The Royal Academy of Music respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data

This privacy notice sets out how the Academy processes the personal data of applicants and students who are currently enrolled on a programme of study at the Academy. This privacy notice should be read in conjunction with any other privacy or fair processing notices we may provide on specific occasions when we are collecting or using your data. We want to be as transparent as possible in the way in which we use your information so that you can be confident in providing the information to us and be clear on why we need certain information.

Contact details

Royal Academy of Music
Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5HT
Data protection registration number: Z4819206
Data Protection Officer: dpo@ram.ac.uk

Changes to the privacy notice and your duty to inform us of changes

This privacy notice may be varied from time to time, where necessary and possible we will notify you of any changes.

It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during studentship.

The data we collect about you

Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (anonymous data).

We may collect, use, record and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows:

includes your dates of enrolment, any award(s) that you completed and prizes that you were awarded. Note that we are within our rights to refuse to delete this and to keep it indefinitely.

includes first name, maiden name, last name, username or similar identifier, marital status, title.

includes uploaded passport, EU Identity card or UK Driving Licence for the purpose of validating your identity as part of your initial enrolment onto your programme of study.

includes home address, correspondence address, term time address, email address and telephone numbers.

includes information you have provided on family and social circumstances, education and biographical information, competitions and prizes. This also includes information relating to any concerns, complaints, investigations, disciplinary processes and appeals, including criminal convictions and offences, during your application or duration of studentship.

includes bank account and/or payment card details and details of any transactions with the Academy, such as fee payments.

If you require a Visa, we may also keep (for the required time) evidence that you meet the 'financial requirements' as defined by UKVI.

includes CCTV footage captured in and around Academy premises and also photographs and video footage we commission or capture for the purposes of marketing, publicity and assessment/study.

We also collect and use Special Category personal data of students including racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexuality, and physical health data, mental health data and medical information. We also collect information about criminal convictions as part of our admissions process and from a safeguarding and student support perspective. Some of this data is collected owing our reporting requirements to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, and some for Student Support Purposes. When collecting the data we will be completely transparent about the purpose for its collection and link it back to this privacy notice.

In cases where we need to collect personal data by law, or in order to provide educational services to you and you fail to provide that data when requested, we may not be able to provide access to those educational services. In this case and if we are aware of it, we will contact you with a view to resolving the issue and continuing our contractual relationship.

How is your personal data collected?

We use different methods to collect data from and about you:

  • Personal data and sensitive personal data/special category data is obtained directly from you, usually during the admissions and enrolment processes by the Registry and the Student Support Team.
  • We may also collect data from a third party organisation involved in the services provided by the Academy that has obtained the information in the first instance, for example UCAS Conservatoires.
  • Image data may be collected at any time during your enrolment at the Academy.

How we use your personal data

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

  1. Where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you.
  2. Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
  3. Where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

See below to find our more about the types of lawful basis that we will rely on to process your personal data. We do not rely on consent for the purpose of using any student personal data.

When we collect and use special category data as part of statutory returns or student support processes this information is stored on your student record or held securely within the Student Support Team's records.

We have set out below a description of the main ways we plan to use your personal data, and which legal basis/bases we rely on to do so. We have also identified what our legitimate interests are where appropriate.

1. We process data from applicants for the purpose of managing the admissions process, assessing and confirming an applicant’s suitability for a programme of study and decide to whom to offer a place. The legal bases for processing applicant data are as follows:

  • On the grounds of contractual requirement or to take steps to enter into a contract with you e.g., to offer you a place on a programme of study at the Academy.
  • Because it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest (fair admissions).
  • Because it is necessary for our or a third party’s legitimate interests.
  • To allow us to comply with our legal obligations.
  • To protect your or another person’s vital interests.
  • To monitor equality and diversity.
  • Because you have given us your consent or, in the case of special category data, your explicit consent.

