Foundation Year Programme | Royal Academy of Music

Overview

The Royal Academy of Music Foundation Year is a fully funded one-year programme supporting state-educated musicians aged 18–20 who’ve experienced financial or other barriers to opportunity. It is designed to support talented students who demonstrate the potential to succeed at undergraduate conservatoire level but would benefit from an additional year of intensive musical and academic preparation before auditioning.

From July 2026, up to five students each year will receive one-to-one tuition, ensemble training, mentoring, academic study, and structured guidance for undergraduate applications and auditions.

The Foundation Year aims to widen access to advanced music study by supporting musicians who may not yet have had access to specialist training or preparation for conservatoire.

The programme is generously supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation, enabling it to be fee-free and to provide substantial financial support to participating students.

Who is the Foundation Year for?

The Foundation Year is for musicians who:

Meet all the programme eligibility criteria
Want to progress to undergraduate music study
Would benefit from an additional year of training before starting conservatoire study
Have experienced financial barriers to opportunity
Have strong musical potential

Course Outline

The Foundation Year runs from July to May and combines online preparation with in-person study in London.

Throughout the year students receive:

One-to-one principal study tuition
Small-group classes in musicianship and academic studies
Ensemble coaching and collaborative projects
Application and audition guidance
Pastoral and mentoring support
Opportunities to engage with Academy rehearsals, masterclasses and performances

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria.

You must:

Be aged 18-20 at the start of the programme
Be UK-domiciled, meaning you have the right to live and study in the UK
Have attended a non-selective UK state school* for at least 5 years
Evidence financial challenge through means-tested assessment
Be able to commit to the full programme
Be able to relocate to London from September

*a non-selective UK state school means a school or college that is funded by the government and does not charge fees or have entrance exams.

If you are care experienced, please get in touch and we can advise you on what information is needed.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact us before applying at foundationyear@ram.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

Musical Requirements

The Foundation Year is intended for musicians who demonstrate the potential to reach undergraduate conservatoire standard within one year.

Applicants should demonstrate:

Strong general musicianship and aural awareness
Clear technical and artistic potential
Readiness to undertake intensive musical training

Applications are welcomed across all principal studies taught at undergraduate level at the Royal Academy of Music.

If music is not being studied as an academic subject at A Level (or equivalent), we recommend knowledge of music theory at approximately Grade 6 level (ABRSM or Trinity College London) before starting the course.

For applicants whose principal study is not a keyboard instrument, piano skills at approximately Grade 5 level (or equivalent) are desirable, though not essential.

Academic Requirements

The Foundation Year prepares students for progression to conservatoire or university music study.

Applicants intending to progress to undergraduate study should normally be working towards, or already have achieved, the academic qualifications required for entry to a university or conservatoire.

For entry to the Royal Academy of Music BMus programme, this requires:

Two GCE A-levels (A2) certificate examinations, or equivalent

Applicants intending to progress to other universities must ensure they meet the academic entry requirements of those institutions.

Progression

The Foundation Year does not guarantee automatic entry to an undergraduate programme at the Royal Academy of Music.

Students must complete the standard undergraduate application and audition process, and entry remains competitive. The programme is designed to provide the preparation, support and guidance needed to approach these auditions with confidence.