How to Apply to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

Applications to the RNCM run through UCAS Conservatoires for most programmes, and the process has four practical stages: choose your programme, submit your application by the relevant deadline, prepare and attend an audition, then respond to your offer. The exact requirements differ by level (undergraduate, graduate, research) and by school of study, so the first step is always to check the entrance requirements for your specific course before you start.

Before You Apply: Check What You Need

The RNCM's own navigation lists Entrance Requirements, How to Apply, Your Audition, and Your Offer as separate stages, which tells you the college treats each as a distinct checkpoint. Work through them in that order.

Key things to confirm on the RNCM site before applying:

• Entrance requirements for your instrument, voice, or subject area — these are set per specialism, not college-wide.
• English language requirements, listed separately for international students.
• Qualifications on entry, which sit alongside the English language page under International Students.
• Fees and funding, so you understand the cost side before committing to an audition.

If you are unsure whether the RNCM is right for you, the college runs Discover RNCM (Open Days) and a Virtual Tour, and offers a Chat with Us option. These are worth using before you finalise your programme choice.

Step 1: Choose Your Programme and School of Study

The RNCM organises study into:

• Undergraduate School
• Graduate School
• Research Degree Programme
• Schools of Study (the individual discipline areas)
• Specialisms within those schools

There are also non-degree routes: the Associate Student Scheme and CPD, Short Courses, and Junior RNCM for younger students. Junior RNCM has its own separate "How to Apply and Fees" page, so do not follow the main conservatoire application route if you are applying there.

Step 2: Submit Your Application

Applications go through UCAS Conservatoires — the RNCM's "Make an Application" section sits alongside "How to Apply" in its main navigation, and the college also publishes a Prospectus.

Practical points to build into your timeline:

• Deadlines are set by UCAS Conservatoires, not by the RNCM alone, and they fall earlier than standard UCAS deadlines. Check the current cycle dates on the UCAS Conservatoires site rather than relying on second-hand information.
• International applicants should read the International Students section, which covers English language requirements and qualifications on entry, plus Exchanges if relevant.
• The RNCM publishes a 中文网站 (Chinese-language site), which may help if you are applying from a Chinese-speaking background.

Step 3: Prepare for and Attend Your Audition

The RNCM gives "Your Audition" its own page in the application navigation, which reflects how central it is. The audition is normally the decisive part of the process — your written application gets you to the audition; the audition largely determines the outcome.

What to do:

1. Read the audition requirements for your specific specialism — repertoire, duration, and format vary by school.
2. Check whether your audition is in person or involves any recorded element, and whether an accompanist is provided or expected.
3. Confirm the date, location, and any travel or visa implications if you are coming from outside the UK.
4. Prepare to discuss your musical background and goals — the process typically includes an interview element alongside the performance.

If you cannot attend on the scheduled date, contact the admissions team early rather than assuming an alternative will be offered.

Step 4: Receive and Respond to Your Offer

"Your Offer" is the final stage in the RNCM's own application sequence. Once you receive an offer:

• Check whether it is conditional (for example, on exam results or English language scores) or unconditional.
• Review the Fees and Funding pages before accepting, including any scholarship or support options.
• Note the response deadline — offers through UCAS Conservatoires have their own reply schedule.

Common Points Where Applicants Get Stuck

A Note on Accuracy

Application deadlines, audition formats, and fee levels change between cycles. The RNCM site itself points you to Entrance Requirements, How to Apply, Your Audition, and Your Offer as the authoritative sequence — use those pages, plus the current UCAS Conservatoires cycle information, rather than any summary (including this one) for dates and figures.