We process applicant data for the following reasons:

  • to operate admissions processes;
  • to form the basis of a student record, should you be offered a place of study at the Academy;
  • to enable effective communication with you as an applicant;
  • to review references as part of your application;
  • to review video submissions as part of your application;
  • to verify English language test scores and academic qualifications;
  • to ensure effective general recruitment and admissions administration, including the analysis of applicant numbers and trends to improve our processes;
  • to compile returns for reporting purposes;
  • to provide evidence that the University has met UKVI requirements in relation to the Student Sponsor guidance;
  • to assess eligibility for an audition fee waiver and transport contribution;
  • to assess applicant financial support applications;
  • to assess an applicant’s fee status;
  • to assess relevant mitigating circumstances;
  • to make appropriate reasonable adjustments to the audition process;
  • to meet the audit requirements of funding providers.

2. To enrol you as a student: including the creation and ongoing maintenance of your student record.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Contextual

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract

3. To process and deliver educational services directly relating to your studentship including:

  • Timetabling
  • Assessment and monitoring of academic progress
  • Managing fee payments
  • Bursary administration
  • Student Finance (SLC, US Loans)
  • Hardship applications
  • The Elton John Global Exchange Programme and other student exchanges
  • Visa (UKVI) administration
  • Supplying letters for council tax exemption, bank, accounts, etc.
  • Degree certificate production

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Financial

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract
  • Legitimate interest

4. Security

Type of data:

  • Image / CCTV footage

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Public Task

5. To capture your image in video footage or photographs for the purpose of promoting the Academy

Type of data:

  • Identity (video / photographic image)

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract

6. To offer you and administer paid working opportunities in Academy departments.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Financial

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Consent
  • Performance of a contract

7. To supply you with student support as and when required, including the administration of Personal Learning Plans and Extension or Deferral applications.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Special Category
  • Contextual

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract
  • Explicit consent

8. To maintain an archive of your student record.

Type of data:

  • Basic studentship

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract
  • Legal obligation

9. Case management and investigations including disciplinary, wellbeing and safeguarding concerns

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Special Category
  • Image/CCTV footage
  • Contextual

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Legal; Reasons of substantial public interest
  • Performance of a contract

1. We may share applicant data with:

  • Other HE institutions in relation to the admissions process.
  • Verification organisations for the purpose of verifying qualifications and English language tests.
  • For the purpose of making a deposit payment (if applicable).
  • Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for the purpose of data reporting.
  • Third parties that process data on behalf of the Academy to support it in fulfilling its obligations and responsibilities to and relationship with you (e.g., software and system providers) including UCAS, Ellucian, Dot Digital, etc.
  • Third parties who award financial scholarships.

We do not collect any special category data as part of our day-to-day operations aside from when considering mitigating circumstances in the admissions process in order to provide reasonable adjustments for audition or audition fee waivers.

2. To meet our obligations for statutory reporting to HESA and the Office for Students.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Special Category

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Legal obligation

Please see the HESA Data Collection Notice here.

3. Sending photographs to external organisations for PR / marketing purposes or to third party organisations (e.g production imagery).

Type of data:

  • Identity (video / photographic image)

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract

4. To maintain your electronic student record via our student records system

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contract
  • Special Category
  • Contextual Data

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Performance of a contract
  • Legal obligation

5. To respond to a request from an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in order for students to be registered on the electoral roll.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Legal obligation

6. Maintaining relationships with donors / funding organisations / trusts and foundations who may be supporting your studies.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact
  • Contextual

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Legitimate interest

7. To meet our sector obligations for engaging with the National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes.

Type of data:

  • Identity
  • Contact

Lawful basis for processing:

  • Legal obligation

Change of purpose

We will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If you wish to obtain an explanation as to how the processing for the new purpose is compatible with the original purpose, please contact us.

If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will notify you and we will explain the legal basis which allows you to do so. Please note that we may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent, in compliance with the above rules, where this is required or permitted by law.

Disclosures of your personal data

We may have to share your personal data with the parties set out below for the purposes set out in the table in paragraph 8 above.

