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Music Performance - Joint Principal Study (Taught)

MMus · 2 Years · Full-time · 21/09/2026 · PostgraduateMain Site
UCAS Conservatoires

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

The MMus Joint Principal Study (JPS) degree is intended for exceptional students who are capable of performing at masters level in more than one discipline. Your study will be shared between two departments, with both individual lessons and supporting classes split between disciplines.

Possible combinations include:
-Two instruments from different families within the performance strand, e.g. piano and cello
-Two genres, such as jazz and traditional music; jazz and (classical) performance; or traditional music and (classical) performance
-Two disciplines, such as composition and percussion

The following strands are self-contained specialisms, and may not be combined with another strand as part of a JPS route:
-Chamber Music
-Conducting
-Performance and Pedagogy
-Performance and Musicology
-Piano for Dance
-Repetiteurship

The following cases do not constitute joint principal study:
-Students pursuing two instruments within the same family e.g. violin and viola, piano and harpsichord, flute and piccolo, and similar doublings
-Jazz and Traditional students who both perform and compose as part of their discipline

Acceptance onto the Joint Principal Study strand is exceptional, and is only offered to students who are able to demonstrate the requisite level of skill and commitment across both areas.

Overseas Applicants
We will be holding auditions at venues across the world, but audition requirements AND application deadline dates will change depending on your principal study and where you are applying to. We will be operating a pre-screening process for some instrumental departments. Full information on our locations, dates and requirements can be found on our website. Please check this prior to applying.

All international applicants and those that are submitting a recording must also include a spoken introduction recording that is separate from your instrumental performance. This must be submitted to your Acceptd application by the relevant application deadline for where you are auditioning.
All recorded submissions should contain a spoken introduction in English. Please tell us:

  • Your name

  • A bit about your musical background and training you’ve had till now

  • Your musical ambitions

  • Your reasons for applying to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

  • This video should be no longer than 3 minutes long and separate to your performance video

Our overseas auditions will consist of one panel member and will also be recorded for review by the relevant department.
• Please note for live overseas auditions, we cannot guarantee that a member of our teaching staff for your specific discipline will be on the panel.
• All applicants will need to provide their own instruments (except piano).
• All applicants will need to provide their own accompanist for overseas auditions.

This programme is subject to validation for Academic Year 2026-2027

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:

Joint main specialism

You would like to study two specialisms, both studied equally.

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
  • Accordion (classical)
  • Bassoon
  • Bodhran
  • Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Cello
  • Cello (Jazz)
  • Cello (Traditional Music)
  • Clarinet
  • Clarinet (Jazz)
  • Composition
  • Cornet
  • Double Bass
  • Double Bass (Jazz)
  • Drumkit (Jazz)
  • Electric bass (jazz)
  • Euphonium
  • Fiddle
  • Flute
  • Flute (Jazz)
  • Flute (Traditional Music)
  • Gaelic Song
  • Guitar (Classical)
  • Guitar (Jazz)
  • Guitar (Traditional Music)
  • Harp
  • Horn (French)
  • Mandolin (Traditional Music)
  • Oboe
  • Organ
  • Percussion (Jazz)
  • Percussion (Orchestral) & Timpani
  • Piano
  • Piano (Jazz)
  • Piano (Traditional Music)
  • Piano Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Pipe Band Snare Drum
  • Saxophone (Alto)
  • Saxophone (Jazz)
  • Scots Song
  • Scottish Harp
  • Trombone (Alto)
  • Trombone (Bass)
  • Trombone (Jazz)
  • Trombone (Tenor)
  • Trumpet (Classical)
  • Trumpet (Jazz)
  • Tuba
  • Vibraphone (Jazz)
  • Viola
  • Violin
  • Violin (Jazz)
  • Voice (Alto)
  • Voice (Baritone)
  • Voice (Bass)
  • Voice (Bass-Baritone)
  • Voice (Contralto)
  • Voice (Counter-Tenor)
  • Voice (Jazz)
  • Voice (Mezzo-Soprano)
  • Voice (Soprano)
  • Voice (Tenor)
  • Whistle
Secondary instrument/specialisms
  • Accordion (classical)
  • Bassoon
  • Bodhran
  • Button Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Cello
  • Cello (Jazz)
  • Cello (Traditional Music)
  • Clarinet
  • Clarinet (Jazz)
  • Composition
  • Cornet
  • Double Bass
  • Double Bass (Jazz)
  • Drumkit (Jazz)
  • Electric bass (jazz)
  • Euphonium
  • Fiddle
  • Flute
  • Flute (Jazz)
  • Flute (Traditional Music)
  • Gaelic Song
  • Guitar (Classical)
  • Guitar (Jazz)
  • Guitar (Traditional Music)
  • Harp
  • Horn (French)
  • Mandolin (Traditional Music)
  • Oboe
  • Organ
  • Percussion (Jazz)
  • Percussion (Orchestral) & Timpani
  • Piano
  • Piano (Jazz)
  • Piano (Traditional Music)
  • Piano Accordion (Traditional Music)
  • Pipe Band Snare Drum
  • Saxophone (Alto)
  • Saxophone (Jazz)
  • Scots Song
  • Scottish Harp
  • Trombone (Alto)
  • Trombone (Bass)
  • Trombone (Jazz)
  • Trombone (Tenor)
  • Trumpet (Classical)
  • Trumpet (Jazz)
  • Tuba
  • Vibraphone (Jazz)
  • Viola
  • Violin
  • Violin (Jazz)
  • Voice (Alto)
  • Voice (Baritone)
  • Voice (Bass)
  • Voice (Bass-Baritone)
  • Voice (Contralto)
  • Voice (Counter-Tenor)
  • Voice (Jazz)
  • Voice (Mezzo-Soprano)
  • Voice (Soprano)
  • Voice (Tenor)
  • Whistle

Modules

Please see our website for more information

Assessment method

Please see our website for more information

This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • MMus • Full-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
2 October

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:
815F
Institution code:
R58
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

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
2 October

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:
815F
Institution code:
R58
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

Candidates for both the MMus and MA are normally expected to hold a good honours (at least 2:2) degree, or its overseas equivalent, in a subject area relevant to the demands of the programme.

Additional entry requirements

Audition
Audition requirements depend on which principal study you are applying for. You can find these requirements on the individual department pages on our website.
Interview
An interview will form part of your audition if live in-person. If you have submitted a recording, then an online interview will be at the discretion of the department.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)66.0 with no component below 5.5
TOEFL (iBT)80Overall score of 80, with minimum scores of: Reading – 18, Listening – 17, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17
PTE Academic59Overall score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all components (reading, listening, speaking, writing)
Cambridge English AdvancedOverall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components
Cambridge English ProficiencyOverall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components

More information about our language requirements can be found at the weblink. https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-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

Fees are variable depending on the mode of study. Please consult the Conservatoire's website for more information: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/fees/

All new students are required to pay associated programme cost related fees at the start of their studies.

Please note, all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.

Sponsorship information

Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made in January following an audition and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered at the point of audition.

More information can be found at: www.rcs.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/scholarships/

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