Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that musical talent, not financial personal circumstance, determines who studies at the Academy.
At the Royal Academy of Music, we don’t just offer world-class training, we invest in it. Currently, 83% of our students receive financial support, with over £5 million awarded annually.
Whether you are a prospective applicant or a current student, there are clear pathways to help you fund your studies.
I am a Prospective Student
Everything you need to know before you join us.
Entrance Scholarships
What to do: Just apply for your course.
There is no separate application form for an entrance scholarship. Every student who auditions for a degree or diploma is automatically considered for a merit-based award.
- How it’s decided: Based on your audition or composition portfolio/interview.
- What it covers: Awards range from modest contributions to full tuition fee. See scholarships.
- When you’ll know: If you are successful, your scholarship offer will be included in your UCAS Conservatoires offer details.
Bursaries (Financial Assistance)
What to do: Look out for an email after you receive an offer.
Bursaries are awarded based on financial need rather than musical merit. They are designed to help bridge the gap between your available funding and the cost of living or tuition.
- Eligibility: Open to most International and Home postgraduate students. (Note: Home fee undergraduate students usually access support via Student Finance and may be eligible for income bursary support. See income bursaries.
- How to apply: Once you are offered a place, we will email you a link to the Financial Assistance Application Form.
- Timeline: Applications typically open in January and close in late May. Decisions are sent out on a rolling basis from mid-June.
I am a Current Student
Support available once you are enrolled.
Annual Bursary Renewal
Bursaries are awarded for one academic year at a time. You must submit a new Financial Assistance application every January. The Financial Assistance page containing will be updated at the beginning of January outlining the next Academic Year’s Financial Assistance application process.
Hardship Funds
If you encounter unforeseen financial difficulties during your time at the Academy, such as a sudden change in family circumstances or an emergency, you can apply for the Hardship Fund.
- Who can apply: All enrolled students.
- How to apply: These applications are means-tested and handled through the office of the Deputy Principal and Dean.
- Next Step: Email Sarah Low for guidance on the application process.
External Funding
We encourage all students to explore external trusts and foundations. Many of our students supplement their Academy support with outside grants.
Summary: What should I do next?
I am applying for 2026 entry level
Focus on your UCAS Conservatoires application. You will be automatically assessed for scholarships during your audition.
I am a current offer-holder
Complete the Financial Assistance Form sent to your email by the May deadline.
I am an enrolled student in need
Contact Sarah Low to discuss Hardship Support.
Academy-specific funding
This section contains information about funding available exclusively at the Academy,
Specialist & Partner Scholarships
The following awards have specific eligibility criteria. If you meet these requirements, you will either be considered automatically or invited to apply.
Bicentenary Scholarships
- Who it’s for: Applicants across all disciplines demonstrating exceptional professional potential.
- The Benefit: Full tuition fee coverage and a significant maintenance grant.
- What to do: No separate application. All eligible auditionees are automatically considered.
Disney Scholarship (Musical Theatre)
- Who it’s for: Students applying for the MA Musical Theatre course who identify as being from an underrepresented background.
- The Benefit: Full tuition fee waiver and support for living costs.
- What to do: You will be invited to apply for this award following a successful audition.
Julian Bream Trust (Guitarists and Lutenists)
- Who it’s for: Exceptional classical guitarists and lutenists.
- The Benefit: Funding to support tuition and living costs for gifted string players.
- What to do: Candidates are identified through the standard Academy audition process.
External Partnerships & Specialised Awards
Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship
- Who it’s for: Students with a physical disability, sensory impairment, or long-term health condition applying for a Masters degree.
- The Benefit: Up to £15,000 to help with the costs of postgraduate study.
- What to do: This requires an external application via the Snowdon Trust website, however we strongly encourage students wishing to apply to firstly contact Christina Jefferson, Student Funding Manager, on admissions@ram.ac.uk
Scholarships
Entrance scholarships (for degree and diploma students) are awarded on the basis of merit following your audition assessment (either by live audition or by video recording). Composers are assessed for scholarships on the basis of their second-round interview. There is no separate application process for scholarships.
Scholarships range from small awards to full fees. Most awards are to help with tuition fees, although undergraduate scholarships for UK students, and EU students eligible for UK student finance, are administered as maintenance awards for living costs.
Scholarship disbursement for UK and eligible EU BMus students is processed through the Student Loans Company payment system after a loan application has been made, and payment is to your UK bank account. To open a student account, after you have completed enrolment you can ask Registry for a letter that confirms this, using the ‘Request Form for Bank Letter’ available on the Academy Sharepoint.
Gap Year and Organ Foundation students are not eligible for Academy scholarship support.
If your course is longer than one year, the scholarship award will be reviewed each year and will depend on your satisfactory progression and engagement with the course.
Scholarships for the Research Degree (MPhil/PhD) are for the standard full-time supervised enrolment period, i.e. excluding the writing-up period.
Income bursaries
BMus students from the UK, and BMus students from the EU who are eligible for UK Student Finance, can provide their household income details to Student Finance when applying for a loan. If the income is below a certain amount, they will receive an Income Bursary.
Students whose household income is £25,000 or below will automatically receive a £3,000 Income Bursary.
Students whose household income is between £25,001 and £33,500 will automatically receive a £2,000 Income Bursary.
UK BMus students – your household income details will be drawn from HMRC records. After you’ve completed your online loan application and consented to share your details, you will need to include your National Insurance number in your loan application and agree to be means-tested.
EU BMus students – if you cannot apply online for a tuition fee loan, you must download, print and complete the loan application on paper and return it as instructed on the form. You will then be emailed a link to a bursary form, which you print out, complete and return by post to the Student Finance EU Office with the requested documentation.
NB EU BMus continuing students: you are only income assessed once, usually at the start of the course; you will not need to complete the income assessment again but you must renew the loan application each year.
Your household income will be put into the Student Finance system and if you meet the eligibility criteria for the Income Bursary, the calculated amount will be paid to your UK bank account through the Student Finance system in three termly instalments.
Student Finance will ask you for your UK bank details if they do not have them when the Income Bursary is assigned to your loan application. If you are coming to the UK to join your course, you will be able to open a UK bank account after you have enrolled. You will need a bank letter which you request via the Academy Sharepoint.