Information for entry in September 2019 Undergraduate students joining the BMus degree, Organ Foundation or Gap Year Postgraduate students joining ...
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Information for entry in September 2019
Undergraduate students joining the
BMus degree, Organ Foundation or Gap Year
Postgraduate students joining MA, MMus,
PGCert, Prof.Dip, Adv.Dip and CPD
www.ram.ac.uk/informationpdfs
This PDF document can be provided in other formats if needed, please contact
admissions@ram.ac.uk
Registry Office, Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT.
registry@ram.ac.uk
CONTENTS Congratulations on gaining the offer of a study place at the Academy! We
hope you will find this a useful summary of things you need to know before
coming here in the next academic year. You may find it helpful to print the
book in addition to reading it on-screen.
The book is divided into the following sections:
General Information about your offer
Your Decision
The Conditions of Entry:
Academic qualifications
References
English language
Student finance and tuition fees
Student visas
Enrolment and Study
Living in London
1GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR OFFER
REPLYING TO THE OFFER: Your offer is detailed in UCAS Conservatoires "Track" - please 'click through' from the
YOUR DECISION audition result to see the full explanation. The Academy also sends by email a summary of
the offer, plus this 'Information for Entry' document and our Regulations.
The decision response date we Please let us know your decision about your offer by the deadline date shown in your
have requested is specified in UCAS Conservatoires "Track". This is normally at the end of January, for offers made at
your UCAS Conservatoires our December selection board, but it may be a different date if an audition result reached
"Track" offer details. UCAS in January or later.
The date is normally at the end To accept the offer, select the Academy as your 'First Choice'. This will be shown as '1'.
of January, for offers made at www.ucas.com/ucas/conservatoires/apply-and-track/decisions-your-ucas-
our December selection board, conservatoires-application
but it may be a different date UCAS Conservatoires will automatically decline your offer if you do not input your
if an audition result reached decision by the UCAS cutoff date you'll see when you log into "Track".
UCAS in January or later
If you need to ask for more time, please contact the Admissions Manager at the Academy
It may also be different to the by email to admissions@ram.ac.uk explaining the reasons.
system response date which If you accept our offer, we will send you a confirmation email summarising your study
UCAS shows when you log in. details. If you change your mind about your decision within 14 days of inputting your
acceptance decision, please notify us and UCAS Conservatoires.
You will receive your tuition fee invoice in April or May (see Page 4)
You will receive an email during August with additional study information and your
professor allocation.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY Before you can begin your studies at the Academy, you must meet the Conditions of
Entry which are specified in your offer.
Academic entry requirements To join your Academy study programme, you must provide documentation to prove that
except for Gap Year, PGCert, you have met the academic entry requirements (the 'matriculation' requirements) which
and students assessed through are mentioned in your offer. Normally this proof will be the final qualification/s you have
the APEL route. gained at your current or most recent place of study.
You can find more details on www.ram.ac.uk/entry-requirements
www.ram.ac.uk/entry-requirements
Your documentation must reach the Registry by 10 July 2019. Please send a copy of
registry@ram.ac.uk the certificate or transcript to admissions@ram.ac.uk by email, do not send the original
document. If the documentation is not in English, we must also receive an English
10 July 2019 deadline translation certified by the awarding institution or a official translator.
If you are joining BMus Year 2 If you have UK A-level, Pre-U, or Scottish Highers/Adv.Highers examination results for
or Year 3 please send your final joining the Bachelor of Music degree, we will receive your results directly from UCAS in
transcript from your current mid-August for exams taken in the UK in 2018 or 2019, so the 10 July deadline does not
university or conservatoire apply. However, if you took your A-levels in an earlier year, you should send copies of the
certificates to admissions@ram.ac.uk by 10 July 2019.
If your academic qualification is from the Royal Academy of Music, you do not have to
send documentary proof.
If you need advice about your qualifications, please contact the Admissions Manager in
writing or by email to admissions@ram.ac.uk, giving full details.
