Studying at a world-class conservatoire can be expensive. Our most talented students have all their fees covered by scholarships and almost half of RCM students receive some financial support from us. Additional sources of funding are available too.
A full outline of tuition fees for all our courses, including details of charges for additional one-to-one lessons and reassessment fees, is available for download below.
Tuition fees are revised annually for Home and Overseas students. The increase is normally between 2% and 7% and is applied annually to each year of the programme, including for continuing students (except for Home students on the BMus programme). Please check this page periodically for the latest information.
Tuition fees for Home students on the BMus programme are aligned with the maximum tuition fee cap set by the UK government.
The RCM accepts fee payments in full or in regular instalments. We accept multiple methods of payment.
Payment by instalment can only be set up through the RCM online payment system. You will need a valid debit or credit card to make payment online.
Tuition and related fees should be paid by the first day of term, either in full or as the first part of an instalment plan.
If you accept the offer of a place to study at the RCM, you will receive fully detailed information about how to pay your tuition fees in August.
We cannot say exactly how much money students need while studying at the RCM. Different students have different needs, preferences and live different lifestyles.
We estimate that most RCM students will need to budget at least £12,500 per year in living costs. Many students will need more than this.
We advise all international applicants to budget for additional expenses such as overseas travel. This is particularly useful for getting home in an emergency.
Many RCM students have and maintain their own instruments. We remind all such applicants to include the cost of maintaining their instruments in their budget calculations.
The RCM has a valuable collection of instruments (mainly stringed) available for students. Use of these instruments will be prioritised for students who cannot afford a quality instrument of their own.
The RCM Musicians' Grant Fund is available to final year musicians who are seeking financial assistance towards the purchase of musical instruments and/or equipment. Funds awarded will be grants, not loans.
The RCM is able to support many students with scholarships thanks to the generosity of charitable trusts, companies, businesses, individual members of the public and legacies.
There are a number of scholarships and awards available to help fund your course at the RCM. Please check the different types below, expanding each section for details on eligibility and how to apply.
Find out more about scholarships and awards
UK students, EU students with protected rights through the EU Settlement Scheme (i.e. who have Settled or Pre-settled status) and EU students who commenced their studies before 1 January 2021, may be eligible for funding support from the UK Government through the Student Loans Company (SLC).
United States citizens and eligible noncitizens may be eligible for funding through the Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program or Marshall Scholarships.
In addition, there are other external funding bodies that may be able to assist students with tuition fees or maintenance support.
Royal College of Music
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London SW7 2BS
United Kingdom
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