University News Last updated 03 October
Friends,
Welcome to the first RBC This Week of the 2025/26 academic year. Our students are (almost) all here, teaching has begun and there is a real buzz in all our buildings.
At a challenging time for recruitment, I am especially pleased that we have met all our targets for the current year, and at a time when the obstacles facing international students are getting tougher, I am delighted to be welcoming to RBC new students from close to 20 countries across four continents.
In the last month, we were also delighted – following our excellent results in the National Student Survey – to achieve improved positions in the university league tables published by The Guardian and The Times. In the former, Birmingham City University (BCU) – each table generally includes a few courses beyond those taught at RBC – was placed 10th for Music, up from 13th place last year and 18th the year before. We were third among the nine conservatoires, and for Drama we were also joint third among the conservatoires, and seventh overall out of 80 institutions.
In The Times the BCU positions were a little lower, but among conservatoires we were second for Music – just 0.1% behind the Guildhall and fourth for Drama. These are really good results, and a testament to our excellent teaching and students, plus the support we get from the wider University.
Over the next few weeks, I am looking forward to seeing plenty of student performances, starting next week with the RBC Salsa Orchestra and two theatre productions at the Crescent Theatre. In three weeks’ time, there’s a great opportunity to hear our final-year Percussion student Jordan Ashman, 2022 winner of BBC Young Musician, playing a concerto with the RBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by alumnus Michael Seal. And next week I am also looking forward to hearing another talented alumna, singer/songwriter Laura Mvula in concert with my old orchestra the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). Our former students get everywhere!
I look forward to seeing you somewhere at or around RBC very soon.
Stephen