How do you choose the right conservatoires to apply for?
Updated: Oct 27
With so much choice in the UK, let's make your life easier when choosing where to apply!
When I was thinking of applying to conservatoires, I was overwhelmed with the range of different conservatoire options, opportunities open to me at these places and the different 1-1 teachers I could study with. So let's give you some ideas to help you consider where might be a good fit for you!
As exciting as this chapter of your life can be, working out where to apply can still be a daunting decision. There are so many factors to consider (which we’ll go into) and it’s an important choice for many people.
The vital thing to remember is that there is no bad decision. Wherever you end up going (or not going for that matter), whether it be conservatoire, university or something different altogether, it will undoubtedly help you grow, create memories and ultimately learn more about yourself and what you want out of life. That being said, many of us want to make the most informed decision we can. This is where my guide comes in!
I’ll now go through a few categories you might be thinking about and give you some ideas to make you make the right decision for you.
Contents
Teachers
The City
Opportunities
Accommodation
Costs
Conclusion
References
Teachers
When you join a conservatoire, you’ll be assigned a personal 1-1 teacher who will be a professional in your instrument. Your 1-1 teacher becomes an massive part of your education at conservatoire and they really help to shape you as a musician, so thinking about who you might want your teacher to be is important. One of the reasons I went to my conservatoire as I liked all the teachers for my instrument and knew I’d enjoy any of their teaching. But some students will audition for a specific conservatoire as they’d like a specific teacher.
Each conservatoire’s website will have a section with their teachers and staff on it, from which you can often filter for your instrument category. You can usually read a biography written by the teacher where they might tell you what orchestras and projects they’ve done and even find some recordings they may have done. It’s tricky to know what someone is like from their picture and biography and so this is where consultation lessons come in.
A consultation lesson is a lesson to help you see what this teacher is like, if you enjoy their style of teaching and if you get on as people. It also allows the teacher to get to know you! Sometimes people will pay for these before auditions and sometimes they are offered by the conservatoire or teacher to you either before or after an audition.
Some people will pay for some consultation lessons before they audition which we'll come onto later in the post. Personally, didn’t pay for any consultation lessons myself, instead being lucky enough to be offered free lessons at my auditions or my offer holder days (sometimes you’ll be offered a consultation lesson at your offer holder day and if not, you may be able to organise a consultation lesson yourself on your offer holder day). This meant that when I had already spent lots of money on auditioning, I could save some money on these lessons and still got to talk to and see if I got on with the teachers.
For me, a consultation lessons meant that I got to properly talk to the teacher about what lessons might be like. Plus I got to see if I enjoyed how they taught. In my experience, I realised I felt comfortable in their presence but would also be pushed to achieve my best (which is what I wanted in a teacher!)
That being said, if you can afford it then it may be worth looking into paying for lessons ahead of auditions so that you have a better idea of what to expect. Plus, it means you get to know the teachers and they get to know you before the audition. You can often email the Admissions team of the conservatoire you’re interested in who will then help organise a lesson if one is available.
e.g. Here are the contact details for RWCMD Admissions Team on UCAS. You'll find admissions details for each institution near the bottom of their UCAS page or on their website.
In some cases, if you live near the city, having a rapport with the teachers who are auditioning you before the big day wouldn’t hurt either! Remember that they are also looking for people to join their department and if they already know you, this may work in your favour. However, I would never rely on this as a way to be accepted so I wouldn't do this expecting to automatically get a place this way because sadly it doesn't work like that. Although it could be good, many people don’t know the 1-1 teachers of heads of department before their join (I didn’t!) and are still successful in joining a conservatoire.
Personally, I wasn’t part of any junior departments, I didn’t know the 1-1 teachers but what I did do was make contact with the head of department. I also met them once before I auditioned which helped me feel more comfortable in the audition. It also helped me make my decision as I got on really well with them!
The City
The thought may have crossed your mind - why is she not talking about modules, ensembles and opportunities?
That’s a fair point – these are all super important topics, and I will address them further on in the guide. However, the one factor that affects all of your studies (arguably more than anything else) is the city you find yourself living in.
The city you live in will affect almost everything in your life.
Do you love greenery and want to be surrounded by nature because you like that in your life at the moment?
Is it really important to you to have great public transport access so you can get to gigs and move gear?
Maybe the friendliness of the people in the city might make a difference for you?
I would consider what is important for you and your life and consider this when you’re thinking about where to apply to.