The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK
NARIC) can also assist: telephone +44 (0)870 990 4088 e-mail: info@naric.org.uk website:
www.naric.org.uk.
Academic and Practical The Academy must have two satisfactory independent references (Academic and Practical)
References for you, these should reach us by your decision deadline. If we do not have satisfactory
references, you will not be able to enrol.
The Academic and Practical reference forms are available at:
www.ucas.com/ucas/conservatoires/apply-and-track/references-conservatoires.
We will tell you in the confirmation email if references are missing or if there is a problem
with them.
Students currently at the Academy have different reference requirements:
www.ram.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/application-references
2English Language Skills If your first language is not English and our confirmation email tells you that you must
take a language test, this can be an IELTS Academic Test or Pearson Academic Test.
1 May 2019 deadline You must provide a test result by 1 May 2019, otherwise we may withdraw the offer of a
study place because this is a Condition of Entry.
If you achieve less than the minimum level by 1 May 2019, the Admissions Board will be
consulted and you will be advised about appropriate action.
You should send all your test results to the Academy, even if the scores are low, so we can
track your progress. We recommend you book soon, to ensure you can get a test place.
If you have to take an IELTS or Pearson language test and you need a UKVI Tier 4 Student
Visa, remember that you must reach minimum scores in all four sections of the test.
You can find full details on www.ram.ac.uk/english-language-requirements including the
IELTS or Pearson minimum score for your study programme.
The Admissions Board might exempt you from the language test for matriculation purposes
if you have been educated for at least two years at a school or college where the teaching
language is English, or if your referees and the interviewer at your audition are satisfied that
your language skills are sufficient; we will tell you this in your confirmation email.
IELTS: www.ielts.org www.roadtoielts.com
Pearson: www.pearsonpte.com/pteacademic
If you have taken an IELTS test, please tell the test centre to send your result electronically
to the Academy, that is a free service and will avoid delays.
Pearson and TOEFL test results are automatically sent electronically to the Academy.
We regret that we cannot accept TOEFL or Cambridge results unless the IELTS and
Pearson tests are unavailable in your country.
3STUDENT FINANCE - fees and funding support
TUITION FEES 2019/20 Bachelor of Music (BMus)
www.ram.ac.uk/fees UK/EU fee £9,250
The fee levels stated here are for one International fee £23,000
academic year, and are subject to an Gap Year, Organ Foundation
annual increase. UK/EU fee £11,800
International fee £22,600
Master of Arts (MA), Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) Performance or Composition
* Countries of the EU are as Standard (2-year completion) Intensive (1-year completion)
follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, UK/EU fee £12,050 £14,050
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark International fee £23,850 £25,850
(excludes Faroe Islands and Master of Music (MMus)
Greenland), Estonia, Finland Standard (2-year completion) Intensive (1-year completion)
(includes Åland Islands), France UK/EU fee £13,050 £15,050
(includes French Overseas International fee £26,850 £28,850
Departments), Germany (includes Musical Theatre: Master of Arts (MA), Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
Heligoland), Greece, Hungary, UK/EU fee £15,600 International fee £19,280
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Musical Direction: Master of Arts (MA), Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, UK/EU fee £13,750 International fee £25,100
Poland, Portugal (includes Musical Direction Professional Diploma (ProfDip)
Madeira and Azores, excludes UK/EU fee £11,280 International fee £21,700
Macao), Romania, Slovakia, Advanced Diploma (Opera) £17,000 (all students)
Slovenia, Spain (includes Balearic
Advanced Diploma (AdvDip Performance), Professional Diploma (ProfDip),
Islands, the Canaries, Ceuta and
Continuing Professional Development Diploma (CPD)
Melilla), Sweden, United Kingdom
UK/EU fee £10,830 International fee: £21,500
(includes Gibraltar, excludes
Channel Islands & Isle of Man)
Please counsult You can find information about how your fee status (UK, EU, or International) is assessed on
www.ukcisa.org.uk for current www.ram.ac.uk/fees and more detailed guidance is available from UKCISA: www.ukcisa.org.uk
guidance about EU or UK fee
eligibility, for example residency The Admissions Board's assessment of your fee status (Home [UK or EU] or Overseas
requirements. [International]) is detailed in your offer in UCAS Conservatoires "Track". If you believe the
assessment is incorrect, you should write to the Chairman of the Admissions Board by 7
January 2019 or within three weeks of the date of the offer.
