Tuition & Course Fees
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Tuition Fee Status
Like other conservatoires, RCS charges different fees depending on the tuition fee status of students. Fee status is determined by nationality, immigration status and where you are ‘ordinarily resident’ and is decided in accordance with Scottish Government legislation. The relevant fees regulations are the Education (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (No 156), as amended.
Detailed information on how fee status is calculated can be found on the UKCISA and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) websites.
Your tuition fee status may be:
- Scotland Fee (Scot)
- Scotland
- EU-EEA Pre/Settled Status
- Rest of UK Fee (RUK)
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Republic of Ireland*
- International Fee (OS)
- EU/EEA
- International
*Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland (IRpb) starting their studies will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee.
Your tuition fee status will be automatically decided based on the information you supply about yourself in your UCAS Conservatoires application.
If there is any uncertainty over your fee status based on your application information, you will be sent a Tuition Fee Assessment Form by the Recruitment and Admissions team. Once completed it will be reviewed by the Assistant Registrar (Recruitment and Admissions) and an outcome communicated to you by email.
We will advise you of your fee status in your offer letter. Once you start studying, your fee status applies for your entire programme and cannot be changed even if your circumstances change, or the fee status criteria change.
If you disagree with your fee status classification on your offer letter, you should contact the Conservatoire to request a review. This must be requested within 30 days of receiving your offer letter. This can only be requested in writing by emailing admissions@rcs.ac.uk. Reviews after this point cannot be considered and we will ask that you reapply for a future intake with complete information regarding your nationality, ordinary residence and immigration status.
If you wish to appeal a fee status decision made following a fee status questionnaire or the outcome of a fee status review, you should request this in writing to the Assistant Registrar – l.stirrat1@rcs.ac.uk – within 14 days of receiving the decision.
You can find specific tuition fees on each degree programme page. They are also listed below by year.
Tuition Fees 2025/26
For new students, and students who began their current programme in academic year 2024/25
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
Undergraduate programmes
All Undergraduate programmes except BA Modern Ballet
- Scottish full-time: £1,820 (for most full-time, Scottish-domiciled undergraduate students, this will be paid by SAAS)
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,535
- International (including EU) full-time: £28,919
BA Modern Ballet
- Scottish full-time: £1,820 (for most full-time, Scottish-domiciled undergraduate students, this will be paid by SAAS)
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,535
- International (including EU) full-time: £27,968
PGDE
- Scottish full-time: £1,820
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,535
- International (including EU) full-time: £28,919
Postgraduate programmes
MMus (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
Full-time:
- Home: £13,308
- International: £28,401
Part-time:
- Home: £6,654
MA (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / HIPP / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
- Home: £18,483
- International: £36,283
MMus (Vocal Performance)
Full-time:
- Home: £14,428
- International: £29,738
Part-time:
- Home: £7,214
MA (Vocal Performance)
- Home: £19,995
- International: £38,217
Artist Diploma (excluding Opera)
- Home: £7,320
- International: £14,471
Advanced PG Diploma (Performance)
- Home: £13,194
- International: £28,919
Advanced PG Diploma (Vocal and Opera)
- Home: £14,428
- International: £ 29,738
MA Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £20,085
- International: £28,991
Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £11,496
- International: £18,208
MA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (1 year)
- Home: £18,289
- International: £28,991
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (16 months)
- Home: £24,385
- International: £38,658
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (4 months)
- Home: £6,095
- International: £9,667
MA Production (Design/Management)
- Home: £18,289
- International: £28,991
MFA Production (Design/Management)
- Home: £24,385
- International: £38,658
MA Creative Arts Practice
- Full-time: £14,700
- Part-time: £7,350
MA Arts Leadership & Fundraising
- Full-time: £14,700
- Part-time: £7,350
MEd (Learning and Teaching in the Arts)
Part-time:
- Home: £5,569
International: £5,569
PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching in the Arts
Per 30 credits:
- Home: £2,782
- International: £2,782
Research (PHD/MPhil)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,680
- International: £22,528
Part-time:
- Home: £4,842
- International: £11,266
Research (Doctor of Performing Arts)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,965
- International: £23,191
Part-time:
- Home: £4,982
- International: £11,597
Research continuation fee
Full-time (year 4 onwards):
- Home: £350
- International: £350
Part-time (year 7 onwards):
- Home: £175
- International: £175
MA Psychology in the Arts (Music)
- Home: £8,077
- International: £8,077
Continuing Education
Home: £2,095
International: £3,344
*Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee.
