University or Conservatoire?

[Midnightkittycat]

DS2 is year 12, looking at studying music at university. It has been suggested that he also looks at Conservatoires, but this is a whole new world to us.

Is it possible to apply for both in the same year? Looking at UCAS, I can see it is two separate applications, but can you apply for 5 universities and then Conservatoires simultaneously?

Grateful for any guidance, thanks.

Placemarking for the answers, dc is thinking about music too. Adding another question, can they apply to conservatoires for music and something other than music at other unis?

Yes to both. And quite a few people actually do both University and Conservatoire.
But talk to music teachers to get thorough advice.
Also has your child attended a junior conservatoire?

Thank you. No, he hasn't. He plays a lot of music, including county orchestra, but we haven't looked at Conservatoires at all.

Oh, cool, thanks. Do people do both simultaneously or one after the other?

My DS is doing this at the moment! He's Y13. You can apply to both standard UCAS and UCAS conservatoires and you can fill all the slots on both applications. It's a separate fee for each UCAS process - and be aware that each conservatoire charges a £75 audition fee. UCAS conservatoires also has an earlier closing date even than Oxbridge - this year it was October 2nd! The system is fairly new and not all conservatoires have moved across yet. Leeds has for some courses but not others for example so it's a bit confusing currently.

That's really helpful, thank you. I still think he's most keen on a university course, but it is definitely worth us looking. Orchestra is his happy place (other than bed).

Does he definitely want to try and pursue a career in music? If not, a university degree is probably significantly easier to explain to graduate recruiters? Rightly or wrongly, If I saw conservatoire on a CV, I would assume the person’s real interest was music and that they were passing time until they got their big break

@Solasum see, that's what I assumed, until his instrument teacher talked about it. He's my laid back, dreamy, child, so hasn't really got a clue about his future career. It will definitely be music of some type.

His teacher is involved at county level, so alos conducts orchestras etc, as well as playing professionally. We were laughing that he's probably looking for ds to take over when he retires.

DS1 did the Conservatoire route. At the time he also applied for a couple of Uni places to read music as a back up. Was offered places at both Uni and Conservatoire.
His GF studied music at Uni then did 2 post grad Conservatoire courses.

Since then they have also gone through National Opera Studio (NOS)
They both are now starting their careers in music.
So you have plenty of options.

Bear in mind that Conservatoire application dates are different from uni dates and they all rely on a audition that you pay for. It becomes quite pricey if you are applying for three or four.
I do tend to agree with @Solasum that you should only go down the Conservatoire route if your intention is to have a career in music.
Also, based on experience, a Conservatoire degree is just the start of qualifications for a music career, almost all musicians do further formal study/post grad, young artist programmes etc.

My nephew went to a conservatoire but was also offered places at universities. He said the conservatoire courses are much more geared towards music as a career. He got more opportunities - eg working with professional musicians and orchestras.

Conservatoires are aimed at students who want a career in performing. My DC studied at a conservatoire, and absolutely loved it.

consider a BMus degree at a big uni- I went to Leeds. It’s more “performance” focussed than the BA degree. And puts you in a good position to do a post grad at a conservatoire.

best of luck to him

Hi @Midnightkittycat we are just starting this process too, with under a year till applications due in. School is unlikely to know much about it so need to be on the ball with deadlines. It's quite complicated with the two systems, but does mean you can apply for something different too. Conservatoire is more professional training, lots of contact hours and practice, with lots of performance opportunities. Modules vary between institutions. You can get consultation lessons to see if you like the teachers, some offer these online ones. Scholarships can sometimes be offered too. You don't have to go into performing afterwards, the degrees are still valid and demonstrate focus and dedication. There are more experienced people on the extra curricular music thread, do join for more music chat!

That is all so helpful, thank you.

He is lucky that he goes to a state school with a fantastic music department. He got a music place for year 7, and I know that former pupils have been to Conservatoires, so hopefully they know the process.

I actually suspect that a performance type university degree may be best route, but best he explores all options. He plays a fairly sought-after orchestral instrument, so he's not going to be a concert violinist etc, but he just loves playing.

My DC plays a rarer instrument and one conservatoire said they would definitely offer a decent scholarship if they wanted her. She wants to be in an orchestra, not a soloist. She'll probably need to teach and do community outreach etc too which she's happy with. Several of the conservatoires I've looked at really seem to prepare them for future working life, with the variety of work they might do. A BMus will be more performance based probably than a BA ( MA at some Scottish unis).

@Midnightkittycat hi my DD is currently applying for both univs and conservatoires for autumn 24; happy to share experience as we go. A lot of univ degrees (even BAs) now have a big chunk of performance included and some have relationships with the conservatoires for that part (eg Kings College London and RAM), So lots of options and lots seem to go into conservatoire at post grad level now - as mentioned above.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire have juniour conservatoire on the weekends and train them from a young age.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is part of Birmingham City University and my degree is through the university but for musicians, it is with the conservatoire, I mean my faculty is at the university and they audition for the conservatoire, for which they pay audition fees and the conservatoire has its own admissions department.

Then there is The University of Birmingham which is a music degree but they get tuition for two instruments at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

In cases such as The University of Birmingham, where they receive scholarships for tuition at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, they are done similtaneously i.e. at the same time. I know dancers can start at Central School of Ballet at 16 and study for three years, for example, which is your A'level period, equivalent to L3. You can also do a degree at London Studio Centre, another example but they are usually at least 18 by this time.

You can do a degree at Birmingham City University, which the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is part of and be based at RBC. However, the conservatoire also has its own degrees and admissions department, which are seperate to the university. Although, conservatoire students still have have access to university facilities also.

The course at Central School of Ballet is not level 3 or equivalent to A levels. It is levels 5 & 6.

It's a degree course validated by the University of Kent and funded by student loan, and after 2 years the qualification is a level 5 foundation degree, and the third year gives you the BA. They split it like that so if someone's interest is in contemporary for instance, they can switch to another degree elsewhere for their final year and complete their degree that way.

It is one of the very few degrees in the country for which you can start at 16. No A-levels required, and no UCAS points needed. Entry is by audition only.