Course contact details
Admissions
Email:admissions@rcm.ac.uk
Phone:020 7591 4362
Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road
Kensington and Chelsea
London
SW7 2BS
Fast-Track Master of Music in Composition - Composition for Screen (Taught)
- Master of Music
- 12 Months
- Full-Time
- September 2027
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
The Master of Music in Composition (MMus Comp) is designed to prepare you for life as a professional composer. You will work alongside world-leading musicians to develop your composition skills to the highest international standard. Additionally, you will undertake independent research, exploring the historical, contextual and aesthetic aspects of the music you compose.
Usually taken over two years, the MMusComp may also be studied on a fast-track basis over 12 months and is tailored to those who aim to enter the profession as practitioners at the highest level, and who need to meet the current practical demands of the music profession. With a uniquely immersive conservatoire experience, you will be at the heart of a dynamic environment where creativity and collaboration thrive.
The MMus Comp qualification can provide the basis for further artistic development through the RCM’s Level 8 Artist Diploma in Composition and Doctor of Philosophy.
We also offer Composition for Screen as a principal study specialism for students looking to hone their skills and develop professional connections in music for film, TV and gaming.
The Fast-Track Master of Music in Composition for Screen qualification develops your composition skills to a professional level through a range of intensive training and varied performance opportunities. Composition for Screen allows students at postgraduate level to concentrate on developing the skills necessary for a demanding but rewarding profession. Our postgraduate programme in Composition for Screen will help you to develop professionally in this rewarding yet competitive field.
London is one of the busiest production centres in the world for the film, television advertising industries, and studying here will see you at the heart of this fertile creative environment. The Composition for Screen programme offers one-to-one tuition by leading composers and experts emphasising a practical approach to this area of study. Group tutorials and lectures focus on practical skills, critical self-reflection, historical, aesthetic and narrative considerations. There are performance opportunities of your work by fellow RCM students as well as visiting and resident professional ensembles. You will have the opportunity to attend networking events and workshops with film, television, and new media professionals as well as collaborations and joint tutorials with students from London-based film schools.
Please note that due to the intensive nature of the Composition for Screen course, it is not possible to accommodate study of a secondary specialism.
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:
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 for Screen
Modules
Course Modules
The course includes two research-led MMus modules: Critical Portfolio in Year 1 and Research Project in Year 2. These modules are taken alongside a full programme of composition studies in common with the MComp Programme.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Main Site
Study options
- Master of Music • Full-Time • 12 Months
Start dates
- September 2027
Apply by
1 October 2026
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:
- 700F
- Institution code:
- R56
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Royal College of Music 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
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
- International does not have vacancies
- EU does not have vacancies
- United Kingdom does not have vacancies
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
1 October 2026
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:
- 700F
- Institution code:
- R56
- Campus name:
- Main Site
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree or an equivalent international qualification, usually in music. Any offer of a place on this course will be conditional on submission of two recent examples of extended written work in English of a satisfactory standard.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 | Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 5.5 is required in all components. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid. |
| PTE Academic | 76 | Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 59 is required in all components. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid. |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity ISE III certificate. Must include a pass in all components. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | C | Overall score of 180-200, with no less than 160 in any component. For tests sat before January 2015 we require an overall pass at Grade B OR Grade C and at least ‘borderline’ in all four components. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 5 | Overall score of 5, with at least 5.0 in all four components (If taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 95, with minimum component scores of: Reading-24, Listening -22, Speaking-25, Writing- 24) |
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UK Home Office) do not need to sit an English test if you can provide a valid passport from an English speaking country. Some other exceptions apply; please see the RCM website for further details.http://www.rcm.ac.uk/apply/englishlanguagerequirements/#d.en.22587
Assessment locations
In the event of a successful assessment, applicants may be invited for a further interview prior to being made an offer.
Remote assessment recordings may be accepted in the event that you cannot attend an assessment in person.
Single specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee |
|---|---|
| London | Not available at this location |
| Online Interview | Not available at this location |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee |
|---|---|
| London | Not Applicable |
| Online Interview | Not Applicable |
Additional Information
Composition for Screen applications are assessed through a two stage process. Composers audition by submitting a portfolio of work to the RCM for consideration. Candidates whose portfolios demonstrate potential will be invited to interview. Prior to interview Composition for Screen candidates will be sent a short vocational task to complete (such as composing a short excerpt to accompany an image or scenario). Please see www.rcm.ac.uk/composition/auditionrequirements/ for further details of how to submit your portfolio.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland, EU & International | TBC |
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
Full details of the tuition fees for the 2027-2028 academic year will be available at www.rcm.ac.uk/apply/feesandfunding/ once published.
Sponsorship information
Composition Scholarships and bursaries
All composers invited for an interview, both in person and by video, will automatically be considered for a scholarship or study award. There is no separate application process. Scholarships are awarded on merit based on the strength of portfolio and interview.
Related courses
At Royal College of Music
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