The Royal College of Music (RCM) is a conservatoire in South Kensington, London, established by royal charter in 1882. It enrolls approximately 995 students from more than 50 countries. The RCM is best suited for classical performers, composers, and conductors aiming for international careers and seeking training at a globally top-ranked institution.
Here is a masterclass with Sir Andras Schiff at the Royal College of Music, where he works with RCM pianists on Beethoven sonatas. The video has over 634,000 views and gives a sense of the teaching environment at the RCM:
About the Royal College of Music
RCM offers a Bachelor of Music (BMus) program, master's degrees in performance (MPerf), composition (MComp), and music (MMus), an Artist Diploma, and doctoral programs. The college also offers a Master of Science in Performance Science and a Master of Education in Teaching Musician. RCM holds the No. 1 spot in the QS World University Rankings for Performing Arts and Music. The institution has an endowment of 52.9 million GBP as of 2025. King Charles III serves as patron. The college occupies a purpose-built facility on Prince Consort Road, near the Royal Albert Hall and Imperial College London. Students receive regular performance opportunities at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, and the Southbank Centre.
Real-World Example
For the 2026-2027 academic year, UK undergraduate students on the BMus program pay 9,790 GBP in tuition. Overseas BMus students pay 31,300 GBP. UK part-time BMus students pay 7,335 GBP, while overseas part-time BMus students pay 22,800 GBP. RCM offers scholarships, with fees increasing between 2% and 7% annually. A violinist from Germany pays the UK rate of 9,790 GBP for the BMus, while a student from Japan pays 31,300 GBP. More than half of RCM students receive some form of financial support, with scholarships awarded based on audition performance. Students do not need to apply separately for scholarships; all who audition in person or by video are automatically considered.
Admission and Audition Process
The RCM holds auditions in London between mid-November and mid-December each year. Applicants who audition in London are notified of their audition date and time by the end of October. The RCM also holds auditions in Asia, North America, and Australia. For overseas audition venues, a preliminary video audition (pre-screening) round may be required due to the volume of applications.
Admissions details:
- No pre-screening for London BMus auditions: Applicants audition directly in London. Pre-screening applies only to certain overseas venues.
- Recorded auditions: Available for applicants who live outside Europe and cannot attend an audition venue in person.
- Composition applicants: Assessed based on a composition portfolio. Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview. Composition for Screen applicants also complete a short practical task.
- Audition fee waivers: Available for UK BMus applicants from low-income households.
- Scholarships: Awarded based on audition performance, ranging from partial contributions to full tuition. No separate application required.
- Bursaries: Means-tested financial support for UK undergraduates from low-income backgrounds, allocated based on household income assessment by the Student Loan Company.
- English language requirements: International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Faculties: Brass, Composition, Conducting, Historical Performance, Keyboard, Strings, Timpani and Percussion, Vocal and Opera, and Woodwind.
The RCM recommends that applicants research their options carefully and consider preparing auditions for only three or four conservatoires to avoid excessive pressure and expense.
Notable Alumni
The RCM has produced some of the most influential figures in classical music and musical theatre over the past 140 years. Here are some of the most recognized alumni:
- Gustav Holst (studied 1893 to 1898): Composer best known for The Planets suite (1914 to 1916), one of the most performed orchestral works of the 20th century. He studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford at the RCM and met his lifelong friend Ralph Vaughan Williams there.
- Benjamin Britten (studied 1930 to 1933): Composer whose operas include Peter Grimes (1945), The Turn of the Screw (1954), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960). He founded the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948. He won the Sullivan Prize for composition and the Cobbett Competition during his time at the RCM.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (studied 1965): Composer of Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and School of Rock. His works have grossed billions of dollars worldwide. He has won multiple Tony Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe. He is an honorary doctor of the RCM.
- Jacqueline du Pre (studied 1960 to 1964): Cellist whose 1965 recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra became one of the best-selling classical recordings of all time. Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis in 1973. She studied with William Pleeth at the RCM.
- Ralph Vaughan Williams (studied 1893 to 1895): Composer of nine symphonies, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and The Lark Ascending. He studied with Parry and Stanford at the RCM and later returned as a teacher.
- Joan Sutherland (studied 1949 to 1952): Soprano known as "La Stupenda" for her bel canto performances. She performed at the Royal Opera House, Metropolitan Opera, and La Scala. She was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.
- Simon Rattle (studied 1971 to 1974): Conductor who served as Principal Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 2002 to 2018 and Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2023. He is now Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
- Evelyn Glennie (studied 1982 to 1986): Percussionist who became deaf at age 12. She has performed with major orchestras worldwide, collaborated with over 100 composers on new works, and won multiple Grammy Awards. She was the first solo percussionist to perform a full recital at the Royal Albert Hall.
Jacqueline du Pre Performing Elgar's Cello Concerto
Du Pre performs Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor with the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim. This 1967 performance, filmed by Allegro Films, is the recording that made the concerto a household work. The video has over 3 million views on YouTube:
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera: "Music of the Night"
Ramin Karimloo performs "Music of the Night" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at the 25th Anniversary celebration at the Royal Albert Hall, just steps from the RCM campus. The video has over 4.5 million views:
RCM Symphony Orchestra with Bernard Haitink
The RCM Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler's Symphony No. 7 under conductor Bernard Haitink in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the Royal College of Music. This video shows the level of performance RCM students achieve:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
RCM's location in South Kensington provides direct access to London's classical music ecosystem. The college's No. 1 QS ranking carries weight in international auditions and competitions. Students perform regularly at the Royal Albert Hall, one of the world's most famous concert venues. The Performance Science program offers unique research opportunities not available at most conservatories. RCM's alumni network includes performers in major orchestras worldwide. The college's Junior Department serves musicians aged 8 to 18, providing an early entry point.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
Overseas tuition of 31,300 GBP makes RCM one of the most expensive conservatories for international students. London's cost of living is among the highest in the world. Housing in South Kensington is particularly expensive. The admissions process is highly competitive, with acceptance rates below 20% for most programs. The focus is almost entirely on Western classical music. Students seeking jazz, pop, or electronic music training should look elsewhere. UK tuition fees increase annually by 2% to 7%.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory
- Visit Royal College of Music for more info
