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Campus of Guildhall School of Music & Drama
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Guildhall School of Music & Drama

London, United Kingdom · Public · Est. 1880

Updated 28 Oct 2026

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Established

1880

Type

Public

Location

London, United Kingdom

Ranking

Not ranked

Photo: The original uploader was Nevilley at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0

About the university

Guildhall School of Music & Drama opened in 1880 as the first municipal music college in Great Britain and added drama in the 1930s. It is based at the Barbican in the City of London and is owned and funded by the City of London Corporation. About 1,000 students study there, 35% of them from outside Britain.

Indian students look at Guildhall for conservatoire training in music performance, composition, acting, production arts and music therapy. Entry is by audition or interview, and applications go directly to the School, not through UCAS. Overseas fees for 2027/28 entrants are £32,740 a year for bachelor's degrees and £33,380 for most master's programmes; Guildhall scholarships are open to students regardless of where they live.

Founded
1880, as the first municipal music college in Great Britain
Type
Public conservatoire, owned, funded and run by the City of London Corporation
Students
About 1,000 across all programmes
International students
35% from outside Britain, from more than 40 countries
Campus
Barbican, in the City of London (since 1977)
Intake
September; early deadlines (for example 1 October 2026 for most music programmes starting September 2027)

Rankings

    Popular courses with Indian students

    View all 8 courses with filters

    Fees for international students

    Course fees
    CourseDurationFee / year (GBP)Approx. in rupees
    BMus (Bachelor of Music) Honours Degree4 years (full time)£32,740≈ ₹39.9 lakh
    BA Acting3 years (full time)£32,740≈ ₹39.9 lakh
    BA Production Arts3 years (full time)£32,740≈ ₹39.9 lakh
    BA Performance Design3 years (full time)£32,740≈ ₹39.9 lakh
    MMus in Performance (Guildhall Artist)1 year (full time)£33,380≈ ₹40.7 lakh
    MA in Music Therapy2 years (full time)£27,820≈ ₹33.9 lakh
    MA Opera Making & WritingFull time only£33,380≈ ₹40.7 lakh
    MA Collaborative Performance Making1 year (full time)£33,380≈ ₹40.7 lakh

    Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

    Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Guildhall School of Music & Drama with similar universities in the UK.

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    Scholarships

    • All programmes

      Guildhall School Scholarships

      Value: Full or partial tuition fees, sometimes with maintenance support

      Eligibility: Open to students regardless of domicile. Awarded on talent, potential and financial need; all students who accept a place can apply, and you must reapply each year.

      Official page (opens in a new tab)

    Admission requirements

    Undergraduate

    • Apply directly to Guildhall School through its online application, not through UCAS.
    • Entry is by audition (music) or audition and interview (acting, production arts); you may be able to audition outside London or by recording.
    • Guildhall accepts a wide range of international qualifications; see the Academic Entry Criteria page for equivalents.

    Postgraduate

    • Most master's programmes need an audition or interview; applicants whose principal study is not yet at master's level may be offered the extended programme.
    • Deadlines are early: 1 October 2026 for most music master's programmes and 9 December 2026 for MA Music Therapy (September 2027 entry).
    • Students on a Student visa can only study full time.

    Documents

    • Valid passport
    • Academic transcripts and certificates
    • English test result (taken within two years of the course start date)
    • Audition or interview materials as set out for your programme
    • Fee assessment form (completed when you accept an offer)

    Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.

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    English language requirements

    English requirements
    Test or routeTypical requirement
    IELTS AcademicVaries by programme: 5.5 (5.5 in each skill) for BMus and most music master's; 6.5 (6.0 in each) for BA Acting, Production Arts and Performance Design; 7.0 for the MAs.
    PTE Academic59 in each component for programmes asking for IELTS 5.5; 65 in each for programmes asking for IELTS 6.5 or 7.0 with 6.0 in each skill.
    TOEFL iBTAccepted, including the Home Edition. Scores depend on the programme band; see the English language entry criteria page.
    Other testsLanguageCert Academic, Cambridge English and Oxford ELLT are also accepted. Guildhall follows UKVI English levels.

    Accommodation and living costs

    Guildhall has one hall of residence, Sundial Court, round the corner from the Silk Street building, with 173 single rooms in flats of three to six. Rooms cannot be offered to everyone, so most students rent privately. The School uses University of London Housing Services to help students search.

    Accommodation and living costs
    ItemIn GBPApprox. in rupees
    Sundial Court single room (2026-27)£252per week≈ ₹30,744
    Living in London (accommodation, food and travel)Guildhall's own estimate£1,300–1,550per month≈ ₹1.6 lakh – ₹1.9 lakh
    Course-related costsDepends on the programme£130–1,500per year≈ ₹15,860 – ₹1.8 lakh

    Campus and location

    Guildhall has been at the Barbican in the City of London since 1977. The Barbican Centre, including the School, is Grade II listed.

    • Silk Street building at the Barbican, with Sundial Court hall nearby on Chiswell Street.
    • Member of Conservatoires UK, the European Association of Conservatoires and the Federation of Drama Schools.
    • MA Opera Making & Writing runs in association with the Royal Opera House.
    • 24-hour reception and resident student assistants at Sundial Court.

    Careers and graduate outcomes

    Training is aimed at professional careers in music, theatre, film and live events, with industry talks and workshops in the final year of BA Acting. Guildhall does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we checked. For post-study work rights, see our UK country guide.

    Graduate outcomes
    WhatFigureSource

    Studying in the UK

    Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:

    Other universities in the UK

    Compare all universities in the UK

    FAQs

    How much are Guildhall's fees for Indian students?

    For students starting in 2027/28, bachelor's degrees are £32,740 a year and most master's programmes are £33,380. Some music pathways cost more or less; check the fee schedule.

    Do I apply through UCAS?

    No. Guildhall takes applications directly through its own online system, followed by an audition or interview.

    When are the deadlines?

    Early. For September 2027 entry, most music programmes close on 1 October 2026, BA Acting and Production Arts on 13 January 2027 and MA Music Therapy on 9 December 2026.

    Are there scholarships for international students?

    Yes. Guildhall scholarships are open to students regardless of domicile and can cover full or partial tuition. You apply after accepting an offer.

    Sources

    1. Guildhall School: fee schedule 2027/28 (opens in a new tab)
    2. Guildhall School: fees and funding (opens in a new tab)
    3. Guildhall School: English language entry criteria (opens in a new tab)
    4. Guildhall School: international admissions (opens in a new tab)
    5. Guildhall School: scholarships, bursaries and financial awards (opens in a new tab)
    6. Guildhall School: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
    7. Guildhall School: our history (opens in a new tab)
    8. Guildhall School: BMus programme (opens in a new tab)

    Official website: www.gsmd.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)

    Check the latest details

    We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026. Fees, entry requirements and scholarships change every year, so confirm them on the university's website before you apply. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

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