create an Acceptd profile regardless of where you are auditioning. More information on this can be found on our website.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 in each component (with no component below 5.5) is required.
TOEFL (iBT)80Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17
PTE Academic59Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing)

More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Channel Islands£9250*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9250*Year 1
England£9250*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250*Year 1
Wales£9250*Year 1
Scotland£1820*Year 1
EU£27968*Year 1
International£27968*Year 1

* 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

Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made following our audition period and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered.

You can find out about the funding and scholarships available for studying at RCS by visiting our dedicated page: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/apply/finance/feesandfunding/

Related courses

At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

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