Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB
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Music Education - PGDE (Graduates only)
- PGDES
- 1 Years
- Full-time
- 17/08/2026
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
Please note this programme requires degree level credits as part of the requirements for entry. If you are looking to apply to our undergraduate BEd. programme, please visit the UCAS Conservatoire: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/bachelor-of-education-music-hons/.
As a participant on the PGDE (Music) programme, you will join a vibrant and diverse community sharing in a journey of professional enquiry designed to enhance your practice as an arts educator.
The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Music) is a vocational, one-year professional programme for graduates who aspire to teach classroom music in schools. On this programme, you will engage with intensive studies in education (professional studies) and 90 days of school placement. There are also opportunities to develop your music skills through complimentary placement studies in areas that will support your work in the classroom.
Following graduation, you will qualify for provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). All eligible graduates are guaranteed a probationary year of classroom music teaching in a Scottish secondary school. GTCS standards are recognised and highly regarded in the UK and internationally.
Curriculum Review
We are currently in the review cycle for our postgraduate programmes starting in 2026, these courses are currently designated 'subject to validation'. This is standard practice during curriculum review periods. The outcome of this process, may mean there are some changes to how your programme is delivered.
Subject options
This course offers the following subject options:
- Music Education
Modules
Please see our website for more information about this course
Assessment method
Please see our website for more information about this course.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- General Teaching Council for Scotland
How to apply
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:
- WX45
- Institution code:
- R68
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Currently around 20% of our students come from outside the UK. Between them, they represent over 55 different nationalities and add a rich diversity to the Conservatoire. To find out more please visit: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
Scottish Higher - A - C
In addition, applicants must have the following qualifications in place before the course start date:
A national qualification in English at SCQF Level 6 (Higher) or equivalent
GCSE/National 4/National 5
In addition, applicants must have the following qualifications in place before the course start date:
A national qualification in Maths at SCQF Level 5 (National 5) or equivalent at grade C or above
You should hold a degree validated by a higher education institution in the UK, or a degree of an equivalent standard from an institution from outside the UK. The minimum entry requirements to qualify to teach Music are as follows:
*Degree (preferably Honours) in which you have studied music for at least three years
*Degree should normally contain a minimum of 80 credits relevant to the subject
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Additional entry requirements
- Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
- Interview
- Interviews will take place in-person at the Conservatoire campus in Glasgow. Online interviews can be arranged if required. At the interview applicants will be expected to be able to: *Demonstrate a clear desire to be a teacher; *Reflect on the qualities that make a good teacher; *Identify their own areas of weakness and in doing so, show a commitment to continuous personal development; *Discuss with some depth the current issues in education and how these might impact on Music education; *Display extensive knowledge of and interest in music; *Demonstrate a good level of knowledge of ICT with some experience of using Music Technology; *Discuss their personal statement; *Talk about the things they do besides Music (e.g. hobbies and/or other interests) The interview will be conducted in an informal manner. Applicants will be assessed on their: *Ability to express themselves clearly and fluently; *Perceived commitment to and enthusiasm for teaching; *Level of preparation and reflection
- Portfolio
- Before their interview, applicants will submit online via Acceptd a folio of evidence containing the following: *A video (5-10 minutes) of you performing on your first study instrument/voice *A video (2-3 minutes) demonstrating your singing ability (not required for first study singers) *A video (2-3 minutes) demonstrating your ability on piano. This may be through performance of solo piano repertoire, an accompaniment or of an improvisatory nature eg. improvise a convincing accompaniment for a song from a lead sheet (not required for first study pianists) *Examples of work using Music Technology *Some examples of original composition and/or arrangement (no more than three pieces) *Any other work that you think might be relevant to their application The selection panel recognises that applicants may have extensive experience in some of these areas whilst having limited experience in others. The portfolio allows applicants the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understanding in a range of areas common to the discipline, therefore, having limited experience in some areas should not preclude anyone from applying.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 with no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 | Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing) |
More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
For more information about the GTCS Entry requirements for this programme, please see the weblink.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £9535* | Whole course |
| England | £9535* | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £9535* | Whole course |
| Wales | £9535* | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535* | Whole course |
| Scotland | £1820* | Whole course |
| EU | £28919* | Whole course |
| International | £28919* | Whole course |
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
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
All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.
For more information on fees, funding and Scholarship, please see our website: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Sponsorship information
There are currently no RCS scholarships available for our Education programmes, due to support offered via the teaching council. More information can be found about funding on our dedicated pages: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/apply/finance/feesandfunding/
Related courses
At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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