1. UCAS Conservatoires & Auditioning for a Conservatoire
Dr John Cranmer
Director of Music
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
John Fosbrook
Head of Marketing and Communications
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance

2. Who are we?

3. UK Conservatoires Birmingham Conservatoire Leeds College of Music
Royal Academy of Music
Royal College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
*Guildhall School of Music & Drama
*Conservatoire for Dance & Drama
* = not in UCAS

10. What do we teach?

11. Performing Arts subjects
Music (classical, jazz, traditional music, musical theatre, pop, opera, conducting, composition)
Drama (acting, design, stage management)
Dance (contemporary)
Technical Courses (production)
Arts Management

12. What courses are on offer?

13. Programmes of Study 1-year Access Programmes Undergraduate (BA / BMus)
Masters (eg MA / MMus / MPerf / MFA)
Other postgraduate (eg PGDip, Advanced Professional Diploma)
MPhil / PhD

14. What’s different about a conservatoire?

15. Conservatoire training
Vocational
Practice-based
Industry Models of training
Approaches to Learning & Teaching
Duration and range of programmes (4-year undergraduate music programmes)

17. The Conservatoire Experience
1-2-1 teaching with working professionals
Masterclasses and workshops
Performance opportunities
Specialist facilities
Close links with the profession
Focus on the individual
Building a network

19. What are the benefits?

20. Working Life in the arts
80% of graduates work in the performing arts
For graduate employability, conservatoires represent 4 of the top 13 HEIs in the UK (DLHE)

21. Undergraduate Destinations (Music)
Include the following:
Postgraduate Studies in Music
Orchestral and Band performance
Opera Performance
Freelancing
Small ensemble performance
Collaborative composition
Peripatetic Teaching
Arts and Artist Management
Sound Studio / Technology
Teacher Training (PGCE)
Armed Services

22. Working Life out of the arts
Gain transferrable skills
Gain a degree
Of 20% of graduates not in the performing, 2/3 are in managerial or equivalent positions (most in education)

23. Skills for Employment Working Independently Team working Presentation
Communication
Leadership
Adaptability
Tact & Diplomacy

24. How to Apply

25. UCAS Conservatoires
Eight of the conservatoires use UCAS Conservatoires –to administrator applications to their Music courses. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama sits outside and takes applications directly.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland drama and dance applicants, Trinity Laban dance applicants and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama applicants for Acting and some postgraduate drama courses should also apply through UCAS Conservatoires.
 new website and rebrand from CUKAS to UCAS Conservatoires

26. UCAS Conservatoires (CUKAS)
The Scheme was previously know as CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Application Service)
In ,985 people applied to courses in the UCAS Conservatoire scheme:
5,235  - Undergraduate (UG)
2,860 – Postgraduate (PG)
2,202 were offered and acceptance a place at an institution within the scheme (1,095 - UG, PG)
3,965 applicants to the UG courses from the UK, 610 from EU, 660 from outside the EU
1,530 applicants to the PG courses from the UK, 465 from EU, 870 from outside the EU   

27. Applications Dates & Fees
Open : July
On time deadline : Music: 1st October (18:00) for entry the following September
Undergraduate Drama: 15th January (18:00) for entry in September
Application deadlines for Drama and Dance postgraduate courses differ it’s best to check the individual Conservatoire websites.
Conservatoires are often able to accept applications from international applicants after these deadlines, if there are vacancies on the course, so please contact the individual conservatoires concerned.
Application Fee: £20
Applications open in the July and close on the 1st October for entry the following September.
Applicants can apply to up to SIX conservatoires and FIVE universities.
Each Conservatoire also charges an audition fee and this payment is made at the time of application.

28. TRACK Account
Once an applicant has completed the application form, they will have their own personal TRACK account. A TRACK account enables applicants to:
Follow the progress of their application
View details of any auditions they have been invited to
Change postal address, address and/or telephone number
Make additional choices
Reply to offers
Withdraw an application

29. The Audition Process: Music
What to prepare for an audition
What happens at the audition?
What about composers?
How candidates are selected
Personal statements & references
Offers & entry requirements (incl. IELTS)
Scholarships
The Audition Process: Drama & Dance