Is LCCM still as bad as they said?

I'm a music student that's currently going through the interview and audition processes for each of my Ui choices.
One of those choices was LCCM (London College of Contemporary Music) which, after going to all my open days, attending my audition and getting my offer, I was sure was going to be my firm choice.
But I'd looked into what people were saying about the place, and apparently a few years ago, after going bankrupt and being acquired by the Global University System, became a horrible place to study.

The long comment on this post is where I found out about this:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4862790

Is this still true about LCCM?

My complete list of choices is:
LCCM
ICMP
BIMM
ACM
Hertfordshire

Reply 1

Tom478

I depends on what you want to learn (I know these places well). They are all under big financial pressure, which means that they don't have the resources they used to and need to attract more students, make cuts to staff etc. I would check the teachers - and see if they inspire you - and find out about alumni: what it the colleges' success rate? LCCM has its problems avoid ICMP: they've recently gone through a merger with SAE and it's all about money there. Auditions for some are a farce: as they're desperate for your cash.

Reply 2

grakayf

I've applied for BIMM in Bristol and have an offer for ICMP, do you think it would be better if I went to Bristol instead if ICMP is going downhill??

Reply 3

i50ac3

As someone who currently goes to LCCM and is studying the BMus course. I can confirm that is NOT true and that it is a great uni. Some people tend to write negative comments to steer you away from going to the uni. From my experience, the uni is great from the course, booking practice rooms and a lot of events and opportunities for students to take part in. Please let me know if you have any further questions :smile:

Reply 4

bessietaggart

Original post

by aerithnull

I'm a music student that's currently going through the interview and audition processes for each of my Ui choices.
One of those choices was LCCM (London College of Contemporary Music) which, after going to all my open days, attending my audition and getting my offer, I was sure was going to be my firm choice.
But I'd looked into what people were saying about the place, and apparently a few years ago, after going bankrupt and being acquired by the Global University System, became a horrible place to study.
The long comment on this post is where I found out about this:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4862790
Is this still true about LCCM?
My complete list of choices is:
LCCM
ICMP
BIMM
ACM
Hertfordshire

Hey, this is a message from my best friend who went to LCCM for his first year as a Music BMus student:

This sounds cliche, but it really does depend on what you’re looking for. The facilities there are really great with lots of practice rooms, rehearsal spaces for bands and multiple recording studios. It’s also in a really good location at the heart of the city with lots of cool places surrounding it especially if it’s your first time living in London. But for me personally, the actual curriculum was not well developed nor was it catered to students individual abilities and that is way I left after 6 months.

The uni attracts a real mixture of people from very different musical backgrounds which means you find yourself in classes having to relearn information that you came to the uni already knowing, for the sake of the people who don’t, which is nothing against the people who don’t already have that knowledge but more against the uni’s choice to not split classes based on ability. I will also add that while I was there the head of the uni, the head of my year group, and the head of the services team all left within just months of each other which made a lot of the students feel that things were going on behind behind-the-scenes that we weren’t aware of. To summarise, I think if you are a self-taught pop/rock singer or musician whose main focus is meeting like-minded people to play in band scenarios with, you’d really enjoy LCCM. However, if you are a musician with a background in classical or jazz and with good existing theory knowledge this uni is not for you.

Reply 5

Poopoopoo12345

Original post

by i50ac3

What opportunities are there for internship or touring?

Reply 6

Threnody

ACM for me. The owner recently changed and it was bought by some of the staff including the CEO of Metropolis Studios (who are part of ACM). It is probs the only place not owned by a bank who like making cuts or make it all about money. The team really care and have smartened up the buildings and got lots of new equipment. It is also smaller than places like BIMM so you get a lot more opportunities and access to facilities. They also have a really cool Masters programme.

Reply 7

StarterFor10

Look. LCCM is insolvent.

And I don't just make this comment flippantly, I cite published UK Government financial statements which are readily available, so do your own due diligence. The balance sheet clearly show current net liabilities way exceeding current assets. As at May 31, 2024, it was £7,745,319 (2023: £8,250,746).

Your college is almost 8 million in debt. You think they're gonna cut corners with your 'education' ?

The UK Government watchdog Office for Students (OfS ) specify that all UK undergraduates must pay a flat tuition fee - currently about £9,535 per year) Private institutions cannot just bump up this figure to UK students. that means LCCMs fixed income remains the same, whilst it's expenses go up. staff pay rises, inflation, equipment repair and depreciation, and that ever increasing massive building lease.
Furthermore, the OfS put restrictions on private companies allowing international students to enrol. so LCCM cannot bump up its income by enrolling international students from China and charging them £20,000 per year for some 'online' course. UK Student Body nipped that loophole in the body.

The QAA standards organisation does not recognise this private institutions' teaching, and so LCCM does not have powers to award its own degrees. It has to relay on 'partners' and seek ratification from University of Creative Arts who award LCCM degrees. But even then, UCA might remove this partnership obligation at anytime, leaving your degree up sh*t creek.

This already happened when the Open University used to award LCCM's degrees, but withdraw this immediately when it was found out that LCM was fudging / polishing / f*cking up it's student marks a few years ago. Open University abandoned LCCM. Then LCCM then went to Falmouth University to award degrees, which they did for a year, but then withdrew support as there were questions found on the colleges teaching and attendance (how someone with no attendance record, or record of turning up to exam suddenly gets a first???).

Speaking of firsts, they do let anyone in (they need the money). and getting a 1.0 is extremely easy as the barrier in teaching is low. In fact, getting a 3.0 is incredibly hard unless you are immensely incompetent.
Despite the company's insolvent balance sheet position, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. This is because the company is reliant on the support of other group companies, and Global University Systems Holding B.V. (GUS) A non-uk private education provider (I think based int he Netherlands, formed by a Russian owner.).

That is who is subsidising your college fees.

The company is reliant on the support of other group companies due to the way the group is financed.
The ultimate parent, Global University Systems Holding B.V., has provided a 'letter of support', undertaking to continue financial and other support for at least one year from the date of the audit report to enable the company to continue to trade.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the company will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, based on this support.
The company's reliance on this letter of support is what allows the directors to continue to use the going concern basis of accounting despite the net liabilities of £7,750,462.

But if the financial support from the group company, Global University Systems Holding B.V., were withdrawn, LCCM AU UK Ltd would likely cease to be a going concern and could face immediate insolvency and potential cessation of trading - leaving your degree, again, up **** creek.

Put that in your saxophone and blow it ...