Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Support your developing career as a professional performer with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's post-Masters, Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Performance. You can choose one of seven specialisms: Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, Collaborative Piano, Organ Performance, Chamber Music Performance, Opera Repetiteurship or Choral Conducting.
Our Advanced Postgraduate Diploma (APD) is at 'post-masters level' and is ideal for you if you are an advanced postgraduate performer who already has a Masters degree and are beginning to accept professional engagements. The course will help you to raise your performance standards to the next level, with highly specialised one-to-one tuition in the department most relevant to your specialism. You can study full-time over 12 months (September-September) or part-time (2 years).
The Professional Performance APD allows you to take on performance engagements both within and outside Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as part of your course. Assessment focuses on your work in professional contexts, via a Professional Performance Portfolio module and a choice of External Engagement and Professional Project modules. We also provide a Career Management and Self-Promotion module designed to help you deal with those niggling, but vital, non-performance aspects of your professional career.
If you're a home or EU student you have the option to study part-time, which allows you to take the course alongside your already-developing career. Assessment focuses on your work in professional contexts, both within the Conservatoire and externally, and we also provide a Career Management and Self-Promotion module designed to help you deal with those niggling, but vital, non-performance aspects of your professional career.
For further information about auditions, visit the Entry Requirements tab.
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
You may be able to take advantage of the government’s plans to make loans of up to £11,222 available for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate qualification (preferably Masters level), normally (but not necessarily) specialising in performance and/or substantial, verifiable public performance experience at a professional level |
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You will need to demonstrate that you're able to perform at a professional level and should submit a biography and list of performances at the time of application. |
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You will need to demonstrate an awareness of what is required of the performer wishing to forge a successful professional career in the 21st century, and an open mind about developing your own portfolio of relevant skills and experiences, making clear your rationale for further study. |
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Applications are normally subject to a two-stage audition process with a preliminary round in November, and a final round in January. Please contact us before making an application. |
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For full details, audition requirements and audition advice, please visit the Music Auditions section of the Conservatoire website. |
For entry in September 2021, virtual auditions are in operation. Please submit your audition video to conservatoire.admissions@bcu.ac.uk following the requirements below.
We know that attending a virtual audition will be a new experience for many of our applicants so we have prepared detailed guidance and advice on our Audition Advice page to help you prepare for your virtual audition and interview
APD auditions for September 2021 entry
There will be two rounds of auditions. Applicants must pass Round One in order to proceed to Round Two.
Round Two applicants will be invited to an interview in December or January. This could either be online or in person (if government guidance permits).
Pre-Audition Materials:
All applicants are required to submit pre-audition materials for consideration by the audition panel. These should be submitted to conservatoire.admissions@bcu.ac.uk at the same time as your application and include:
Round One:
For round one of the auditions process, you will be required to submit a video recording, the specific details of which are outlined below. Your videos will not be considered by the audition panel until they have received the pre-audition materials listed above.
Instrumental Performance
Instrumentalists should prepare a programme of 40 minutes. Your programme should include a major work and incorporate a variety of periods and styles.
Vocal Performance
Singers should prepare a programme of 40 minutes. Your programme should include music from works in at least three European languages, including English.
Organ Performance
Organists should prepare a programme of 40 minutes. Your programme should include a major work and incorporate a variety of periods and styles.
Collaborative Piano Performance
Collaborative pianists should prepare a programme of 40 minutes. Your programme may include a solo work of no more than 5 minutes, and the remainder should include either vocal repertoire, for example, German Lied, French mélodie or English song; or instrumental repertoire, for example a movement from a major duo-sonata or larger chamber work (strings and/or wind). Alternatively, a combination of the above may be presented.
Chamber Music Performance
Ensembles should prepare a programme of 40 minutes. Your programme should include three or four pieces/movements comprising a variety of periods and styles.
Opera Repetiteurship
Repetiteurs should prepare a short operatic extract lasting between 10-15 minutes. Candidates must play and sing in the vocal lines. The extract must contain at least two characters and be in a language other than English. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of characterisation and dramatic context.