Tuition Fees 2025/26
For students who began their current programme prior to academic year 2024/25
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
All Undergraduate programmes
- Scottish full-time: £1,820 (for most full-time, Scottish-domiciled undergraduate students, this will be paid by SAAS)
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,535
- International (including EU) full-time: £22,865
PGDE
- Scottish full-time: £1,820
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,535
- International (including EU) full-time: £22,865
Postgraduate programmes
MMus (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
Part-time:
- Home: £5,878
- Overseas: £11,623
MMus (Opera) and MMus (Vocal Performance)
Part-time:
- Home: £6,437
MEd (Learning and Teaching in the Arts)
Part-time:
- Home: £5,366
International: £5,366
Research (PHD/MPhil)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,334
- International: £21,708
Part-time:
- Home: £4,665
- International: £10,854
Research (Doctor of Performing Arts)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,604
- International: £22,350
Part-time:
- Home: £4,802
- International: £11,177
Research continuation fee
Full-time (year 4 onwards):
- Home: £350
- International: £350
Part-time (year 7 onwards):
- Home: £175
- International: £175
*Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee.
Tuition Fees 2024/25
For students who began their current programme in academic year 2024/25
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
All Undergraduate programmes
- Scottish full-time: £1,820 (for most full-time, Scottish-domiciled undergraduate students, this will be paid by SAAS)
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,250
- International (including EU) full-time: £27,968
PGDE
- Scottish full-time: £1,820
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,250
- International (including EU) full-time: £27,968
Postgraduate programmes
MMus (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
Full-time:
- Home: £12,870
- International: £27,467
Part-time:
- Home: £6,435
MA (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / HIPP / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
- Home: £17,875
- International: £35,090
MMus (Opera) and MMus (Vocal Performance)
Full-time:
- Home: £13,954
- International: £28,760
Part-time:
- Home: £6,977
MA (Opera) and MA (Vocal Performance)
- Home: £19,338
- International: £36,960
Artist Diploma
- Home: £7,079
- International: £13,995
Advanced PG Diploma (Performance)
- Home: £12,760
- International: £27,968
Advanced PG Diploma (Vocal and Opera)
- Home: £13,954
- International: £28,760
MA Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £19,415
- International: £28,038
Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £11,118
- International: £17,609
MA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (1 year)
- Home: £17,688
- International: £28,038
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (16 months)
- Home: £23,583
- International: £37,387
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (4 months)
- Home: £5,895
- International: £9,349
MEd (Learning and Teaching in the Arts)
Part-time:
- Home: £5,386
International: £5,386
PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching in the Arts
Per 30 credits:
- Home: £2,691
- International: £2,691
Research (PHD/MPhil)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,362
- International: £21,787
Part-time:
- Home: £4,683
- International: £10,896
Research (Doctor of Performing Arts)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,637
- International: £22,428
Part-time:
- Home: £4,818
- International: £11,216
Research continuation fee
Full-time (year 4 onwards):
- Home: £350
- International: £350
Part-time (year 7 onwards):
- Home: £175
- International: £175
MA Psychology in the Arts (Music)
- Home: £8,077
- International: £8,077
Continuing Education
Home: £2,026
International: £3,234
*Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee.
Tuition Fees 2024/25
For students who began their current programme prior to academic year 2024/25
Please note all tuition fees per year are subject to an annual review.
