Course contact details
Main Contact
Email:admissions@rcs.ac.uk
Phone:0141 332 4101
Fax: 0141 332 8901
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB
Chamber Music (Taught)
- Master of Music
- 2 Years
- Full-Time
- 20 September 2027
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
- Course scheme
- UCAS Conservatoires
Course summary
Our MMus programme is the perfect fit for advanced performers wishing to immerse themselves in the world of chamber music. Our ensembles form part of a thriving performance community, with opportunities to collaborate both with fellow musicians and artists from other disciplines.
This programme is designed primarily for existing chamber ensembles who wish to further their development through study at Masters level. The individuals making up the group will normally have undertaken formal study beyond undergraduate level: as a team, you should be ready to commit to working together for the duration of the programme.
We also welcome applications from individual candidates who can demonstrate an aptitude for and experience of chamber music, and a keen desire to work with others. The offer of a place will be dependent upon the potential for viable ensembles to be formed.
Our chamber music ensembles form part of a thriving performance community, with opportunities to collaborate both with fellow musicians and artists from other disciplines. There are several RCS chamber music competitions for ensembles to enter, as well as potential opportunities for performances both in RCS and around Scotland.
Chamber Music coaching is provided by experienced chamber musicians and visiting specialists including the Brodsky Quartet, Maxwell Quartet, Donald Grant and Sophie Renshaw.
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.
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
- Accordion (classical)
- Bassoon
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Cornet
- Double Bass
- Euphonium
- Flute
- Guitar (Classical)
- Harp
- Harpsichord
- Horn (French)
- Horn (Tenor)
- Oboe
- Organ
- Percussion (Orchestral) & Timpani
- Piano
- Saxophone (Alto)
- Trombone (Bass)
- Trombone (Tenor)
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Voice (Alto)
- Voice (Baritone)
- Voice (Bass)
- Voice (Bass-Baritone)
- Voice (Contralto)
- Voice (Counter-Tenor)
- Voice (Mezzo-Soprano)
- Voice (Soprano)
- Voice (Tenor)
Modules
Course Modules
MMus Stage 1/MA Stage 1
Principal Study 1 – 80 Credits
-
Individual lessons and ensemble coaching
-
2-3 negotiated performance assessments
Supporting Studies 1 – 30/20/10 Credits
- Negotiated departmental activities, such as performance classes, ensembles, rehearsals and masterclasses
Practice Research – 10 Credits
- Research project
Options – 0/10/20 Credits
- Range of optional classes drawn from School of Music, School of Stage and Screen and School of Dance
MMus Stage 2
Principal Study 2 – 90 Credits
-
Individual lessons and ensemble coaching
-
2-3 negotiated performance assessments
Supporting Studies 2 – 30/20/10 Credits
- Negotiated departmental activities, such as performance classes, ensembles, rehearsals and masterclasses
Options – 0/10/20 Credits
- Range of optional classes drawn from School of Music, School of Stage and Screen and School of Dance
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/courses/mmus-ma-chamber-music/#programme-structure
Assessment method
More information about what the course entails can be found on our website
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
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:
- 337F
- Institution code:
- R58
- Campus name:
- Main Site
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Typical qualification requirements
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- Through audition, applicants will be required to demonstrate: *a high degree of technical competency on the instrument or voice in the service of specific repertoire *an ability to demonstrate a considerable degree of understanding of the repertoire performed *an ability to perform specific repertoire convincingly *a considerable degree of self-confidence and creativity with respect to the repertoire performed *a degree of self-sufficiency, initiative and independence in selecting, preparing and performing a particular programme *a developing musical personality Successful candidates will show potential to develop their beliefs and skills through the programme. Audition Requirements Ensembles should prepare a programme of approximately 40 minutes of music. Individual candidates should prepare an approximately 40 minute programme — accompanied, not solo — drawn from the relevant instrumental list on the website under each department. Please list in your personal statement the other member(s) of your ensemble.
- Other
- All applicants must create an account and submit an application through Acceptd (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs). Audition dates and timings will be confirmed through this system. An audition will not be scheduled until this is in place.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all components | |
| 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) |
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/
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 |
|---|---|
| RCS (Glasgow) | £65 |
| Recording | £65 |
| Singapore | £65 |
| Qingdao | £65 |
| Seoul | £65 |
| New York | £65 |
| Los Angeles | £65 |
| Chicago | £65 |
| Toronto | £65 |
Joint principal specialism assessment
| Location | On-time Fee |
|---|---|
| RCS (Glasgow) | Not Applicable |
| Recording | Not Applicable |
| Singapore | Not Applicable |
| Qingdao | Not Applicable |
| Seoul | Not Applicable |
| New York | Not Applicable |
| Los Angeles | Not Applicable |
| Chicago | Not Applicable |
| Toronto | Not Applicable |
Additional Information
All applicants must complete an Acceptd profile and application regardless of which location you choose, this is part of the audition process (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs) and needs to be completed once your UCAS application is submitted. All live in-person auditions will be scheduled through Acceptd. If you don't have Acceptd, we won't be able to audition you. Applicants submitting recordings via Acceptd, may be asked to a follow-up online interview with the department you are applying for.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £13707* | |
| EU & International | £29786* |
* 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
Please note, 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.
Sponsorship information
Music Scholarships
Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made 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.
Related courses
At Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
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