Choral Conducting
Choral Conductors are required to submit a Portfolio comprising the following items:
Round Two:
Round two will comprise an interview with a panel, to include the Course Director, Head of Professional Development and Head of Department. Some additional requirements are set out below:
Vocal Performance
You will be asked to read short texts in French/German and/or Italian, and to undertake some sight-reading which will be sent to you in advance of the interview.
Opera Repetiteurship
Approximately one week before the interview, you will be given an operatic excerpt (which may include accompanied recitative) to prepare in advance. In the interview, this should also be both played and sung.
Choral Conducting
In addition to the interview, conductors will be asked to undertake musicianship tests which will be sent to you in advance. These will include:
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
Award: AdvPgDip (post-Masters level 8)
Starting: Sep 2021
Award: AdvPgDip (post-Masters level 8)
Starting: Sep 2021
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Please apply through UCAS Conservatoires using the links above. Our UCAS Conservatoires Institution code is B34.
At the same time as submitting an application, you should email the Conservatoire Admissions Office with the following:
Your Stage 1 (preliminary round) audition should take place 'live' in your own country at one of the Conservatoire's established audition centres. Where this is not possible, you should send an online link to a video recording.
Please note, however, that Stage 1 of the process will only be organised following receipt of your performance list and biography (see above).
If you proceed to Stage 2 (final round), we will contact you to request a further audition recording. Where a face-to-face meeting is not possible, some appropriate means will be found to enable a follow-up discussion with you, eg Skype.
Please also note that whatever the timing of your audition/submission, no offers will be made until after the January audition period in Birmingham.
Further information on writing your personal statement can be found on the UCAS Conservatoires website.
Further information on writing your personal statement can be found on the UCAS Conservatoires website.
Our courses include activities such as performance, exhibitions, field trips and production of works or artefacts which may require you to purchase specific equipment, instruments, books, materials, hire of venues and accommodation, or other items.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you can apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,222 for some courses and options?
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:
If you're an instrumentalist, vocalist, collaborative pianist, organist, opera repetiteur or choral conductor, you will benefit from one-to-one expert tuition with our internationally renowned tutors during the course. Chamber musicians are entitled to both individual tuition and regular coaching for their ensemble.
The three modules which make up the course (two core, one optional) are interrelated and complementary. The flexibility of content is such that you are able to tailor the programme to suit your own needs and aspirations.
The course revolves around your individual needs, strategic goals and enthusiasms. To get the most out of it, you'll need to be highly self-motivated and able to work on your own initiative.
There is an expectation that, with the support of your course tutors, you'll take advantage of being on the course to seek out and maximise professional development opportunities which will be strategically useful to your developing career. In other words, this is not a course leading to the start of your career, but one which you take alongside it in its early stages. The principal aim is that, when you graduate, not only will your professional life be well under way, but you'll also have developed the confidence and skills to go on shaping it.
Throughout the course you'll have expert 1:1 tuition and/or coaching in your Principal Study area.
Students on this course have the opportunity to organise weekly performance classes for their cohort. You will also have access to the Conservatoire's full range of ensembles, departmental workshops, performance classes and masterclasses. As an emerging professional musician, it is hoped and expected that you'll carve a distinctive niche for yourself within your department, becoming a role model for students at earlier stages in their studies.
During the course, you will undertake two performance assessments in a professional context within the Conservatoire. For full-time students these will usually take place in terms two and three; for part-time students, one assessment will usually take place in Year 1, and the other in Year 2. You will then have the option to undertake a third professional engagement externally (via the External Engagement module) or to undertake a Professional Project in an area closely aligned to your career aspirations.
Throughout the course, your work in performance will be supported by the Career Management and Self-Promotion module. This module is focused on providing you with practical preparation for the professional world and will be supported by individual tutorials and regular workshops for the whole cohort.