All Undergraduate programmes
- Scottish full-time: £1,820 (for most full-time, Scottish-domiciled undergraduate students, this will be paid by SAAS)
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,250
- International (including EU) full-time: £22,113
PGDE
- Scottish full-time: £1,820
- RUK (including ROI*) full-time: £9,250
- International (including EU) full-time: £22,113
Postgraduate programmes
MMus (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
Full-time:
- Home: £11,367
- International: £22,479
Part-time:
- Home: £5,685
- International: £11,241
MA (Performance / Accompaniment / Chamber Music / Composition / Conducting / Jazz / HIPP / Performance and Pedagogy / Piano for Dance / Repetiteurship / Traditional Music)
- Home: £15,414
- International: £27,021
MMus (Opera) and MMus (Vocal Performance)
Full-time:
- Home: £12,447
- International: £27,021
Part-time:
- Home: £6,225
- International: £13,512
MA (Opera) and MA (Vocal Performance)
- Home: £17,046
- International: £ 30,294
Artist Diploma
- Home: £6,822
- International: £13,491
Advanced PG Diploma (Performance)
- Home: £11,367
- International: £22,479
Advanced PG Diploma (Vocal and Opera)
- Home: £12,447
- International: £27,021
MA Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £17,046
- International: £27,021
Professional Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre Directing
- Home: £10,713
- International: £16,968
MA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (1 year)
- Home: £17,046
- International: £27,021
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (16 months)
- Home: £22,728
- International: £36,027
MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Acting/Directing (4 months)
- Home: £5,685
- International: £9,006
MEd (Learning and Teaching in the Arts)
Part-time:
- Home: £5,190
- International: £5,190
PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching in the Arts
Per 30 credits:
- Home: £2,595
- International: £2,595
Research (PHD/MPhil)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,027
- International: £20,994
Part-time:
- Home: £4,512
- International: £10,497
Research (Doctor of Performing Arts)
Full-time:
- Home: £9,288
- International: £21,615
Part-time:
- Home: £4,644
- International: £10,809
Research continuation fee
Full-time (year 4 onwards):
- Home: £350
- International: £350
Part-time (year 7 onwards):
- Home: £175
- International: £175
MA Psychology in the Arts (Music)
- Home: £7,782
- International: £7,782
Continuing Education
- Home: £1,953
- International: £3,117
* Because of a long-standing agreement between the UK and Republic of Ireland, new students from the Republic of Ireland will be eligible to pay the rest of UK (RUK) fee.
Associated Programme Costs
Our programmes also have a range of associated costs related to the specific activities required and advised by the programme team. You can find an indication of these costs for each programme below and on the specific degree pages they pertain to:
- School of Music Programme Costs (This will also give you more detailed information about the hardware and software that you might need to use during the coming year)
- BA Acting Programme Costs
- BA Performance in BSL & English Programme Costs
- BA Musical Theatre Programme Costs
- MA/MFA Classical and Contemporary Text Programme Costs
- MA & PGD Musical Theatre: Musical Directing Programme Costs
- BA Modern Ballet Programme Costs
- BA Production Arts & Design Programme Costs
- BA Production Technology and Management Programme Costs
- BA Film Making Programme Costs
Cost of Living
In addition to tuition fees, it is estimated that you will need between £11,200 and £15,300 per year to live in Glasgow, plus programme costs. Much will depend on your lifestyle and whether your course runs for three or four terms.
Once you are a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, you may be eligible to apply for assistance from a Discretionary Fund if you find yourself experiencing financial difficulty. More information is available on our financial advice page
Higher Education Childcare Fund (UK students only)
All eligible full-time UK undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply for support from the Childcare Fund, which alongside the Discretionary Fund, is administered by the International and Student Experience team in the Academic Administration and Support Office (Gillian Mackenzie and Pauline McCluskey.) This fund provides assistance with the cost of formally registered childcare expenses for dependent children. If you are a student who has a child (or children), in the care of a registered child-minder, nursery or official after-school club while you are studying at the Conservatoire then please get in touch as soon as you commence your studies.
International Student Deposits
International students will be required to pay a deposit of £2000 either by a stated deadline or within 30 days of receiving their offer from RCS. More information will be detailed in your offer letter. This deposit counts towards your overall tuition fee payment.
The deposit is non-refundable except in the following conditions:
- If your visa application is refused, or if you fail to meet the conditions of your offer, we will refund 90% of your deposit (10% is retained as an administration charge)
- If you have to decline your place due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control (e.g. medical/family), we will consider a request for a refund on an individual basis and will require supporting documentation