LIVING COSTS We expect you will need around £1,200 each month (£12,000 for one academic year) for
living costs - accommodation, food, travel etc.
ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS If you have been awarded an Entrance Scholarship by the Academy following your
entrance audition, this is detailed in your UCAS Conservatoires "Track".
UK/EU BMus scholarships Most scholarships for UK and EU Bachelor Degree students are not deducted from the
tuition fee but are paid directly to the student's UK bank account during the academic
year. There is a separate guide about this, which will be sent to UK and EU BMus scholars.
Scholarships: other For other programmes and for international-fee students, the entrance scholarships are
normally deducted from the total tuition fee amount, unless the scholarship is specified
for your living costs. If your course is longer than one year, the award will be reviewed
each year and will depend on your satisfactory progression and engagement with the
course.
All fee-paying students must pay a 25% advance deposit in the Spring (usually in April or
May), and the remainder of the fees by the middle of August 2019.
PAYMENT OF FEES
[UK and EU Bachelor Degree students who are eligible for a UK Student Finance tuition
fee loan do not pay this deposit if they have completed their loan application. There is a
separate guide about this, which will be sent to UK and EU BMus students.]
The Academy’s Finance Department will send an invoice, usually in April, informing you
about exact payment details and deadlines after you have accepted the study place.
We only issue one invoice, which is sent to the email address you gave us, and the
deposit is normally due four weeks after the invoice date. To save resources, we do not
issue receipts for payment unless you specifically request one. If you have an Entrance
Scholarship or are awarded an Academy bursary, the award amount will be deducted from
the second tuition fee payment amount in August, so you are still required to make the initial
deposit payment (unless you have a full-fee scholarship).
The Academy's refund policy is published on:
www.ram.ac.uk/study/studying-at-the-academy/study-fees/payment-of-feesFINANCIAL SUPPORT The Academy has compiled a range of suggestions and guidance for you on this web
page:
www.ram.ac.uk/financial-support
This part of our website includes information about Academy scholarships and bursaries,
undergraduate and postgraduate loans, specific funding for international students, and a
variety of potential sponsors.
It is important that you plan your finances carefully before beginning your programme
of study, especially if you are not from the UK, as it will not usually be possible to obtain
funding after arrival in this country. You might find some part-time work but it is not easy
to find suitable employment and you should not expect to earn enough to finance your
studies and living costs in this way.
Remember that there are specific work restrictions if you are in the UK with a Tier 4
student visa:
www.ram.ac.uk/international-students
USA loans USA Student Loans - degree students (Bachelor or Masters)
Information Book on If you have USA nationality or residency you may be able to get US Federal Loan funds
Financial Support webpage towards your study costs. The Academy is a designated institution for American students
to apply for a Direct Loan or for deferment of payment on an existing loan account. Some
private loan options are also available.
We have an Information Book about these loans; it is updated regularly so please get the
current version from www.ram.ac.uk/financial-support : Country Specific Information (scroll
down to the section "U.S. Federal Direct Loans"). Information about private loan options is
also available in the guide.
If you have difficulty downloading it, the guide is also available by email or in print on request
from the Admissions Manager e.kemp-luck@ram.ac.uk
STUDENT VISAS If you are not a UK or EU citizen, you will usually need a visa (also known as Entry
Clearance) for your study programme before you can join the Academy. This will normally
be a UK Home Office Tier 4 Student General visa, which allows you to study in the UK.
