About Our Courses

Our courses are packed with variety and creative opportunities.

Whatever course you are coming to study at the Academy, you will be among like-minded musicians who share your commitment and talent.

Our Credentials

The Academy and the University of London

The Royal Academy of Music is a member institution of the University of London. This means that students studying for our BMus, PG Cert, MA, MMus, MPhil and PhD courses will receive degrees/awards from the University of London when graduating.

The University of London is one of the oldest and largest universities in the UK, so you can be sure that your qualification will be recognised around the globe.

See: The Academy and the University of London

A proven track record

Our emphasis on one-to-one lessons, small-group teaching and our tailored approach to artist development result in one of the best employability records of any British university.

In 2023 the Academy was awarded 'Gold' by the Office for Students as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework scheme.

Undergraduate Programmes

Bachelor of Music (Honours)

• This is a four-year degree course where students receive a degree from the University of London. It is designed for those passionate about music who want a solid foundation for a career as a performer, composer, teacher, or in related fields. The course consists of three core elements: Principal Study (individual lessons, masterclasses, chamber music, and public concert experience), Artist Development (studio recording, marketing, CV writing, arts management, and Open Academy community projects), and Academic Study (core modules in Aural, Analysis, and History). 3rd- and 4th-year students can also choose to study for the LRAM teaching licence.

Bachelor of Music (Honours) Composition

• This falls under the four-year BMus degree structure, which provides a solid foundation for a career as a composer, offering core elements in Principal Study, Artist Development, and Academic Study, with qualifications awarded by the University of London.

Bachelor of Music (Honours) Jazz

• This falls under the four-year BMus degree structure, which offers a tailored approach to your specialism, combining practical Principal Study and Artist Development with core Academic modules, leading to a University of London degree.

Organ Foundation

• This is a one-year gap-year course for students preparing for an organ scholarship at Oxford or Cambridge, or for those wanting to develop organ and choral direction skills before starting formal university or conservatoire training. Students benefit from Academy facilities and performance opportunities. Please note that this course is not eligible for a UK Student Route visa.

Undergraduate Gap Year

• This is a one-year course aimed at students finishing secondary school who love music but intend to study a different subject for their main degree in the future. It allows students to reach a high musical standard while pursuing another career path, using identical audition requirements to the BMus course. Please note that this course is not eligible for a UK Student Route visa.

Foundation Year

• 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.

Postgraduate Master's Degrees

Master of Arts (Performance)

• The MA in Performance is the standard postgraduate course for students who want to focus on their principal study and build professional skills. It is normally a two-year course awarded by the University of London, suitable for those holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline (at lower second-class honours or above). Internal transfer requests can be made in the first term to switch between a 1-year and 2-year structure, or to transfer into the MMus programme for Year 2.

Master of Arts (Choral Conducting)

• This falls under the standard postgraduate MA framework (normally two years, with options to request an internal transfer to a 1-year structure or to the MMus programme for Year 2). It focuses on principal study and building professional skills for a University of London award. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Choral Conducting.

Master of Arts (Composition)

• This is the standard postgraduate MA course for composers to focus on their principal study and professional skills. It is normally a two-year course leading to a University of London degree, with the flexibility to request an internal transfer to a 1-year intensive structure or to transfer into the MMus programme for Year 2.

Master of Arts (Conducting: Orchestral)

• This falls under the standard postgraduate MA framework (normally two years, with options to request an internal transfer to a 1-year structure or to the MMus programme for Year 2). It focuses on principal study and building professional skills for a University of London award. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Conducting.

Master of Arts (Ensemble Piano)

• This falls under the standard postgraduate MA framework focusing on principal study and professional skill development over a normal duration of two years, leading to a University of London degree, with options to request a transfer between 1-year and 2-year routes in the first term.

Master of Arts (Performance) Jazz

• This falls under the standard postgraduate MA framework focusing on principal study and professional skill development over a normal duration of two years, leading to a University of London degree, with options to request a transfer between 1-year and 2-year routes in the first term.

Master of Arts (Musical Direction & Coaching)

• This falls under the standard postgraduate MA framework which focuses on developing practical musical skills and professional development, leading to a University of London degree.

