Royal College of Music Artist Diploma in Performance in the UK:
The Artist Diploma (ArtDip) in Performance is designed for students who wish to work intensively on their own performance as a prelude to entering the music profession. It provides time for the preparation of concerts, recitals, and competitions, under the guidance of the RCM’s staff and instrumental faculty specialists.
The Royal College of Music’s Artist Diploma (ArtDip) programs represent the highest level of taught postgraduate study. They are aimed at musicians who want to hone their skills by working intensively on particular areas of their artistic development. Places on our Artist Diploma programs are only offered to students who have already demonstrated a high level of ability at the Masters’s level.
For most principal studies the ArtDip in Performance may be studied for up to two years, except for Keyboard instruments where a maximum of one year is possible. The duration for individual students will depend on their individual progress and readiness for assessment. Most students will complete the program within one year and it will be assumed that a student will complete it within one year unless they discuss a wish to complete it within two years with their Head of Faculty.
The final examination for the Artist Diploma in Performance normally takes the form of a concert, recital engagement, or concerto performance.
Learning & teaching
All Artist Diplomas focus on one-to-one provision and practical project work, tailored to your particular career aspirations.
Entry requirements
All offers for performers are made on the basis of their performance at the audition.
Candidates require a postgraduate diploma or Masters’s degree in music, or equivalent experience.
The RCM welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and alternative qualifications may be considered. If your qualifications are not listed here, please contact the Admissions team, who will be happy to discuss your suitability for the program.
How to apply
Applications for entry in September 2023 are now open. The application deadline is 3 October 2022.
Please note that there is a later deadline for New York auditions.
All applicants (including international applicants) should apply online through the UCAS Conservatoires admissions service, where you can apply simultaneously to all the institutions that are members of Conservatoires UK. You can track your application, find out when your audition is and get the results of your audition all on UCAS Conservatoires. You can also confirm your decisions online.
Guidance on completing your application form is available on the UCAS Conservatoires website. As part of your application, you will require two references one practical (normally from your current principal study teacher) and one academic (normally from someone at your current/previous educational institution who can comment on your academic ability). You must enter your referees’ details into the application, and an automated e-mail will be sent to them requesting a reference. Only once your referees have responded will your application be forwarded to the RCM, so it is important to begin your application in good time. Further guidance is available from UCAS Conservatoires if you think your referees may not be able to provide a reference in time.
If you are a current RCM student applying for a postgraduate performance or composition course, we only require a practical reference as we can verify your academic record. To enable you to submit your application, for the academic reference, tick the option to submit an offline reference. You will still need to enter the details of a referee, but ticking the box will enable you to submit your application without UCAS sending them a reference request. However, note that if you are also applying to other conservatoires, you are likely to need an academic reference too.
All application fees are paid online through UCAS conservatoires.