Before you begin your Tier 4 visa application you will need a CAS Sponsorship number,
which you can request from the Academy Registry during July.
www.gov.uk/visas-immigration
www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa Please read www.ram.ac.uk/immigration-advice which has the visa sponsorship CAS
request form. We will issue an updated CAS form for 2019 entry, but you are welcome to
look at the form currently on that web page so you can see what you will be asked.
If you need to have UK A-level results before you can matriculate onto the BMus degree
programme, you will have to wait until after the results have been issued in August by the
examination board before you can be sponsored to apply for a student visa. The Academy
knows about this delay, it is the normal situation for A-level students and you will be given
help when you arrive to catch up with anything you miss.
Financial evidence
Please read carefully the advice about the financial evidence you will need for your
visa application. If your financial documents (usually bank statements) do not meet the
published requirements, your visa application will not succeed.
The UKVI provides detailed guidance about the financial requirements for a Tier 4 Visa in
the PDF 'guidance' and 'appendix' documents available through their web page:
www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/documents-you-must-provide
Remember to add the cost of the visa application and also the Immigration Health Charge.
US students with Federal Loans may be asked to provide an original letter on headed paper
from the Academy, confirming the certified loan amounts. This letter is issued to all Federal
Loan recipients after the loans have been originated during July or August.
We also recommend that you look at the websites listed below for further guidance:
https:/www.gov.uk/visas-immigration
www.ukcisa.org.uk
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
www.educationuk.org
5ENROLMENT and STUDY
ENROLMENT is You must enrol formally at the Academy before you can benefit from the privileges of
from 9 September 2019 studentship. Enrolment week begins on 9 September 2019 and you are expected to attend
the whole week.
www.ram.ac.uk/study/term-dates
You need to complete a number of things before you can be enrolled. You have to:
∞ Make all required tuition fee payments, or provide an official letter proving that the
tuition fee will be paid to the Academy. Money sent to the Academy must have had time
to clear the banking process, this may be a few days after the transfer is initiated
∞ Complete your online Enrolment Form and online Hesa Form; you will be sent links to
these forms later
∞ Bring original documentary proof of the academic qualification which allows you to
matriculate onto your Academy study programme, with an authorised translation if it is
not in English. We do not need this proof if your matriculation is confirmed by recent
UK A-levels, or Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers, if your qualification was awarded
by the Academy, or if your document was part of a Tier 4 Student Visa application (but
please bring the proof if UKVI did not see the documents with your Tier 4 application
because of Differentiation Arrangements).
∞ Bring your passport, with a photocopy of the front and back cover, all pages with your
photo on, all pages with UK immigration stamps/tickets, and (if you have been issued
with one) your UK Biometric Residence Permit card showing the correct visa for your
study programme in 2019/20 with a photocopy of both sides of the card.
• UK citizens who have no passport are permitted to enrol if they bring a photo
driving licence (full or provisional), with a photocopy of both sides of the licence.
• EU citizens who have no passport but hold a national identity card which
allows travel within the EU are permitted to enrol using that card, and must bring a
photocopy of both sides of the card.
Please note, an original document is the actual paper certificate or transcript,
not a photocopy, printout, scan, PDF or an email attachment.
Please contact admissions@ram.ac.uk if you need advice about this.
If you have not enrolled by the first day of the academic year (16 September 2019), you
may lose access to the ASIMUT room booking and study diary system.
If you have not enrolled two weeks after the start of term (by 30 September 2019), your
study place may be suspended or withdrawn.
If you have a Student Visa and do not enrol, the Academy has to inform the UK Home
Office [UKVI].
6STUDY INFORMATION
Regulations All Academy students are expected to abide by the Regulations, which are published on
www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/about-the-academy/management/policies-and-procedures
Location of Study Teaching and rehearsals normally take place in the Academy’s main building; these
activities may also take place at a variety of venues within easy reach of the Academy, as
follows:
Lectures and seminars
• Aybrook Street teaching space: a 7-10 minute walk from the Academy
Department Activities and rehearsals
• St Mark’s Church: a 20 minute walk or a 10 minute bus journey from the Academy, near
Edgware Road tube station
Students may also be required to travel to other external venues around London as part of
projects and performances in which they are engaged during their studies.