CORE: Professional Performance Portfolio | CORE: Career Management and Self-Promotion | OPTIONAL: Either External Engagement or Professional Project |
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60 credits | 20 credits | 40 credits |
This intensive and inspiring course gave me the confidence and experience that prepared me for international competitions and, ultimately, the stage. Thanks to the mentoring and encouragement of the Conservatoire's staff I went on to win first prize in the Brant International Piano Competition in the year I graduated.
In turn, that led to a European tour as the UK's 08/09 representative to the European Concert Halls Organisation "ECHO Rising Stars" series during which I gave recitals at 11 of the World's most prestigious venues. The foundation provided by the APD enabled me to build a busy international touring and recording career which has included the release of 2 CDs (a third is under production), radio appearances for the BBC and Classic FM and collaborations with some of the world’s finest artists.
Since graduating with the APD course prize in 2004, Chris Orton continued to pursue joint careers as a soloist and teacher.
I found the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s APD course an invaluable addition to my education as a performer. I received fantastic tuition and was constantly encouraged to look for and take hold of opportunities beyond my studies.
Our duo, maraca2, formed while we were undergraduate students at the Conservatoire and our decision to focus intensely as an ensemble at postgraduate level on the APD course has proved critical to the ongoing success of the ensemble.
We used our time on the course to build our duo’s breadth of repertoire and build a network of contacts within the arts community.
This allowed us to develop a range of interesting professional strands from playing traditional recitals to delivering educational projects to unique experiences such as composing and performing the opening ceremony of the European Indoor Athletics Championships at the NIA. Since graduation, after building a secure national presence, we now spend most of our time as a duo working internationally, performing at Percussion Festivals and University Percussion departments across the World with appearances on TV and radio from Argentina to Taiwan!
We both now teach at the Conservatoire where we strive to support the next generation to realise their own professional aspirations.
This postgraduate degree will help support and advance your career as a professional musician or performer.
You'll develop your already advanced skills with high-quality, 1:1 tuition and professional performance opportunities.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s £57 million music building opened in September 2017, and is located on Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus in the Eastside ‘learning quarter’ of the city.
This brand new music facility include five public performance venues – a 500 seat Concert Hall, 150 seat Recital Hall, Organ Studio, Eastside Jazz Club and the experimental black box performance venue known as The Lab. As well as these stunning performance venues, we have nearly 100 practice spaces; including 70 small practice rooms and larger ensemble rooms and workshops.
Our new home is the first conservatoire built in the digital age, and as such it has been vital to ensure that the technical infrastructure installed is on par with any advanced commercial facility. We have seven recording studios, a mastering suite, a distance learning hub, and all of our performance venues feature high specification audio-visual equipment that enables interconnectivity and advanced functionality throughout the building.
These impressive modern facilities guarantee that we are excel in our unique dual purpose of providing the highest standard of music education deserved by our students, as well as meeting our role as a concert and performance venue for the people of Birmingham; taking our place in the vibrant cultural landscape of the UK’s second city.
Luan is Director of Postgraduate Studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she has taught since 2011. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and was made an Honorary Member of RBC in 2001. In her former role as RBC’s first Head of Pedagogy (2011-2018), she significantly expanded provision for instrumental teacher education across the RBC curriculum. Luan is passionate about helping students to build their portfolio careers and her doctoral research focuses on facilitating the transition from student to professional through instrumental teacher education in conservatoires.
Siân Derry is MA Musicology Programme Director and Assistant Postgraduate Course Director at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She joined the Conservatoire in 2015, having previously taught at the University of Manchester.
Siân completed her BMus Hons degree as a pianist and MMus in Musicology at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and was subsequently awarded a Wingate Scholarship to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Manchester with Professor Barry Cooper. Her thesis is entitled ‘Beethoven’s Experimental Figurations and Exercises for Piano’. She became a postdoctoral research associate for an AHRC-funded cultural engagement project in 2013, examining the history of music and music education in Manchester.
Siân has a broad range of research interests, including Beethoven, piano pedagogy and organology, critical editing and performance practices of the 18th and 19th Centuries.
She is a member of the Conservatoire’s Forum for Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Music.