An Overview

In response to the extraordinary circumstances of the past year, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Ballet, is offering a one year postgraduate qualification to dance graduates who wish to further develop their training and ‘bridge the gap’ to the profession.

The course will work with the best graduates from across the world to offer additional professional level dance training, performing opportunities and the chance to undertake classes and rehearsals with Scotland’s national ballet company, Scottish Ballet.

Students on the course can expect to:

  • Enhance their current level in ballet and contemporary dance
  • Increase their experience of working at company level, enhancing their employability
  • Work with professional choreographers in the creation of commissioned works
  • Work with industry professionals on the learning, rehearsal and performance of existing company repertoire
  • Attend classes and rehearsals at Scottish Ballet, with additional performance opportunities for some students with Scottish Ballet in their touring productions
  • Access individual support in preparing for auditions
Apply now

Institution Code:

R58

Programme Code:

209F

UK Deadline:

31 March 2023

International Deadline:

31 March 2023

Why choose us?

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is in the World Top 10 for performing arts education 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (QS World Rankings)

  • Delivered in partnership with Scottish Ballet
  • Professional opportunities
  • Opportunities to collaborate, improvise and develop choreographic skills
  • World-class facilities
  • The Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks is home to a suite of award-winning dance studios
  • Opportunities to perform at events across the country; recent events have seen dancers perform at Buckingham Palace and Gleneagles
  • Highly qualified and experienced teachers and accompanists
  • Regular guest workshops
  • Excellent staff-student ratio
  • Opportunities for artistic collaboration across RCS
  • Compete in high-profile international competitions, including the Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, YAGP, Cecchetti Competition and the Prix de Lausanne
  • Graduates have obtained contracts around the world with companies including Scottish Ballet, Northern Ballet, Ballet Cymru, National Ballet of Portugal and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures

 

Programme Structure

The programme runs from September to June and has been structured to reflect more closely a company environment.

Daily class will be followed by rehearsals, coaching and preparation for performances and auditions. The academic year will be divided into three terms, with performance and choreographic opportunities in all terms.

Any students invited to perform with Scottish Ballet will need to be available during vacation periods (Winter and Spring Break).

A typical week

Students will have a daily ‘company level’ class, followed by additional sessions which will include rehearsals, coaching and opportunities to create new works with professional choreographers.

Students will also have the opportunity to work individually with tutors on technique and repertoire solos, in preparation for auditions and applications for employment.

In addition, there will be sessions at Scottish Ballet and work with Company members where appropriate. The timetable is predominantly practical, with additional Saturday morning sessions.

Virtual Tour

Explore the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in our 360 virtual tour. You’ll be able to see our rehearsal and practice rooms, professional performance venues, production workshops, editing suite, ballet studios and more.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Admissions process

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

  • Performance at audition/interview
  • Commitment to the particular programme
  • Potential to benefit from the programme
  • Academic qualifications
  • Personal statement
  • Performance qualifications
  • Performance/practical experience
  • References
  • Contextualised data
General academic entrance requirements

Applicants are expected to hold HE/FE qualifications representing 3 years of training.

Language of study

The language of study is English. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 5.5 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component) is required.

Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Non-standard entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications.

Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply via UCAS Conservatoires

The closing date for on time applications for UK is 31 March 2023. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that you will be invited to audition.

The closing date for international and EU applications is 31 March 2023. If you do consider to submit a late application, please contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2024, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58.

You will also require the following programme code to apply: Graduate Diploma in Modern Ballet: 209F — Dance.

UCAS Conservatoires application form

Applicants should give details of the highest level of external examination attained (if any), the date and the mark awarded. They should also state which Dance Society this was with (ie RAD, ISTD, BBO etc). It should be noted that this is not a prerequisite for an audition and merely an indication of level. This should be noted under the personal statement.

Application fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £26.50. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition assessment administration fee. For RCS, the audition assessment administration fee is £55 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition Assessment Administration fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition assessment administration fee of £55 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition assessment administration fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to get in touch to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants for whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information.

References

It is your responsibility to ask two separate referees to write references and ensure that these are sent to RCS.

The references must be written by two different people and we will not accept references from family, other relatives or close friends. You can submit your UCAS Conservatoires application form and send your references at a later date, but they must be received prior to your audition date.

UCAS Conservatoires provides reference forms for you to download and send to your referees for completion.

Selection process

Applicants should be recent graduates of equivalent full-time vocational training institutions (either FE or HE), having successfully completed 3 years of tertiary level training. They will have strong technical skills in both classical ballet and contemporary dance and the artistic ambition to join a professional dance company.

For September 2023 entry, we are currently planning for in-person auditions to take place in Glasgow and in London on our Professional Graduate Diploma in Modern Ballet, as well as continuing to offer auditions in an online format for those who are not able to travel to an in-person audition. We have many years of experience of conducting online auditions and have a well-established format and process in place, so no applicant will be disadvantaged by auditioning in this manner. We will continue to respond to ongoing governmental guidance as to how we can hold in-person auditions in a way that is safe for our applicants as well as staff, and these will be subject to change dependent on alterations in governmental advice.

