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Why RCS?

Welcome to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: a place Like Nowhere Else

Established in 1847, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a global leader in performing arts education and one of only a few institutions worldwide to offer degree programmes across all the performing and production arts on one campus. We offer undergraduate degree programmes across Drama, Dance, Production, Film, Music, Education, and Community Arts.

There is a distinctive creative energy at RCS and you will be made to feel part of our inclusive and diverse learning environment from the very beginning of your studies until long after you graduate. 

Our graduates are resourceful, highly employable and members of a dynamic community of artists who make a significant impact across the globe.

At RCS, students develop not just their art, but their power to use it.

A ballerina wearing a teal dress jumps over the Kelpies monuments in Scotland during a grey day.

World Top 10

With a variety of artistic disciplines and a vibrant community steeped in creativity and collaboration, RCS is ranked as one of the world’s top ten performing institutions (QS World University Rankings) in 2025.

This marks the ninth time we have been placed in the top ten since the ranking was established in 2016.

Read the full story on our Newsroom

Perform and Collaborate

Our curriculum is built around performance and collaboration and we hold professional partnerships with all of Scotland’s National Companies. Join forces across artforms and be part of the 500+ performances we give each year.

More about Collaboration & Performance at RCS

Outstanding Alumni

Our graduates are employed across the world and can be found on cinema and TV screens, in concert halls and classrooms, and everywhere in between. We take pride in our graduates and their respective art forms and work to equip you with the skills necessary to thrive as a professional artist and join their ranks.

Everything we do in the Conservatoire revolves around creating opportunities for you to be most successful graduate possible; whether that is through performance opportunities, networking, additional skills classes, one-to-one tuition or creating international partnerships for you to benefit from. This work helps our students obtain a most unique skillset which we believe will help you gain positive employment once you finish your studies.

View just some of our incredible Alumni

Ncuti is looking upwards off-camera. He is smiling.

Learn from the Best

Students at RCS train and work alongside award-winning faculty – made up of more than 1000 tutors, lecturers, artists, technical and support staff – and visiting artists. You will study with some of the finest educators and performing and production artists in the UK during your studies. We also have strong relationships with leading professionals across the world who join us as Visiting Artists throughout the year, as well as partnerships with a range of National companies including, but not limited to, RNSO, the National Theatre of Scotland, and Shakespeare’s Globe.

These relationships will allow you to learn with real industry experience and work to build connections for the future of your career.

Learn from the Best at RCS

A Campus Built For You

Our facilities are world-class. From rehearsal rooms and recording studios to our five professional performance venues, we have a campus to showcase and develop emerging artists to the highest standards.

More about our Campus & Facilities

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