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Campus of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Glasgow, United Kingdom · Public · Est. 1847

Updated 28 Oct 2026

Talk to our counsellorCall usOfficial website (opens in a new tab)

Established

1847

Type

Public

Location

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Ranking

Not ranked

Photo: Ulysse Verjus-Tonnelé, CC BY-SA 4.0

About the university

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) was founded in 1847 and is Scotland's national conservatoire. It teaches music, drama, dance, production and film on one campus in central Glasgow, with more than 500 performances a year. Its About page says it was ranked one of the world's top ten destinations to study both music and the performing arts in the QS Rankings in 2026.

For Indian students the RCS costs less than most London conservatoires: £29,786 a year for undergraduate degrees and two-year MMus programmes in 2026/27. Two GREAT Scholarships worth £10,000 are reserved for students from India and mainland China on one-year postgraduate courses. Most programmes need an audition or interview; international applicants can audition online, and the RCS also holds auditions abroad.

Founded
1847; Scotland's national conservatoire (Royal prefix in 1944)
Type
Public conservatoire for music, drama, dance, production and film
International students
Around one in three students come from outside the UK (31.37% as of April 2022), from over 60 nationalities
Campus
100 Renfrew Street in central Glasgow, plus Wallace Studios on Garscube Road; five professional performance venues
Performances
500+ performances a year
Intake
September (courses for 2027 entry start on 20 September 2027)

Rankings

    Popular courses with Indian students

    View all 10 courses with filters

    Fees for international students

    Course fees
    CourseDurationFee / year (GBP)Approx. in rupees
    BMus (Hons) Performance4 years full time£29,786≈ ₹36.3 lakh
    BA Acting3 years full time£29,786≈ ₹36.3 lakh
    BA Filmmaking3 years full time£29,786≈ ₹36.3 lakh
    BA Production Technology and ManagementFull time; the programme structure runs from Year 1 to Year 3£29,786≈ ₹36.3 lakh
    MMus Performance2 years full time£29,786≈ ₹36.3 lakh
    MA Performance1 year full time (shortened version of the MMus)£37,372≈ ₹45.6 lakh
    MMus Performance (Vocal Performance)2 years full time£30,630≈ ₹37.4 lakh
    MA Performance (Vocal Performance)1 year full time£39,363≈ ₹48 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 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with similar universities in the UK.

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    Scholarships

    • One-year postgraduate courses

      GREAT Scholarships

      Value: £10,000 (two scholarships)

      Eligibility: Students from India and mainland China applying for a one-year postgraduate course.

      Official page (opens in a new tab)
    • BA Production Arts & Design, BA Production Technology & Management, MA/MFA Production

      International Scholarships for Production

      Value: At least £2,500 a year

      Eligibility: International applicants to the three production programmes.

      Official page (opens in a new tab)
    • Music programmes

      School of Music scholarships

      Value: Varies; many last the whole programme

      Eligibility: All students are considered automatically after audition and offer, on ability and potential (some also on financial need). Most awards are made in January.

      Official page (opens in a new tab)

    Admission requirements

    Undergraduate

    • Typical academic entry: 3 Scottish Highers, 2 A levels or an IB score of 24 with 3 Higher Level subjects; the RCS publishes international equivalences in a separate entry requirements PDF.
    • Most programmes need an audition or interview. BMus applicants are normally expected to reach at least Grade 8 with Distinction on their principal study.
    • Apply through UCAS Conservatoires. International deadline for BMus: 1 December 2026 (1 October 2026 for keyboard); BA Acting: 30 January 2027; BA Filmmaking and BA Production Technology and Management: 13 January 2027.

    Postgraduate

    • MMus/MA applicants normally need a good honours degree (at least 2:2) or an overseas equivalent in a relevant subject.
    • MA/MFA Production needs extensive practical stage experience and a portfolio interview with a 1,000-word reflective statement.
    • A £2,000 international deposit counts towards tuition; 95% is refunded if your visa is refused or you do not meet the offer conditions.

    Documents

    • UCAS Conservatoires application
    • Valid passport
    • Academic certificates and transcripts
    • Audition, recorded or online audition material, or portfolio (as the programme asks)
    • English test result

    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 Academic6.0 (5.5 in each component) for MMus, MA music and BMus Performance; 6.5 for BA Filmmaking and BA Production Technology and Management; 7.5 with 7.5 in speaking for acting, directing and production
    TOEFL iBT80 for MMus/MA music (Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17); home edition not accepted
    PTE Academic59 (59 in each component) for MMus/MA music; PTE Academic online not accepted
    Cambridge EnglishB2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency accepted (169, with 162 in each component, for MMus/MA music)
    DuolingoNot listed among the accepted tests

    Accommodation and living costs

    The RCS's preferred hall is Base Glasgow, a purpose-built residence three minutes' walk from the Renfrew Street campus, with en suite rooms and studios, soundproofed practice rooms and all bills included. Rooms are first come, first served and booked through the operator, which sets the prices. Students in purpose-built halls in Glasgow are automatically exempt from council tax.

    Accommodation and living costs
    ItemIn GBPApprox. in rupees

    Campus and location

    The main campus is at 100 Renfrew Street in Glasgow city centre, with further studios at Wallace Studios on Garscube Road.

    • Five professional performance venues and more than 500 performances a year.
    • More than 1,000 lecturers, tutors, artists, technicians and support staff.
    • International applicants can audition online, and the RCS holds in-person auditions abroad for many programmes.
    • Base Glasgow, the preferred student hall, is three minutes' walk from campus.

    Careers and graduate outcomes

    RCS programmes train performers, directors, filmmakers, production specialists and teachers. After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa; see our UK guide for the current rules.

    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 RCS fees for Indian students?

    For 2026/27 the international fee is £29,786 a year for undergraduate degrees and the two-year MMus. The one-year MA in music is £37,372. Fees for 2027/28 were not yet published.

    Is there a scholarship for Indian students?

    Yes. Two GREAT Scholarships worth £10,000 are offered to students from India and mainland China on one-year postgraduate courses. Music applicants are also considered automatically for merit scholarships.

    Can I audition from India?

    International applicants can audition online, and the RCS holds in-person auditions abroad for many programmes. Check each programme page for audition dates and formats.

    What English score do I need?

    IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component for most music programmes. Acting, directing and production programmes need IELTS 7.5 with 7.5 in speaking.

    Sources

    1. RCS: Tuition fees 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
    2. RCS: About us (opens in a new tab)
    3. RCS: MMus/MA Performance (opens in a new tab)
    4. RCS: BA Acting (opens in a new tab)
    5. RCS: BMus (Hons) Performance (opens in a new tab)
    6. RCS: International students (opens in a new tab)
    7. RCS: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
    8. RCS: Scholarships (opens in a new tab)
    9. RCS: Accommodation (Base Glasgow) (opens in a new tab)

    Official website: www.rcs.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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