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Official Conservatoire Applicants Thread 2026

Are you applying to study at a Conservatoire this year?
Well this is the place for you!




Tell us about ...

Specific course

The Conservatoires you're applying to

A level / IB / Higher / BTEC grades

Any questions you have



Share as much detail as you're comfortable with.

You may also want to have a look at this HUGE LIST of other applicants threads for all subjects and universities.


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1.

Please don't ask for or post group chat links along with any social media contact details both in this thread and via PM. Such posts will be caught by our automatic system and removed.

2.

Please don't ask for or post interview questions.

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Be kind and supportive to each other.

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Reply 2

Hi, I've applied for a number of conservatoires, including RAM, RCM RCS, to study voice for 2026 intake. Any advice for auditions please?

Reply 3

Original post
by Ymcgr002
Hi, I've applied for a number of conservatoires, including RAM, RCM RCS, to study voice for 2026 intake. Any advice for auditions please?

Hi ! I’ve applied to these ones too. Hoping to join a thread with likeminded people… can I ask what instrument you’ve applied for ?

Reply 4

Original post
by Bex_85
Hi ! I’ve applied to these ones too. Hoping to join a thread with likeminded people… can I ask what instrument you’ve applied for ?


Hi, oh great! I've applied for voice. You?

Reply 5

Original post
by Ymcgr002
Hi, oh great! I've applied for voice. You?

Ooh nice ! Good luck ! Piano here
@Ymcgr002 I've merged your thread with the official conservatoire applicants thread to encourage others to join in the conversation. :smile:

Reply 7

Original post
by Bex_85
Ooh nice ! Good luck ! Piano here

Hi Bex can I DM you, I'm also studying piano.

Reply 8

Original post
by yat_ii
Hi Bex can I DM you, I'm also studying piano.

Of course you can 🙂

Reply 9

anyone heard back from RNCM yet?

Reply 10

I am a Year 13 student and have applied to do first study clarinet at RCM, RAM, and RNCM.

I just wanted to know if RNCM has a different level of competition to the London ones, and if people have experience with how difficult it was to get into them.

I’ve known about conservatoire study for a while and know a lot of people who are within that bubble as I am currently a student at the RCM junior department and do other orchestras in the uk, but no one has really said how much of a shot I have at actually getting in to any of them or exactly how hard it is.

Thank you!
Original post
by tagreen_08
I am a Year 13 student and have applied to do first study clarinet at RCM, RAM, and RNCM.

I just wanted to know if RNCM has a different level of competition to the London ones, and if people have experience with how difficult it was to get into them.

I’ve known about conservatoire study for a while and know a lot of people who are within that bubble as I am currently a student at the RCM junior department and do other orchestras in the uk, but no one has really said how much of a shot I have at actually getting in to any of them or exactly how hard it is.

Thank you!


I've moved your post into the Conservatoire applicants thread so that it will be seen by other applicants who might be able to help you. :smile:

Reply 12

Original post
by tagreen_08
I am a Year 13 student and have applied to do first study clarinet at RCM, RAM, and RNCM.
I just wanted to know if RNCM has a different level of competition to the London ones, and if people have experience with how difficult it was to get into them.
I’ve known about conservatoire study for a while and know a lot of people who are within that bubble as I am currently a student at the RCM junior department and do other orchestras in the uk, but no one has really said how much of a shot I have at actually getting in to any of them or exactly how hard it is.
Thank you!

I think it may as I've been offered a place at Leeds but not RNCM

Reply 13

Has anyone heard from RCS yet !!

Reply 14

Original post
by Violin04
Has anyone heard from RCS yet !!

I’ve heard that woodwind got results last week, but I’m a pianist and still nothing…

my pianist friend said she got a result 28th november last year… so hopefully soon…

Reply 15

Original post
by yat_ii
I’ve heard that woodwind got results last week, but I’m a pianist and still nothing…
my pianist friend said she got a result 28th november last year… so hopefully soon…

Ah I see. I’m a violinist, still waiting too! Didn’t know anyone else applying so wasn’t sure what to expect :smile:

Reply 16

Best wishes to those undergoing conservatoire auditions this year 🙂.

Some of you may have already finished 😊.

My son (pianist) applied to RAM, RCM, RNCM, GHSMD and RBC, and finished auditions yesterday.

The RAM and RCM auditions literally happened this week, so no feedback as yet, though the experiences were positive.

RBC offered within 3 days, GHSMD offered in less than 24 hours and RNCM offered during the week of the audition.

Has anyone (first study piano) received offers or scholarship offers from these schools (particularly RAM and RCM) for the 2026 intake ?

Do you get a say as to who your first study teacher is ?

Does anyone have first hand experience of studying piano at these institutions (previous intake years), and if so, are you happy with your choice ?

If you got offered a place at these schools, what is your grade equivalence, and have you completed any of the diplomas ?

I suspect that there are no bad choices here as all of the institutions are great. It'll be a big decision, though, for everyone.

I hear that the conservatoires only offer 1 hour of principal study tuition per week. My son's (specialist music) school provides 2 hours. Is anyone topping up their tuition at additional expense ?

Does anyone feel that their conservatoire offers limited opportunities due to high student numbers ?

Best wishes,

A (very tired) Piano Dad
(edited 1 week ago)

Reply 17

For those unaware UCAS publish data about conservatoire applications for previous years.

https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/ucas-conservatoires-releases/ucas-conservatoires-end-cycle-2021-data-resources

Reply 18

Original post
by PianoProgress
Best wishes to those undergoing conservatoire auditions this year 🙂.
Some of you may have already finished 😊.
My son (pianist) applied to RAM, RCM, RNCM, GHSMD and RBC, and finished auditions yesterday.
The RAM and RCM auditions literally happened this week, so no feedback as yet, though the experiences were positive.
RBC offered within 3 days, GHSMD offered in less than 24 hours and RNCM offered during the week of the audition.
Has anyone (first study piano) received offers or scholarship offers from these schools (particularly RAM and RCM) for the 2026 intake ?
Do you get a say as to who your first study teacher is ?
Does anyone have first hand experience of studying piano at these institutions (previous intake years), and if so, are you happy with your choice ?
If you got offered a place at these schools, what is your grade equivalence, and have you completed any of the diplomas ?
I suspect that there are no bad choices here as all of the institutions are great. It'll be a big decision, though, for everyone.
I hear that the conservatoires only offer 1 hour of principal study tuition per week. My son's (specialist music) school provides 2 hours. Is anyone topping up their tuition at additional expense ?
Does anyone feel that their conservatoire offers limited opportunities due to high student numbers ?
Best wishes,
A (very tired) Piano Dad
sent a private message!

Reply 19

Original post
by ericwintermyfav
sent a private message!

Thank you Eric, Really appreciate you sharing your valuable insight. I can't respond to your PM as yet because my account is new. Wishing you all the best with the audition process and congratulations on the result so far. Hope that you get a scholarship.

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