Please visit our Audition section for more information.

Audition

The audition videos do not need to be professionally filmed – your phone or a similar device is suitable.

The camera should be positioned so that the full range of movements is shown (ideally between the front and the side for barre work and at the front for centre work). Applicants should wear a plain leotard and ballet tights and ballet shoes (no skirts or warm-up clothes please).

Applicants will undergo a three part application process:

Stage 1 – Submission of audition video

Applicants will be asked to submit a video of their practical work, including class work and repertoire. The video should be no longer than 25 minutes in total and include the following:

Barre Work

  • Plies (one side only)
  • Battements tendus and glisses combination (both sides)
  • Grands Battements (both sides)

Centre Work*

  • Adage enchainement
  • Pirouette enchainement (both sides)
  • Allegro enchainement
  • Batterie enchainement
  • Grands Allegro enchainement
  • Tours en l’air (for male applicants – shown on both sides)
  • Pirouettes en Manege and Fouettes turns en dehors (for female applicants)

*female applicants should show centre work in pointe shoes.

Repertoire

  • Compulsory: Applicants should include one example of a contemporary variation/repertoire
  • Optional: Applicants may include one example of a classical variation

Stage 2 – Interview

Applicants who are successful at stage 1, will be invited to a short, informal interview with programme staff (held online).

Stage 3 – Physio Screening

Applicants who are successful at stage 1 and stage 2, will be required to complete a Physio Screening with a qualified physiotherapist, based on the RCS Physio proforma (issued by the Admissions Team).

Following your audition

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition via UCAS Conservatoires Track,  (you will need your username and password). You will also receive notification from UCAS Conservatoires when decisions on all your choices are available.

Please see below for an explanation of UCAS Conservatoires codes:

Guaranteed Unconditional (GU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualification are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding.

Guaranteed Conditional (GC) RCS has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding if you accept the offer and meet the conditions. You must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2021, unless an earlier date is specified. If your conditions include obtaining IELTS (English Language test), you must meet this condition by 31 May 2021.

Reserve Unconditional (VU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and you have been offered a place on our reserve pool.

Reserve Conditional (VC) RCS has offered a place on its reserve pool subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track.

Unsuccessful (R) RCS does not wish to offer you any type of a place.

Policy

We have a number of policies and statements which you should read when applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire.

Please select the links below to read each policy.

Fees and scholarship

Information for students

This programme is self-funded and is not eligible for educational loans. Candidates are encouraged to source private funding for this programme. Should you have any queries or concerns about this, please e-mail our team at hello@rcs.ac.uk for further information.

Information for EU students

The Royal Conservatoire is resolutely international in outlook and we celebrate and are enriched by the diversity of our community of students and staff. Students from across the globe are -welcome and valued members of the RCS community and we continue to welcome applicants from across the EU and throughout the world.

Q: What is the fee situation for EU students?

A: On July 9 2020, Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead announced changes to the fee regime for EU students studying in Scotland. From next academic year (21/22) all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Q: I’m an EU student looking to start my studies in 2022-23. How does this impact me?

A: From next academic year (21/22) all EU students commencing study in Scotland will pay fees at the International rate.

Only EU nationals who are ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions.

Other EU nationals and associated groups, starting a course of study in academic year 2021-22 or later, are not eligible to apply to SAAS for tuition fee support.

Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland starting their studies in 2022-23 will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee and will be able to access a tuition fee loan from SAAS.

Please also see the SAAS website for more information.

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available on our Fees and Funding page.

Sources of external funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit Fees and Funding.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Cost of Living and Associated Programme Costs

Investing in your future is important and you need to consider the cost of your tuition as well as the cost of living during your studies. In addition to tuition fees, it is estimated that you will need between £10,000 and £12,000 per year to live in Glasgow, plus programme costs. Associated programme costs can be found on our Finance page.

Tuition fees for academic year 2022-23

Scottish Students

£1,820

Rest of UK (RUK) Students

£9,250

International (including EU)

£19,314

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students will be in the cohort?

There will be approximately 8–12 students in this class.

Will the course be delivered in person or remotely?

The programme will be delivered through a blended learning approach but you can expect to be predominantly learning in-person, on campus.

How quickly will I hear back from my audition?

We aim to respond to all of our auditionees within two weeks.

 

What student accommodation is available?

Student accommodation is available at Base Glasgow.

What are the term dates?

The course dates for 2022-23 follow the same as the undergraduate BA Modern Ballet programme.

Are international students able to apply for a student Visa?

Students on this course are eligible to apply for a Student Route Visa.

Are international student able to apply for the Graduate Visa?

Students are not eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa following completion of this course.

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