You may have already visited some cities before or even live in them. If not, open days are a perfect time to discover a city. Many people travel long distances on the day so it can seem overwhelming to try and see the city on top of your travels but I’d highly recommend it if you’re able.
Most open days usually include a tour around the campus, and occasionally the city and nearby amenities/points of interest (for example, my initial tour included a walk to and from the student accommodation which helped me gain an idea of what my daily commute was to look like).
You can find all the open day dates in this article!
If you’re able, I would highly suggest dedicating a portion of the day to exploring the city on your own accord, soaking in the atmosphere and thinking about whether or not you’d be happy to spend the next chapter of your life there.
Remember – its your decision, not anyone else’s
(although if you can it’s a great idea to chat to some current students and get their opinions on the city - more to help you with this coming soon!)
Opportunities
It’s not just about what you can offer the conservatoire, but also consider: what can they offer you? Is it an amazing side by side placement with a prolific orchestra? Or a specific module you’d like to do? Is it the range of ensembles you can be a part of? There are so many great things you can do whilst studying at a conservatoire so why not take the time and think about what would be most important for you?
Throughout this process, remember firstly what an amazing person you are and secondly what a great musician you are becoming. Remember to think about what’s important to you and what a conservatoire can offer you – you should be excited about the conservatoire and you deserve enjoy studying at this conservatoire!
Every step you take is daunting but you should be incredibly proud of how far you’ve come already – keeping backing yourself and your ability! You should be so proud of yourself getting this far and should continue to be proud of yourself as you push yourself out of your comfort zone, fight nerves and challenge yourself.
Challenge yourself to ask the students, staff and Heads of Department any questions your have. Current students can give you a real insight into the opportunities and life at the conservatoire – the good and the bad. My advice is: challenge yourself and push yourself to ask as many questions as you’ve got, and learn as much as you can.
Accommodation
Talking of speaking to current students, make sure to ask what the student accommodation is like. If you’re looking at a London conservatoire, you may want to also consider how easy it is to find accommodation. The idea of living away from home for the first time can be intimidating, but remember: current students have already been through this and so, like before, ask as many questions as possible and take the opportunity to learn as much as you can!
Costs
Unfortunately, all UK conservatoires cost money to apply for so you often need to decide to apply for a select number of institutions rather than all of them. (this is why I emphasised the importance of open days as they can help you whittle down your options)
For UCAS 2027, there is a £34.50 application fee, plus a fee for each of the conservatoires (this is decided by the institutions). As UCAS Conservatoires website states: "you can use the search tool on UCAS Conservatoire’s website to find out the fees for each assessment/audition under the ‘Assessment info’ tab."
Whilst this can seem financially overwhelming for some, know that there are options for reduced/waivered fees if you fit a certain criteria. This is what UCAS Conservatoires says about this:
"All conservatoires will consider waiving assessment fees for applicants who meet all three conditions below:
You normally live in the UK, not just for the purpose of education AND
You are applying for an undergraduate degree programme AND
The household where you have permanent residence has an income of £25,000 or less per year."
If you don’t fit this criteria but still think you may struggle to fund your auditions, another idea (and one that I did myself) is to find a part-time job.
I started a part time job just before starting my A Levels which meant I could save money in preparation for auditions. Once my exams were over, I began to work almost full time to help pay for my current costs and future costs.
I understand that this may not work for everyone, and please don’t feel like you have to work full-time just to pay for your auditions – this was simply my situation and this is how I handled it.
For those who are considering this route, check out resources like Indeed to find work in your area. You could also ask friends and family if they need helping out with any jobs.
Plus, check out the amazing resource that is Save the Student for all their advice on getting a job, side hustles and advice for being a student. They also have a part time jobs section which is great: https://www.savethestudent.org/
Conclusion
Take your time working out what feels right for you. My best tip is to have a notebook that you take to all your conservatoire open days/city visits. On your way home, note down how everything made you feel.
Consider questions like:
- Did you enjoy the vibe?
- Did you like the head of department and the teachers?
- What about the conservatoire itself?
- Could you see yourself living happily in that city?
Having these feelings written down as soon as you leave can really help making the decision of where to apply for/ say yes to if you get an offer. Given time, your feelings may change and so having those immediate thoughts written down can be really helpful when making big decisions.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to try and enjoy these new experiences and the process of meeting new people. If nothing else, try and be yourself, trust your instincts and ultimately make the decision that feels right for you (and not anybody else!). If worst comes to worse, transferring to a different conservatoire or even changing paths completely is always an option!
You’ve got this!
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