BMus (Hons) Performance Bachelor's degree at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
BMus (Hons) Performance at RCS. The Strings department at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, founded in 1847, offers a focused environment in which to develop as a performer.
About this course
Our Strings department offers outstanding opportunities to explore your musical passions, with a high student:staff ratio and a dynamic and supportive learning environment tailored to the aspirations of each student. From the provider’s course page.
BMus (Hons) Performance is a Bachelor's degree (BMus (Hons)) at RCS, based in Main Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Performing arts graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 7 modules
- Principal Study 1Core60 credits
Module details
One-to-one tuition on your instrument, voice or in composition and a range of supporting studies in your department including classes, workshops, masterclasses and large ensemble work
- Supporting Studies 1Core10 credits
- Contextual Studies 1Core10 credits
Module details
Weekly classes on ear training, harmony, music theory, analysis, music history, and skills in research and writing
- Musicianship 1Core10 credits
Module details
Weekly classes on ear training, harmony, music theory, analysis, music history, and skills in research and writing
- Creative CitizenshipCore10 credits
Module details
An introduction to the cultural, artistic, political, and educational context of learning in a Higher Education Performing Arts institution, equipping you with understandings and skills which enable you to be resilient, pro-active, compassionate, and ethical collaborators and peers within this context
- Introduction to Professional Skills for MusiciansCore10 credits
Module details
An introduction to some of the skills required to enter the profession; and an introduction to working as a music leader in educational and community settings
- Music LeadershipCore10 credits
Year 2 6 modules
- Principal Study 2Core60 credits
Module details
One-to-one tuition on your instrument, voice or in composition and a range of supporting studies in your department including classes, workshops, masterclasses and large ensemble work
- Supporting Studies 2Core20 credits
- Contextual Studies 2Core10 credits
Module details
Weekly classes on more developed ear training, music theory, composition, arranging, conducting, music history, and skills in research and writing. This includes an introduction to extended compositional techniques, and a specific historical focus on music post-1900
- Musicianship 2Core10 credits
Module details
Weekly classes on more developed ear training, music theory, composition, arranging, conducting, music history, and skills in research and writing. This includes an introduction to extended compositional techniques, and a specific historical focus on music post-1900
- Interdisciplinary and Extended Practice (IXP)Core10 credits
Module details
You choose a 10 credit IXP module from our catalogue of more than 30 choices. These modules provide you with learning opportunities outside of your core-curriculum within a community of learners from across the Conservatoire. Modules vary from year to year but currently include a wide range of topics such as Gamelan, Kodaly, Experimental Improvisatory Practices, Mindfulness, Community Music, Writing for the Screen and British Sign Language
- The Teaching MusicianCore10 credits
Module details
Professional skills module focuses specifically on the pedagogy of your own discipline and the skills and knowledge of an effective teacher. An introduction to more of the skills required to enter the profession
Year 3 5 modules
- Principal Study 3Core60 credits
Module details
One-to-one tuition on your instrument, voice or in composition; a range of supporting studies in your department; and continuing reflections on strengths and development opportunities
- Supporting Studies 3Core20 credits
- Contextual Studies ElectivesCore10 credits
Module details
You will choose two elective topics, one from those offered in Musicianship and one in Contextual Studies. While the topics on offer will vary from year to year, typical choices include Contextual Studies choices such as the study of topics ranging from Beethoven's String quartets to A History of Scotland in 100 Tunes; from Performance Practice to The Beatles; from film and television music to Music Psychology
- Musicianship ElectivesCore10 credits
Module details
You will choose two elective topics, one from those offered in Musicianship and one in Contextual Studies. While the topics on offer will vary from year to year, typical choices include Musicianship electives in Orchestration, Advanced Aural Skills, ARSM Teaching Diploma, Introductions to Jazz or Folk Ensembles and free Composition
- The Freelance MusicianCore10 credits
Module details
Professional skills module focusing on how to approach a freelance career and on planning a project related to your life after graduation
Year 4 5 modules
- Principal Study 4Core60 credits
Module details
One-to-one tuition on your instrument, voice or in composition; a range of supporting studies in your department
- Supporting Studies 4Core15 credits
- Research PaperCore15 credits
Module details
A small, student-directed project that brings together the reflective skills developed in Principal Study in years 1 to 3 with the research skills developed in Contextual Studies. The paper explores a topic of your own choice that is of direct relevance to your own interests and development as a musician, supported by a supervising tutor
- Professional Development OptionsCore20 credits
Module details
As a culmination of the professional skills modules in years 1-3, you will undertake a project related to your career after graduation. Choices include a public performance, a professional composition project, work in music education or community music, a business project or another project of your own design
- IXP and ElectivesCore10 credits
Module details
In addition to the project module you may also take either another IXP module, or a Musicianship or Contextual Studies elective that you did not take in year 3
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course develops you as a performer within a high student:staff ratio learning environment tailored to your individual aspirations. You'll usually begin with principal-study lessons, ensemble work and performance classes, alongside foundational musicianship, theory and aural skills. Early modules cover repertoire history from early music to the present day. As you progress, performance projects expand to include recitals and larger ensemble work, whilst you'll also explore composition, music technology, pedagogy and community music practice. From Year 3 onwards, you'll specialise in areas such as performance, composition, music production, musicology, music education or ensembles. The course typically culminates in a final recital, portfolio or major project, alongside professional development work covering the business of music, funding, promotion and portfolio-career strategies.
Who it's for
You're drawn to string performance and want substantial one-to-one attention as you build your technique and musical voice. You work well in a supportive environment where your ambitions shape your learning path. Intensity and rigorous practice appeal to you; you're willing to commit fully to your instrument over four years of study. You're curious about the academic side of music, theory, research methods, alongside your performing, and you want to understand how musicians sustain careers in a changing landscape.
University & format
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a university founded in 1847, offers this BMus (Hons) Performance degree at its Main Campus. The course runs full-time over 4 years and is taught in English. It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 65%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 91% |
| another higher-education qualification | 3% |
| a Baccalaureate | 3% |
| a previous degree | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at RCS →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £23,500 | £15,000 – £30,000 | 10 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 15-month median earnings compare with Music & Performing Arts courses at the same study level.
Compared with 527 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 35% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 35% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 15% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.7 out of 10: NSS 72.6% · in work or study 95% · continued 92%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to RCS from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by RCS; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check RCS’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with RCS and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at RCS
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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