Overview
The Academy’s Professional Diploma (ProfDip) is a one-of-a-kind programme for students who are looking for a specially tailored extra year of study to provide a competitive edge in building a career. The course is for performance candidates who wish to follow a particular area of focus within or connected to their Principal Study. It is a one-year specialist and intensive Diploma at Level 7 within the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (post-Masters).
Candidates should have the potential and aspiration to succeed at the highest international standard. Applicants must normally hold a postgraduate degree and put forward a project proposal outlining what they hope to achieve.
It is a highly focused combination of one-to-one tuition and professional development activity built around the needs of each individual student in consultation with the ProfDip Programme Tutor and the relevant Head of Department. Applicants will normally have completed a master’s degree but the programme is available to all applicants of the appropriate standard.
A note on assessments
The Professional Diploma and Advanced Professional Diploma are designed for musicians who already hold a Master's degree or equivalent professional experience. You will be asked within your Acceptd profile to state if you also wish to be considered for alternative postgraduate courses and your ultimate course placement remains flexible; the panel may discuss and recommend a different postgraduate pathway (such as the MMus or MA) during your assessment if they feel it better matches your academic needs.
Applying for both the Professional Diploma and Advanced Professional Diploma pathways
Students completing the Professional Diploma (ProfDip) in June will also be eligible to apply to the Advanced Professional Diploma (Adv ProfDip) as a nine-month enrolment starting the following September in Year 2 of the course.
The first year of the Adv ProfDip is identical to the ProfDip, meaning that the ProfDip will be a potential exit award for students unable to continue into, or complete, the second year of the Adv ProfDip.
If you want to apply for either of these courses alongside your main application, you do not need to create a second profile or submit a new application on UCAS Conservatoires. Instead, just:
- Opt-in: When prompted in Acceptd, indicate that you would like to be considered.
- Upload your documents: Add the required specialist proposal document (for the Prof Dip) or written requirements (for the Adv Prof Dip) directly to your existing Acceptd profile.
Training
In addition to the 45 hours of one-to-one tuition, all postgraduate students undertake an extensive programme of departmental activity targeted to their specialist focus.
Examples of ProfDip Specialisms
Examples of specialisms include:
- Opera repetiteurship
- Historical Performance for modern instrumentalists
- Preparation for opera studies
- Orchestral Doubling specialisms (eg contrabassoon or piccolo)
- Collaborative piano
- Composition for television, film and media
- Flute and piano duo repertoire from the first half of the twentieth century
- Extended techniques on the cello
- The German school of tuba playing, with an emphasis upon orchestral performance
- The study of poets: lieder with texts by Shakespeare and Goethe
- The role of the principal viola in an orchestra
Examples of Adv.ProfDip Specialisms
- Side-by-side activity alongside internal and/or visiting professors. (Workshops and rehearsals as well as concert activity.)
- Developing critical and verbal skills for teaching and/or entrepreneurship and/or public communication, choosing from a range of PG electives as appropriate; minimum class attendance will be required.
- Chamber music – either as member of an existing ensemble(s), or with the aim of establishing new collaborations.
- Leadership: ensemble direction, principal roles in orchestra, other aspects of mentoring.
- Recording focus – enrolment on Self-recording and Self-editing elective mandatory.
- Performer embedded in Composition and Contemporary Music Department (where applicable).
- A specific project (or projects) resulting in live performance(s) and/or a recording.
- Ensemble piano partnership development
- HiP specialisms (repertoire and/or instruments)
- Extended instrument family specialisms (bass clarinet, etc.)
- Any compositional specialism (where applicable)
Classes and Activities
In addition to having one to one piano lessons, the Academy’s répétiteurs keep a busy and varied weekly schedule which includes:
- Playing for main-stage opera production rehearsals and opera scenes rehearsals and performances
- Assisting the conductors, including taking over and conducting orchestral rehearsals where appropriate, and taking notes during rehearsals with orchestra
- Preparing opera choruses
- Observing and participating in coaching and masterclasses by vocal specialists/visiting artists
- Playing for language coaching, including French, Italian and German
- Training and experience in playing recitative/continuo
Keyboard players wanting to specialise as répétiteurs at the Academy work across an exceptional breadth of operatic repertoire spanning the 17th to the 21st centuries.
