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Research Degree Programme (Research)

  • PhD
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Postgraduate
Main Site
UCAS Conservatoires
Awarded by:
University of London
More about Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

The Royal Academy of Music offers research degrees in Performance Practice and in Composition. The deadline for the UCAS Conservatoires application is 14 January 2026, 18:00 UK time.
The Academy’s research degrees are aimed at performers and composers who already have highly developed skills and focused career aspirations, including those with a well-established career. You will work with an individual supervisor and a team of creative staff at the Academy to develop your work through engaging in a substantial research project. This will normally be directly connected to and driven by your creative activity as a performer or composer but will also require you to establish a research context and undertake a process of investigation and critical reflection.
The Academy offers an integrated PhD degree over four years, although students can exit with an MPhil after two years. Research degree candidates are assessed on their ability to gain the PhD qualification; they join the MPhil programme as 'probationary' PhD students; transfer to PhD normally takes place after one or two years. During your studies you will be allocated 30 hours of supervision per year, which can be divided between academic and practical supervision as negotiated with the Postgraduate Programmes Board and your supervisor. The fourth year of study is a writing up year.

Course details

Principal study options

During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:

Main specialism

Only one specialism is studied. It may be possible to study a further instrument, but this will not contribute towards the qualification.

Instrument/specialisms

For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.

Primary instrument/specialism
  • Composition
  • Performance Practice

Assessment method

Please see the information on https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments/research

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • PhD • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
950F
Institution code:
R53
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Academy of Music, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
950F
Institution code:
R53
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

At the Academy we pride ourselves on our diverse international community. Over 800 students study here every year, with around sixty different nationalities from all over the world.
https://www.ram.ac.uk/student-life/international
https://www.ram.ac.uk/accommodation

The second-round interviews are held in March; you can attend an in-person interview in London, or you can select "Video interview (Research)" as your assessment location.

Entry requirements

An upper second-class honours Bachelor degree and it is preferable also to have a Master’s degree. https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/entry-requirements

Additional entry requirements

Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7Minimum score of 5.5 in every section of the test.
PTE Academic76Minimum score of 59 in every section of the test for candidates who need a student visa.
TOEFL (iBT)95Minimum scores for Reading: 18, Listening: 17, Speaking: 20, Writing: 17.
We accept IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online and Cambridge C1 Advanced.

English Language requirements are published on our website: https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/entry-requirements

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Our tuition fees are available on www.ram.ac.uk/fees

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