Exchanges and Studying Abroad

In addition to the Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme, the Academy holds study exchange agreements with the following partner institutions:

Musikhochschule Lübeck
Nomination/Application Deadline: 1 April

Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon
Nomination/Application Deadline: 15 March

Mannheim Hochschule für Musik
Nomination/Application Deadline: 1 May

University of Miami
For Undergraduate Jazz students
Nominations to Miami by 1 March
Application Deadline: 1 April

1. Initial Consultation: You must speak first to your Head of Department and Head of Year or Tutor by the start of the Spring term preceding your planned placement. This ensures plenty of time for checking and approvals before the receiving institution's deadline.
2. Internal Approval: Your request must be formally approved by the Academy before you make an application to the receiving institution.
3. Guidance: A comprehensive guide document for outgoing study placement exchanges is available in the Registry fileshare area under the 'Services' section of the Academy's Intranet.
4. Registry Contact: For general process questions, the Registry contact point is Edward Kemp-Luck, Admissions and Student Exchange Manager. For opportunities regarding the Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme, please speak to your Head of Department or our International Officer, Sarah Low.

Please note that the Academy cannot offer Exchange and Study Abroad programmes in Choral Conducting, Conducting, Musical Theatre, Répétiteur, Opera or Research Degrees.

• Standard Fees: If you go on an approved placement for all or part of a year, you will continue to pay your normal full tuition fees directly to the Academy. If you hold an Entrance Scholarship, you will remain eligible to receive it during your time abroad.
• Reduced BMus Fees: Home (UK) undergraduate BMus students going abroad for a full year as part of their degree program, who are eligible for UK government student support (tuition fee loan), will only pay around 15% of the full fee (currently £1,468). Tuition fee loans, maintenance grants, and loans remain available through UK Student Finance based on standard eligibility criteria. See also: Student finance for UK students studying abroad.
• If you are receiving USA Federal Loan funds, please contact the Student Funding Manager.

Note: Reduced fees do not apply to undergraduate students paying international fees, students ineligible for a Student Finance tuition fee loan, or postgraduate students.

If you are enrolled at the Academy on a UKVI Student visa and go on a period of academic study at a partner institution, your current Student visa will be curtailed because you will be enrolled elsewhere. You will need to request a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number and obtain a new visa before you return to complete the remainder of your course at the Academy.

Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme

In the Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme, placements will normally be short, project-specific exchanges, lasting between one week and one month.

Study Abroad and Partner Institution Exchanges

The standard placement length is one academic year, to ensure that you receive credits for the study period. It can be possible to attend for shorter periods (minimum one academic term [trimester]) but this will restrict the ability to be awarded credits.

If it is not possible to issue an academic transcript with credits for short stays, the Academy can provide a letter confirming your period of study and the modules attended.

Placements usually take place during Bachelor Year 3 (Junior year), or sometimes Bachelor Year 4 (Senior year), or can be part of a Master's degree at your home institution.

Students are encouraged to commence their studies at the beginning of the Academy's academic year (September); this is because students who commence later in the year are unlikely to be able to join academic classes as these are mostly run on a full-year basis. Jazz placements must commence in September.

Please note that we cannot offer exchange or study-abroad placements in Conducting, Choral Conducting, Musical Theatre, Opera, or Répétiteur, or for the Research degree program (MPhil/PhD).

The Academy's Exchanges with Partner Institutions are normally a reciprocal arrangement. If your application is successful but our exchange balance means we cannot offer an exchange place, you may instead be offered a Study Abroad placement which has a tuition fee. If your institution is not in our Exchange partner list, you can only apply for a Study Abroad studentship.

Your exchange/study-abroad placement must form part of your degree studies at your home institution, and the application must be approved by your Exchange or Study Abroad office.

Partner Institution and Study Abroad Exchanges

Applications must be made through the Acceptd online application form, which must be submitted in consultation with your own education institution's exchange or study abroad office. The application deadline is 15 March.

In the "Media" section of your Acceptd application profile, you must upload:

• An application recording or portfolio, as required by the relevant musical department.
• A letter of motivation to explain why you have chosen to apply to us.
• A curriculum vitae (CV).
• An academic transcript from your current study course.
• A recommendation and confirmation from your home institution.

Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme

Applications are not made through Acceptd. You should speak to your own institution's exchange coordinator to discuss how they manage their nominations for this programme.

This information is for study abroad and exchange students who do not hold a UK passport or UK Settled/Pre-Settled Status.

Student Visa

If you are coming to the Academy for a full academic year, you will need to apply for a Student Visa. The Academy will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to successful applicants who require this visa.

Standard Visitor Visa

If your placement is for less than six months (for example, a single term, or a short exchange through the Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme), you may be able to utilize a Standard Visitor Visa.

• Short placement: Standard Visitor visa for "Visa Nationals": If you are a citizen of a country on the UK government’s Visa National list, you must apply for and obtain a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK.
• Short placement: Standard Visitor visa for "Non-Visa Nationals": If you are a citizen of a country that is not on the Visa National list (such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, or an EU country), you do not need to apply for a visa before you travel. You can normally receive entry clearance as a Standard Visitor at the UK border, provided you hold a valid passport and the supporting documentation issued by the Academy confirming your short exchange placement.

Coming to study at the Royal Academy of Music is a thrilling milestone.

While you are likely feeling a wave of excitement about arriving in London, adapting to a completely new culture is a major life transition. It is entirely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed along the way.

Understanding Culture Shock

When the initial novelty wears off, a degree of culture shock is a natural part of the growth process. You might experience:

• Language Fatigue: Communicating and writing in a second language can be exhausting at first, even if your English is excellent.
• The Emotional Dip: Leaving behind familiar faces and routines can lead to temporary waves of homesickness, loneliness, or frustration when things do not go perfectly.
• The Physical Toll: The emotional strain of adjusting to a new climate and food can sometimes manifest physically, leaving you feeling run-down, tired, or more susceptible to minor colds.
• The "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back" Effect: You might feel like you are adjusting beautifully, only for a small mishap to suddenly make you feel like giving up.

If you experience these feelings, remember: you are not failing, you are adjusting.

Practical Strategies to Help You Thrive

The transition takes time, but there are active steps you can take to anchor yourself in your new home:

• Be Patient with Yourself: Acknowledge the scale of the move. Give yourself permission to have quiet days without guilt.
• Build Your Hybrid Community:
  • Connect with home: Use video calls and messaging apps to stay anchored to family and friends.
  • Find your comfort zone: Cook familiar meals or spend time with peers from your own culture to recharge your batteries.
  • Branch out: Balance this by diving into London life. Chat with British students (who are often experiencing homesickness too!) and international peers to share the experience.
• Immerse Yourself Gently: Get to know your new city at your own pace. Explore London’s rich cultural tapestry, try local foods, read UK media, or simply wander through the city's parks.
• Lean on Your Strengths: Remind yourself of difficult situations you have successfully navigated in the past. You have the resilience to handle this, too.
• Never Hesitate to Ask: If you do not understand something or feel lost, speak up. The Academy community is incredibly collaborative and welcoming.

Remember, every world-class musician who came to the Academy from abroad stood exactly where you are standing now. This transition is the first movement of an incredible new chapter.

We Are Here For You

You never have to navigate this transition alone. If you are feeling low, overwhelmed, or just need a friendly ear, the Academy provides dedicated support.