Undergraduate transfer For a student transferring directly into BMus Year 2 or Year 3, their final degree profile
and the resulting classification that they are awarded will be based solely on the profile of
marks from their studies at the Academy.
Postgraduate programme The Master of Arts, Master of Music and Postgraduate Certificate programmes are
options normally two years in length. However, it may be possible to complete in one year. Your
Offer will specify the expected programme length.
You can submit an internal transfer request during the first study term (autumn term) if you
wish to change from 2 years to 1 year, or from 1 year to 2 years.
MA 2-year students are able to submit an internal transfer request during the first study
term (autumn term) to transfer for Year 2 into the MMus programme, likewise MMus
students can request a transfer to MA.
Postgraduate Vocal Studies students (Masters or PGCert) can apply via UCAS
Conservatoires to audition in December for the Royal Academy Opera Advanced Diploma,
which takes two academic years.
The MMus degree is a calendar-year programme, with a final submission date in the early
part of the Autumn term.
Withdrawing before New students who have accepted a place on a programme of study and then fail to enrol
completion of the Study without notifying the Academy at least six weeks before the start of term will be liable to pay
Programme one term’s worth of fees. An enrolled student who withdraws from a programme of study at
any point in the academic year will be liable to pay fees in accordance with our refund policy.
The Academy's refund policy is published on:
www.ram.ac.uk/study/studying-at-the-academy/study-fees/payment-of-fees
Any scholarships or bursaries that have been awarded by the Academy to offset tuition fees
will be cancelled, and you will be expected to settle any outstanding debts (for example, library
fines, tuition fee balance etc). All students are advised to make appropriate arrangements to
insure themselves against any financial loss should the circumstances arise. Please note that
USA federal student loans are paid as instalments through the year and you will only be eligible
for the full loan amount if you remain enrolled for the whole year.
7LIVING IN LONDON
Royal Academy of Music The Academy offers a service for the provision of living accommodation through its own
Estates Office: Room LG86 Estates Office as well as through the University of London Accommodation Office. Prime
estates@ram.ac.uk consideration is given to satisfying individual student needs and both offices will be happy
020 7873 7386 to give assistance to help you find suitable and safe living accommodation, of which there
are many varieties.
It is difficult to give a general estimate of the minimum cost of living in London,
exclusive of tuition fees, because accommodation charges vary according to the area,
and personal requirements differ. In general, however, London is an expensive city in
which to live. We estimate that a single student will usually need around £1,200 a month
to live on (£12,000 per academic year, £14,400 per calendar year), including rent, heating,
electricity, telephone, food, daily travel fares and personal expenses.
The Academy Estates Office has this web page to help you with finding accommodation:
www.ram.ac.uk/accommodation.
Practice rooms are booked Not all accommodation has practice facilities, however Academy students will be able to
online through the ASIMUT do most of their practice at the Academy or at our practice facility nearby at Cross Keys
portal, using your Academy ID Close.
and password after you have The Academy is currently open for practice during term time from 7am to 11pm Monday
enrolled. to Friday, 4pm to 10pm on Saturdays and 10am to 10pm on Sundays.
Vacation opening hours are published on the Academy intranet.
Support and wellbeing If you decide to study at the Academy, you will be able to call upon a wide range of
support networks. You can find more information on this part of our website:
www.ram.ac.uk/study/studying-at-the-academy/support-and-wellbeing
TRAVEL Very few students are able to live within walking distance of the Academy. Students who live
in Central London will probably pay more for accommodation but less on transport. Students
Transport for London: living further away will probably find cheaper accommodation but pay higher fares. We
www.tfl.gov.uk suggest you get an Oyster Card which will cut down costs. All enrolled full-time students are
eligible for a 30% reduction for weekly and monthly season tickets for tubes and buses: see
Enrolment verification for an Oyster www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets. Applications for Student Oyster Photocards are made online through
application is provided by the the Transport for London website www.tfl.gov.uk/photocard and you will need your Academy
Estates Office. enrolment number (you will get this in Enrolment Week after completing the enrolment
process).