  • Higher Education Sector organisations who require us to share your data, such as:
    • The Office for Students (OfS)
    • The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
    • The National Student Survey (NSS) and Ipsos, who administer it

If you would like more details of organisations with whom we share your data please contact dpo@ram.ac.uk

The Royal Academy of Music employs the services of third party photographers or videographers to shoot or record events. Please note that these individuals/organisations may hold the right to retain the images taken. We may also share images/footage with freelance production staff, partners, Academy students and other suppliers. Details on the organisations who may hold your images are available upon request.

We require all third parties to respect the security of your personal data and to treat it in accordance with the law. We do not allow our third party service providers to use your personal data for their own purposes and only permit them to process your personal data for specified purposes and in accordance with our instructions.

International transfers

We may transfer the following enrolled student personal data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA):

  • Photographic images of students used in the Academy's marketing and publicity for the Prospectus and international guides
  • To facilitate the arrangement of overseas projects (for example an overseas festival may book flights for student participants and require information from us in order to do this).

Data security

We have in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instruction and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.

We benchmark the adequacy of our data systems and where applicable data privacy impact assessments have been conducted.

Data retention - how long will you use my personal data for?

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which we collected it, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes.

Please refer to our Data Retention Policy for more information on the specific retention of your data.

In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data: See Request erasure below for further information.

In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal data (so that is can no longer be associated with you) for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.

Your legal rights

Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data.

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

We try to respond to all legitimate requests within one month. Occasionally it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.

Glossary

Legal basis

Legitimate interest means the interest of our business in conducting and managing our business to enable us to give you the best service/product and the best and most secure experience. We make sure we consider and balance any potential impact on you (both positive and negative) and your rights before we process your personal data for our legitimate interests. We do not use your personal data for activities where our interests are overridden by the impact on you (unless we have your consent or are otherwise required or permitted to by law). You can obtain further information about how we assess our legitimate interests against any potential impact on you in respect of specific activities by contacting us.

Performance of contract means processing your data where it is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party or to take steps at your request before entering into such a contract.

Comply with a legal or regulatory obligation means processing your personal data where it is necessary for compliance with a legal or regulatory obligation that we are subject to.

External THIRD PARTIES

These are:

  • Service providers acting as processors based in the EU who provide IT and system administration services (such as Ellucian, who supply student records system).
  • Professional advisers acting as processors or joint controllers including lawyers, bankers, auditors and insurers based in the UK who provide consultancy, banking, legal, insurance and accounting services.
  • HM Revenue & Customs, regulators and other authorities acting as processors or joint controllers based in the United Kingdom who require reporting of processing activities in certain circumstances.

Action you can take

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out below, please contact us.

You have the right to:

Commonly known as a 'data subject access request'. This enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.

Request access to your personal data here.

This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected, though we may need to verify the accuracy of the new data you provide to us.

This enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal data where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it. You also have the right to ask us to delete or remove your personal data where you have successfully exercised your right to object to processing (see below), where we may have processed your information unlawfully or where we are required to erase your personal data to comply with local law. Note, however, that we may not always be able to comply with your request of erasure for specific legal reasons which will be notified to you, if applicable, at the time of your request.

Where we are relying on a legitimate interest (or those of a third party) and there is something about your particular situation which makes you want to object to processing on this ground as you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms. You have the right to object where we are processing your personal data for direct marketing purposes. In some cases, we may demonstrate that we have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which override your rights and freedoms.

This enables you to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data in the following scenarios:

(a) if you want us to establish the data's accuracy;

(b) where our use of the data is unlawful but you do not want us to erase it;

(c) where you need us to hold the legal claims; or

(d) you have objected to our use of your data but we need to verify whether we have overriding legitimate grounds to use it.

We will provide to you, or a third party you have chosen, your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Note that this right only applies to automated information which you initially provided consent for us to use or where we used the information to perform a contract with you.

Where we are relying on consent to process your personal data. This will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we may not be able to provide certain products or services to you. We will advise you if this is the case at the time you withdraw your consent.

You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk). We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO so please contact us to raise any concerns in the first instance.