Conservatoires

Useful Links

Funding:

https://www.ucas.com/conservatoires/ucas-conservatoires-finance-and-support

What is a conservatoire?

Conservatoires specialise in the performing arts and are usually a lot smaller than universities which teach a wide range of subjects.

A conservatoire education focuses very much on practical learning and performance, whereas a university education tends to be more academic.

The choice between studying at a university or conservatoire is completely down to preference and what you want to get from the course.

A university course would be more focused on the history, analysis and philosophy of the performing arts, whilst a conservatoire course would teach this too but would also have a lot of focus on practical learning.

Courses are based around individual tuition, practical training, and frequent opportunities to perform.

UCAS Conservatoires is the application service for performance-based courses in the UK – both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Conservatoires available

Each conservatoire has its own strengths and specialisms, so it’s important to research all of them to find the right fit for you. For example, although all conservatoires offer music courses, only two offer drama courses, and some offer subjects like film and production. To help decide, research what graduates from each conservatoire have gone on to do, to see if this fits with your aspirations.

The conservatoires in the UCAS Conservatoires scheme are:

Other conservatoires may operate outside the UCAS Conservatoire scheme. and you may have to apply to them direct or through the UCAS Undergraduate scheme. If the conservatoire is not listed above, check with them to find out more about their admissions process.

Taken from ucas.com

How do you apply?

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires rather than UCAS and some courses can be applied to directly to the conservatoire.

Conservatoire deadlines tend to be earlier than university deadlines, it’s always best to double-check the application information for each institution and course you are applying to.

At a conservatoire, the focus at the audition or interview is on the applicant’s ability and experience in their chosen discipline rather than on their personal statement and predicted grades.

For music courses the deadline to apply tends to be the beginning of October.
For dance, musical theatre and performing arts the course deadline tends to be the end of January.

For more information :

https://www.ucas.com/conservatoires/how-apply-through-ucas-conservatoires/ucas-conservatoires-when-apply

Benefits of attending a conservatoire.

All conservatoire courses are focused on the performing arts so you can expect facilities to be created with that in mind. You may find that a conservatoire has more performing arts facilities than a university which has lots of courses to facilitate.

Facilities tailored to the performing arts.
Immersed in creativity.
You'll be prepared for the industry.
Performances throughout your study.
One-to-one lessons.
Masterclasses and workshops.

Music

Music conservatoires offer a huge range of courses in specific areas such as Classical, Jazz, Folk, Popular Music, Composition or Songwriting.

Other music courses available include Music Production, Music Business, Music Therapy or Music for Film and Moving Image.

At a music conservatoire you will have the opportunity to specialise and develop your own personal musicality, while performing and collaborating

alongside other aspiring professionals.

Examples of music conservatoires:

Royal College of Music
Trinity Laban
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Leeds Conservatoire
Royal Academy of Music
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
RNCM
Guildhall School of Music

drama & performing arts

There are a huge range of areas within drama and the performing arts in which you may choose to specialise. From acting, musical theatre, applied theatre,

voice and circus arts to directing, playwriting and film making.

Intensive training in these areas provides students with the specialist skills and knowledge they need to go out into the industry.