Royal College of Music

The Royal College of Music (RCM) is one of the world’s greatest conservatoires. True to our founders' intentions, we teach exceptional students from all backgrounds and cultures, encouraging music as an artform. Learning from the past enables us to create an ambitious future. After almost 140 years, the RCM is still true to its founding principles of access, excellence and advocacy.

With a student cohort numbering some 60 nationalities, the RCM is determined to play its part in bringing people together, enriching our society and promoting unity. RCM professors are leaders in their fields and graduates benefit from the expert guidance of our sector-leading Creative Careers Centre, achieving remarkable success around the world.

For the sixth consecutive year, the RCM was ranked as the top institution in the UK for Performing Arts in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2021, and top in Europe for the second year running. RCM was also ranked the top UK conservatoire for music in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and top music conservatoire for overall student satisfaction in the 2018 National Student Satisfaction (NSS) Survey according to the Times Higher Education.

Among our alumni are composers and performers such as Sir Hubert Parry, Benjamin Britten, Gustav Holst, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Lord Lloyd Webber, Rebecca Clarke, Anna Meredith, Clemency Burton-Hill, Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Sarah Connolly, Gerald Finley, Sophie Bevan, Louise Alder, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Mark-Anthony Turnage.

Regular visitors to the RCM to work with students in masterclasses and rehearsals include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Alina Ibragimova and Lang Lang.