COURSE EXPENSES These costs will vary but it is important to be aware of additional expenses, for example
books, music and recordings, piano hire, repairs to instruments, insurance.
CLOTHING As the British climate is unpredictable, you should come prepared. During winter, a good
way of keeping warm is to layer your clothing: wear T-shirts or shirts under woollen jumpers
with a coat on top. A waterproof coat and strong shoes are useful in the rain, as is an
umbrella. Good quality clothes from a chain store might cost £30-£50 for a warm jumper;
£60-£100 for a raincoat; £90-£140 for a winter overcoat. Temperatures in June, July and
August can reach over 30°C so bring lightweight clothing with you too.
You will also need to have formal clothing which you will be expected to wear when
performing in concerts.
Male: Dark suit with white shirt and tie, and Dinner Jacket (formal black
jacket and trousers) with black bow tie and white shirt. Black shoes.
Female: Long black dress or long black trousers and black top, black shoes.
PERSONAL EXPENSES We recommend allowing around £30 per week for items like toiletries, stationery,
telephone calls, use of a laundrette and occasionally a dry cleaner. A self-catering student,
taking lunch in the canteen, could expect to spend about £60 per week on food. The
Academy canteen is open from 8.30am to 6pm in term time with a range of food and drink
at a reasonable cost (usually around £6 to £7 for a lunchtime meal).
8INSURANCE We strongly advise you to have all your possessions insured. The cost of premiums will
vary according to the area in which you live, and also the value of the items to be insured.
Endsleigh Extra premiums may be required for items such as computers, mobile phones and
www.endsleigh.co.uk bicycles.
020 7580 4311 The Academy does not arrange insurance for students, though the Student Union can help
with advice. To give you an idea of the kind of premium you might pay for your general
Allianz belongings, you can get a quote from specialist student insurers, Endsleigh. Endsleigh can
www.allianzmusicalinsurance.co.uk insure for proportionate reimbursement of your prepaid course fees if you have to cancel
0870 2400 303
your course, cut it short or repeat it due to accident or sickness of yourself or a close
relative.
For insuring your instrument, you can use a specialist musical instrument insurer such as
Allianz.
MEDICAL You can find health advice on www.ram.ac.uk/study/studying-at-the-academy in Student
support and wellbeing.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
If you are not from the UK but are studying on a course of 6 months duration or more,
you can register with a doctor (GP) and receive health care from the UK National Health
Service (NHS) on the same basis as UK citizens. Students from EU member states should
obtain the EHIC health insurance card or comprehensive health insurance from their own
health authority before travelling to the UK.
www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/EEA--Swiss-Students/Medical-treatment
www.ram.ac.uk/international-students
If you intend to travel outside the UK during your studies we recommend you purchase an
annual travel insurance policy before leaving home.
If you need a Tier 4 Student Visa, there will be an immigration health charge. This sum is
an annual amount paid as part of the visa application process, and you will be charged
£150 for each year of the maximum period of leave (i.e. visa start date to expiry date)
which is granted under the immigration rules. If the period of leave includes part of a
year that is more than 6 months, the full annual amount is payable. If this period of leave
includes part of a year that is 6 months or less, the amount payable for that part of a
year is half the full amount, i.e. £75 for students and dependants. Please note: UKVI will
calculate this from the length of your Tier 4 leave, not the length of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATION www.ukstudentlife.com www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk/
www.educationuk.org www.monetos.co.uk/service/
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Please remember that you must tell the Academy's Registry whenever you change your
address, phone number or email. You can contact registry@ram.ac.uk during the vacations;
during termtime please use the Change of Details online form available from the Registry
fileshare page on the AIR intranet.
Remember also to update your personal details in UCAS Conservatoires if those change
between your application date and your arrival to enrol at the Academy.
Edward Kemp-Luck, Admissions Manager
2018/12
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