Student satisfaction
National Student Survey
Relative position13th percentile
Official source →
University profile
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in profile
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a university. Profile, courses, entry and funding at a glance.
1847
Founded
15
Programmes listed
Published outcomes & experience
Comparable indicators for RCS, calculated from published official datasets. This is not an overall university ranking.
Graduate outcomes
Graduate Outcomes survey
Relative position73rd percentile
Official source →Continuation
Students continuing after their first year
Relative position93rd percentile
Official source →Provider percentiles are StudySmarter calculations across providers with sufficient comparable coverage. Missing or stale dimensions are omitted, and small differences should not be overinterpreted. No commercial review scores are used.
About RCS
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) is a university, founded in 1847.
It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so its degrees are nationally recognised. It is based in 100, Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB.
Numbers & facts
The key facts about RCS at a glance.
1847
Founded
Glasgow
Location
15
Programmes listed
University
Institution type
✓
Degree-awarding body
I'm applying …
Entry is by audition or portfolio
Places at RCS are decided by audition or portfolio as well as your qualifications. Apply through UCAS Conservatoires or directly, and expect earlier deadlines than a typical university.
Applying from school or college
Alongside your audition or portfolio, RCS will look at your academic qualifications. Preparation and practice matter as much as grades. Check the specific requirements for your discipline early.
Applying from outside the UK
International applicants audition for RCS too, often by recorded video or online, with an English-language qualification and international fee status.
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Programmes at RCS
15 programmes at RCS. Search live or filter by subject, level and study mode:
| Course | Award | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Acting | BA | Music & Performing Arts |
| Arts with Community | BA | General Studies |
| Filmmaking | BA | Media & Communications |
| Production Arts And Design | BA | Art & Design |
| Production Technology And Management | BA | Business & Management |
| Music Education | BEd (Hons) | Education & Teaching |
| Musical Theatre | BA | Music & Performing Arts |
| Modern Ballet | BA | General Studies |
| Performance for Deaf and HoH actors | BA | Music & Performing Arts |
| Composition | BMus (Hons) | General Studies |
| Performance | BMus (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Jazz | BMus (Hons) | General Studies |
| Joint Principal Study | BMus (Hons) | General Studies |
| Traditional Music | BMus (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Traditional Music - Piping | BMus (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
No course found. Browse courses at every UK university.
Complete programme list for RCS; full-time, part-time and delivery variants are grouped (15 programmes, 2026).
Campus & locations
RCS is a campus-based university in Glasgow.
Teaching runs on campus: lectures, seminars and labs alongside libraries and study spaces, with a student community of societies, sport and events around them. The day-to-day exchange with tutors and coursemates is a big part of the experience.
On campus
Libraries & study spaces Labs & teaching facilities Students’ union & societies Sport & fitness Support services
Locations
Glasgow
Typical campus facilities; the university’s own pages are authoritative.
Students & campus life
Who you’d study alongside at RCS in Glasgow. The student body in numbers, from official HESA data.
1,230
Students
enrolled (HESA, 2024/25)
26%
International
students from outside the UK
24%
Mature students
aged 25+ on entry
UK students by ethnicity
White89%
Asian3%
Black1%
Mixed6%
Other1%
Ethnicity of UK-domiciled students (HESA); international students not shown here.
Is RCS right for you?
A particularly good fit if you …
- want a recognised UK degree with student finance eligibility
- like the idea of student life in Glasgow
- prefer campus teaching with societies, sport and people around you
Less suitable if …
you need a fully flexible, distance-learning degree alongside a job. Check whether the individual programme offers online or part-time study.
For parents
The questions parents ask most about RCS, answered briefly.
A recognised UK degree
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland awards its own degrees and is regulated in the UK higher-education framework. Its degrees are nationally recognised and a basis for postgraduate study.
Regulated fees & student finance
Tuition is set under Scotland’s own student-finance system. SAAS pays tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students; living-cost support is applied for separately.
A clear, structured route
Fixed term structure, defined assessment rules and academic support give orientation from day one.
Support from day one
Personal tutors, wellbeing and careers services accompany students from enrolment to graduation.
Career prospects
Graduate outcomes are tracked in the national Graduate Outcomes survey. Every course page here shows real earnings and employment data where available.
Structure & campus life
A fixed term rhythm in Glasgow with in-person teaching, exchange and campus life gives structure and motivation.
Accreditation & recognition
How to read RCS’s formal standing, the seals and what they mean:
Recognised degree-awarding body
Recognised UK degree-awarding body
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland awards its own degrees, which are accepted nationally and are the basis for Master’s and doctoral study.
Student finance eligible
Courses at recognised providers may qualify for tuition and maintenance support; eligibility depends on the student, course and home-nation system.
Admissions & entry routes
Apply through UCASUndergraduate applications run through UCAS, up to five course choices in one application.
Check the entry requirementsCheck the course’s accepted route: A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, BTEC, T-level, International Baccalaureate, Access qualifications or an international equivalent.
Mind the deadlinesThe main UCAS equal-consideration deadline is in late January; Clearing runs from July for remaining places.
Offers & resultsUniversities respond with conditional or unconditional offers; places are confirmed on results day.
Fees & funding
RCS is in Scotland. Your funding route depends on where you normally live, not only where you study. Eligible Scottish-domiciled students apply through SAAS. The main routes:
SAAS tuition payment
Paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students. Applied for through SAAS, not Student Finance England.
Living-cost support
A mix of bursary and loan, depending on household income.
Scholarships & bursaries
University-specific awards for grades, subjects or circumstances. Check the university’s funding pages.
Repayment
Only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
Tuition fees vary by course and fee status (Home vs International). Please check the university's own course page.
Frequently asked questions about RCS
Is RCS officially recognised?
Yes. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised.
What can I study at RCS?
15 programmes are listed on this page, each with entry requirements, outcomes and fees. Use the filter above to find your subject.
How do I apply to RCS?
Undergraduate applications run through UCAS, with up to five course choices in one application. Each course page lists the typical entry requirements.
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