Working in multiple languages, you will be closely guided and coached by the highly distinguished professors and directors of Royal Academy Opera and the Vocal Faculty.
Our singing and opera professors are dedicated teachers and active performers with global professional careers. They bring a wealth of current industry knowledge and deep insight into all aspects of the modern opera profession.
Répétiteur Fellowship Scheme
Candidates applying for our repetiteur training are also assessed for the unique Répétiteur Fellowships (subject to eligibility). Designed as an intensive apprenticeship to support young opera professionals, Fellowships include:
- Financial Support: Generous funding towards living and practical costs, with all educational and mentoring costs covered by the Academy.
- On-the-Job Training: Working as an integral member of the Royal Academy Opera team, including playing for masterclasses, language coaching, and production rehearsals, assisting conductors, and gaining hands-on experience in recitative/continuo.
- Eligibility restriction: The Fellowship is an employed role, available to UK citizens and to non-UK citizens who hold UK immigration status which allows them to work without restrictions. Please note that the UK Student visa has work restrictions, so you cannot take up the Fellowship if you are on a Student visa.
Entry Requirements
- Academic: A Master’s qualification or equivalent (in a relevant subject), but the Academy welcomes applications from students who may not meet the usual academic requirements.
- Performance/Composition: A performance (or compositional, where applicable) standard at least equivalent to recognised postgraduate degrees and a clear sense of a direction (specialism) for further study.
Professional Diploma Auditions & Assessments
Auditions at this level are evaluated against a high professional benchmark. The panel is looking for artistic maturity, stylistic authority, and a clearly defined vision.
Candidates are assessed through a combination of a written submission and an audition process. Your digital application profile on the Acceptd portal must contain:
- Specialist Proposal Document:
- You must complete a proposal document if you wish to be considered for a Diploma pathway. Your proposal should be included in your Acceptd profile.
- Using the template below, please provide a one-page proposal outlining your chosen particular specialism and your intended individual learning outcomes for the course.
- Specialist proposal document (word document)
- Specialist proposal document (PDF)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) & Performance History: A comprehensive professional resume detailing soloist history, orchestral experience, masterclasses, and major achievements.
- Spoken English Introduction (video application, or international centres): A short recorded verbal introduction introducing yourself, your musical background, and your professional goals to the faculty panel.
- Video recordings (video application, or international centres): You must upload one unedited video containing your complete audition performance programme. Your recording must be captured under clear audio and visual conditions.
What to Expect on Audition Day
Delivery Options & Practical Assessment
- In-Person (London): You will perform your repertoire live for our panel. As live audition time is strictly limited, the panel may choose to hear selected sections or movements of your pieces rather than the full programme. This is standard procedure to ensure they experience a balanced overview of your technical skills and repertoire.
- International centres: If you are selected from your video recordings to perform in person at one of our international audition centres, you should take the same audition repertoire items you uploaded into your Acceptd profile. As live audition time is strictly limited, the panel may choose to hear selected sections or movements of your pieces rather than the full programme. This is standard procedure to ensure they experience a balanced overview of your technical skills and repertoire.
Interview
You may participate in a structured conversation with a postgraduate programme tutor, which may take place in person or online. This interview is designed to explore your future study plans, your artistic direction, and the specific details of your written project proposal.
For more information see auditions.
Audition Repertoire Guidelines
You must present a substantial, self-curated recital programme that reflects your readiness for a high-level specialist or pre-professional performance career.
- Two Ensemble Scenes: You must prepare and record two substantial ensemble scenes, featuring at least three main characters, selected from two different operas.
- Performance Expectations: Your recording must demonstrate your ability to play the orchestral reduction fluidly whilst singing in the vocal lines as far as possible to simulate a real-world production rehearsal.
