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
Jazz
- BMus (Hon)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 21/09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
Our Jazz department, led by Professor Tommy Smith OBE, one of the world’s leading saxophonists and artistic director and founder of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, is vibrant and energetic, and continues to produce successful musicians and new voices within the UK jazz scene.
The BMus programme explores jazz in the broadest possible terms, and provides the opportunity to play, perform, compose and record in many different jazz styles and settings. It is the first and the only full-time degree-level jazz course in Scotland and offers many creative and artistic opportunities to you as a performer across a wide-ranging curriculum.
You’ll receive tuition from some of the finest jazz musicians and educators in the UK and benefit from individual lessons per week on your principal study instrument. The opportunity to study a second instrument is also made available across all four years of study.
The programme is delivered to a small, focused cohort of students in each year group that form a unique ensemble and grow together throughout the BMus jazz pathway. As a student, you are also encouraged to interact with other year groups and students from other disciplines across the RCS in the spirit of our cross-disciplinary curriculum.
Through class teaching in our dedicated jazz studios, you’ll study the essentials of chord-scale harmony, improvisation, classic repertoire, composition, history, music business and arranging. Our vision of jazz is comprehensive and inclusive, and you’ll be introduced to the full range of contexts from solo and ensemble work through to big band settings.
Studying Jazz at the Conservatoire provides numerous opportunities to perform both in and out of the institution. On campus are our RCS Jazz Orchestra, Jazz at the Chimp, and Blue Monday concerts, featuring students and tutors, often performing alongside special guest performers. There are also opportunities to perform and tour with the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra, and to sit in on rehearsals with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and their international guests, plus audition for a side-by-side experience with the SNJO.
Auditions
Applicants to this programme will go through a two stage process. First round, is a recorded submission, including specified repertoire, via the accetpd platform. Second round is a live audition. Please see our website for more information on what to prepare.
Please note, the international deadline for this programme is the 1st December 2025, but we would encourage applicants to apply by the 2nd October 2025 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
- Cello (Jazz)
- Clarinet (Jazz)
- Double Bass (Jazz)
- Drumkit (Jazz)
- Electric bass (jazz)
- Flute (Jazz)
- Guitar (Jazz)
- Piano (Jazz)
- Saxophone (Jazz)
- Trombone (Jazz)
- Trumpet (Jazz)
- Vibraphone (Jazz)
- Violin (Jazz)
- Voice (Jazz)
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.
How to apply
This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.
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:
- 303F
- 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 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire. To find out more please visit: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Not acceptedA level
A* - EPasses in two subjects at A Level
Scottish Higher
A - CPasses in three subjects at Higher level
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
45 - 24 pointsminimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
More information about entry requirements can be found on the weblink.
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- Please refer to our departmental specific webpage (under the how to apply section) for more information on what to prepare for your audition: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/bmus-hons-jazz/
- Interview
- You will have an interview with the Head of Porgramme and relevant panel as part of the audition process. This may be a live online interview if you have submitted a recorded audition.
- 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
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 with no component below 5.5 |
| 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) |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components |
More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
A strong indication of potential is sought at the entrance audition for this programme. You can apply and audition without having obtained any Jazz Graded Exams with distinction, however as an indication only, applicants are normally expected to have reached this standard or higher in their performance.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535* | Year 1 |
| England | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £1820* | Year 1 |
| EU | £28919* | Year 1 |
| International | £28919* | 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
All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and Scholarship, please see our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Sponsorship information
Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made in January following an audition 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.
More information can be found at: www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/
Related courses
At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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