Master of Arts (Musical Theatre Performance)

• This is a one-year course of intensive full-time study for Musical Theatre specialists holding a bachelor's degree at lower second-class honours or above. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Musical Theatre.

Master of Arts (Composition: Intensive)

• While the MA is normally a two-year course, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MA in Composition in one year via this intensive option.

Master of Arts (Ensemble Piano: Intensive)

• While the MA is normally a two-year course, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MA in Performance/their principal study in one year via this intensive option.

Master of Arts (Performance: Intensive) Jazz

• While the MA is normally a two-year course, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MA in Performance/their principal study in one year via this intensive option.

Master of Arts (Performance: Intensive)

• While the MA is normally a two-year course, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MA in Performance in one year via this intensive option.

Master of Music (Performance)

• The MMus degree has the MA curriculum at its core but adds a substantial Master’s project (such as a concert with commentary, a dissertation, a recording project, or a combination). It is awarded by the University of London and is a full calendar-year programme (lasting two full calendar years rather than academic years) with a final submission date in the early autumn term. It is the most common study programme for those hoping to do a PhD in the future, and students can request an internal transfer to the MA programme during their first term.

Master of Music (Choral Conducting)

• This falls under the postgraduate MMus framework, adding a substantial Master’s project to the core curriculum over a two-calendar-year period, leading to a University of London award. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Choral Conducting.

Master of Music (Composition)

• This is the standard postgraduate course for composers looking for support in developing a substantial creative and/or academic project alongside their core studies. It is a University of London qualification that lasts two full calendar years, with a final submission date in the early part of the autumn term.

Master of Music (Conducting: Orchestral)

• This falls under the postgraduate MMus framework, adding a substantial Master’s project to the core curriculum over a two-calendar-year period, leading to a University of London award. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Conducting.

Master of Music (Ensemble Piano)

• This falls under the postgraduate MMus framework, running for two full calendar years and requiring the completion of a substantial creative or academic Master's project alongside core studies for a University of London degree.

Master of Music (Performance) Jazz

• This falls under the postgraduate MMus framework, running for two full calendar years and requiring the completion of a substantial creative or academic Master's project alongside core studies for a University of London degree.

Master of Music (Composition: Intensive)

• While the MMus is normally a two-calendar-year programme, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MMus in Composition in one calendar year via this intensive option.

Master of Music (Ensemble Piano: Intensive)

• While the MMus is normally a two-calendar-year programme, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MMus in Performance/their principal study in one calendar year via this intensive option.

Master of Music (Performance: Intensive) Jazz

• While the MMus is normally a two-calendar-year programme, in certain cases, students can be allowed to complete the MMus in Performance/their principal study in one calendar year via this intensive option.

Postgraduate Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas

Professional Diploma (Performance)

• This is a one-year specialist and intensive Diploma at Level 7 within the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (post-Masters). The course is for performance candidates who wish to follow a particular area of focus within or connected to their Principal Study. 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.

Professional Diploma (Composition)

• This is a one-year specialist and intensive Diploma at Level 7 within the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework (post-Masters). The course is for composition candidates who wish to follow a particular area of focus within or connected to their Principal Study. 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.

Professional Diploma (Musical Direction & Coaching)

• This is a high-level, one-year course designed as a next step above the MA or MMus to explore a specific musical direction or coaching specialism based on a project proposal put forward by the applicant.

Professional Diploma (Répétiteur)

• This is a high-level, one-year course designed as a next step above the MA or MMus to explore a repetiteur specialism based on a project proposal put forward by the applicant. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements for Répétiteur pathways.

Continuing Professional Development Diploma

• This is an intensive one-year course for professional musicians to gain valuable skills, knowledge, and experience to help build a varied portfolio career.

Advanced Professional Diploma (Performance)

• This programme is at Level 8 of the FHEQ, demanding a high level of autonomy, independence, and initiative. It serves as a final-stage bridge to professional work for students with highly developed performance skills. It features programme supervision alongside one-to-one lessons, and students must identify a specialism (such as chamber music, orchestral leadership, ensemble piano partnerships, or live performance/recording projects) and articulate a deliverable set of goals.

Advanced Professional Diploma (Repetiteur)

• This falls under the Level 8 FHEQ APD framework as a final-stage bridge to professional work, requiring a high degree of independence. It allows students to focus specifically on a Repetiteur specialism with dedicated programme supervision and one-to-one lessons. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements for Répétiteur pathways.

