Audition Requirements

Please see Filling In Your Application For UK Conservatoires via UCAS for further assistance with this process. Please also see "International Auditions" on the Your Application page.

These details are for students applying to start their studies at the Academy in September 2026. All candidates must submit a UCAS Conservatoires application and also an Acceptd application profile.

Until specified otherwise, these requirements also apply for auditions in future years. Some audition requirements may change: please check back here regularly. You are welcome to contact the Admissions team (admissions@ram.ac.uk) or the department administrator if you have any queries.

2 October, 18:00 UK time: Deadline for all candidates for London, Australia, China or Video auditions to submit their UCAS Conservatoires application.

2 October, 18:00 UK time: Deadline for all candidates for Australia, China or Video auditions to submit their Acceptd portal application profile with their video recordings.

31 October, midday UK time:

London in-person candidates: Deadline for your application profile in the Acceptd portal, with any written requirements required for your course choice (see below). London in-person auditions for your Principal Study do not require recordings, unless you are submitting the Advanced Professional Diploma video portfolio.

New York candidates: deadline for your UCAS Conservatoires application and also your application profile in the Acceptd portal, with your video recordings.

Live audition

You should offer a free-choice programme of solo piano music (not concerto repertoire) with a minimum of two works, and your programme should be a minimum of 30 minutes long for undergraduate candidates, or 40 minutes long for postgraduate candidates.
This can include movements rather than complete works (ie a movement of a sonata), and should show a wide diversity of character and style, as well as evidence of technical accomplishment. We suggest including music in a classical or Baroque style; a romantic work; and something 20th century or contemporary.

Please note: Your programme should be played from memory, though complex contemporary music may be played from the score. The audition panel will ask you to choose one item from the programme, and then the panel will select the other items they wish to hear.

Video audition

You should offer a free-choice programme of solo piano music (not concerto repertoire) with a minimum of two works. Video candidates must upload one unedited video of the complete audition programme. Your programme should be 30 minutes long for undergraduate candidates, or 40 minutes long for postgraduate candidates.

Your audition video can include movements rather than complete works (ie a movement of a sonata), and should show a wide diversity of character and style, as well as evidence of technical accomplishment. We suggest including music in a classical or Baroque style; a romantic work; and something 20th century or contemporary.

Please note: Your programme should be played from memory, though complex contemporary music may be played from the score.

You may be asked to have an online interview with the Head of Piano.

Undergraduate applicants

You may be asked to have a subsequent interview with one of the undergraduate academic staff, during which you can discuss your study plans. As part of the interview you may be asked some questions about a short extract of music, and be asked to take some aural skills assessments consisting of a sight-singing test and some of the following:

singing the middle notes in a chord
identification of intervals
sight reading of rhythms
sight reading of two simultaneous different rhythms, to be sung and clapped.

Sorry, we cannot issue specimen tests.

Postgraduate applicants

You may be asked to have a subsequent interview with one of the postgraduate programme tutors where you can discuss your study plans.

Written requirements

Applicants for the Master of Music, Professional Diploma, Advanced Professional Diploma or Advanced Artist Diploma courses need to submit written requirements, please view these on the entry requirements page of the website. There are no academic written requirements for MA or PGCert.
Master of Music candidates: you are automatically considered for Master of Arts, so if you are also interested in MA study you should only apply for MMus because there will only be one audition. Diploma candidates will be asked in their Acceptd profile to state if they wish to be considered for alternative courses.

Advanced Professional Diploma: Video portfolio

In addition to your written proposal, your Acceptd profile must include video recordings of a minimum of two works of your own choice from contrasting periods and/or featuring contrasting musical challenges. At least one should relate in some way to your proposed specialism. Each item should be an unedited performance, recorded either as a live performance or under ‘studio’ conditions. If your specialism includes an ensemble focus you should include ensemble work.

• For candidates applying to audition by video recording or at one of our international centres with prescreening, you can use those performance videos if they are appropriate, or you can add separate recordings.
• For candidates applying for a London in-person audition, the video portfolio and written proposal will normally be reviewed before your audition.

Course Choice

You are not tied to the course choice in your application; the programme pathway can be discussed and adjusted as appropriate.