Advanced Professional Diploma (Composition)

• This falls under the Level 8 FHEQ APD framework as a final-stage bridge to professional work, requiring a high degree of independence. It allows students with highly developed compositional skills to focus on a specific compositional specialism with dedicated programme supervision and one-to-one lessons.

Advanced Artist Diploma

• The Advanced Artist Diploma (AAD) is a highly selective Level 8 FHEQ course for a select group of instrumentalists at the highest level who are on the cusp of an international career. It demands a high level of autonomy and initiative, providing mentoring alongside one-to-one lessons. Selected students receive a full-fees scholarship (plus potential entry scholarship support) and must self-manage a world-class recording opportunity that receives separate financial support and features special release arrangements on major streaming platforms or labels.

Advanced Opera Diploma

• This is a two-year intensive pre-professional training programme for opera singers designed to enhance industry employability. It operates like a small opera company within an educational framework, offering one-to-one teaching, communal productions, and classes. Applicants normally hold a Master's degree, but applications are welcome from anyone meeting the performing standard. Postgraduate Vocal Studies students can audition for this in December via UCAS Conservatoires. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Opera.

Postgraduate Certificates

Postgraduate Certificate (Ensemble Piano)

• This is a postgraduate-level qualification for students with a high standard of musical ability who want to focus on ensemble piano but do not hold an Honours degree or meet the academic entrance requirements for the MA. The syllabus is identical to the MA, except for the final portfolio. If a student successfully completes the syllabus and also submits a satisfactory Portfolio, they will graduate with an MA degree.

Postgraduate Certificate (Musical Theatre Performance)

• This falls under the PG Cert framework designed for students with a high standard of musical ability who do not hold an Honours degree or meet the academic entrance requirements for the MA. The syllabus is identical to the MA, except for the final portfolio. If a student successfully completes the syllabus and also submits a satisfactory Portfolio, they will graduate with an MA degree. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Musical Theatre.

Postgraduate Certificate (Musical Direction & Coaching)

• This falls under the PG Cert framework designed for students with a high standard of musical ability who do not hold an Honours degree or meet the academic entrance requirements for the MA. The syllabus is identical to the MA, except for the final portfolio. If a student successfully completes the syllabus and also submits a satisfactory Portfolio, they will graduate with an MA degree.

Research Programmes

Research Degree Programme

• Aimed at performers and composers with highly developed skills and focused career aspirations, the Academy offers an integrated MPhil/PhD degree over four years (with the fourth year acting as a 'writing up' year). Driven by practical performance or composition activity, it requires critical context and reflection, providing 30 hours of supervision per year. Transfer to PhD status normally happens at the end of the second year, though students can choose to exit with an MPhil at that stage. Please note that the Academy cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements for the Research degree programme.

Other Qualifications and Short Courses

Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (Music Teaching Qualification)

• The Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) is a practical music teaching licence informed by pedagogical theory and aligned with UK national standards to reflect state and public sector practices. It costs £360, takes place in the spring term, and is open to enrolled Academy students (specifically 3rd- and 4th-year BMus undergraduates, and postgraduates). It features a six-day intensive course with cohort lectures covering topics like safeguarding, special educational needs, technology, and community music, followed by instrument family practical sessions and an optional keyboard bootcamp. Assessment is based on a kept learning journal (which contains a teaching toolkit) and a final viva voce examination.

Flute Short Course

• This practical workshop offers an in-person opportunity to explore the versatility of the flute. It provides a chance to try arrangements for flute ensemble, explore the potential of low flutes, work on playing technique and sound production, and perform with others in one of the Academy’s performance spaces. Led by a Professor of Low Flutes and Contemporary Flute, the course builds core ensemble skills and refines elements of individual posture, hand positions, resonance, and tone production through challenging repertoire.

ABRSM Grade 5 Theory

• This online preparatory course is designed to improve knowledge and understanding of music theory in preparation for the ABRSM Grade 5 exam. Taught by an Academy tutor through a combination of group tuition and individual support, the course covers the thorough application of the Grade 5 theory syllabus, adjacent music theory knowledge, and foundational musical analysis. Please note that this course does not cover external exam entry fees.