Scholarships at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) recently announced several generous scholarships for talented cellists from the US and Canada for entry in 2025.

RCS is internationally renowned with students from 60 countries. In addition to a world-class teaching faculty, RCS offers in-depth partnerships with Scotland’s leading orchestras (the RSNO, BBC Scottish Symphony, Scottish Chamber Orchestra), the innovative Scottish Ensemble and contemporary music group Red Note, and the award-winning early music group the Dunedin Consort.

With collaboration at its core, there are numerous opportunities for creative projects, including with artists across the acting and dance departments. RCS is one of the most innovative performing arts institutions in the world and is renowned for its opportunities to broaden into different styles of playing, including early music, Scottish Trad, folk music, jazz, and improvisation.

Situated in the vibrant cultural city of Glasgow, with quick access to both Edinburgh and the glorious Scottish Highlands, RCS offers a student experience that is bespoke and truly unique.

RCS is consistently recognised as one of the world’s top 10 performing arts education institutions. In 2024 RCS was ranked 6th in the prestigious QS World University Rankings for performing arts, placing it alongside London’s Royal College of Music, MDW in Vienna, Juilliard in New York and the Paris Conservatoire.

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is offering 2 scholarships to students from China (mainland) and Mexico applying for a one-year postgraduate course at RCS. 

The GREAT Scholarships 2025 programme, launched by the British Council together with 71 UK universities, supports postgraduate students in accessing world-class UK higher education opportunities. 

The scholarship programme offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. Students can apply for courses in a range of subjects, at 71 institutions across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Great Scholarship - China and Mexico

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is offering a total of two scholarships to students from China (mainland) and Mexico applying for a one-year postgraduate course at RCS.

The scholarship programme offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. Our MA and MFA programmes are eligible for the scholarship, but the 2-year MMus programmes are not eligible.

Please note you must hold an offer of a place on your chosen Masters at RCS by the scholarship closing date of Thursday 31st May 2025.

Distance learning  programmes  are not eligible. 

Successful International applicants will be offered a minimum of £2,500 per annum when studying on one of our Production programmes: BA Production Arts & Design or BA Production Technology & Management or MA/MFA Production (Design/Management)

Within the School of Music, the majority of scholarship awards are made in January following an audition and offer of a place at the RCS. Scholarships are made based on ability and potential with some for financial need. Many School of Music scholarships are made for the duration of the programme. There is no separate scholarship application for the School of Music as everyone is automatically considered.

School of Drama, Dance, Production and Film scholarships are awarded for a mixture of financial need and merit.

About RCS Scholarships

Scholarships decisions across both schools are made by a scholarship panel in discussion with the students’ Head of Department. Awards made in the second and subsequent years will be subject to the level of future income streams to the RCS Trust and will be confirmed on an annual basis.

The RCS Scholarship Fund is supported by the generosity of many charitable trusts, companies, businesses, bequests and individual members of the public.

If you are successful in being awarded a scholarship that has been donated by a specific trust or donor there may be additional conditions. You may be asked to submit an annual report to your donor/s at least once a year with an update on your progress. Students may also be asked to list the award in their biography and, on occasion, attend events where their donors may be present. Every scholarship student is expected to play a full and active role in the life of the institution, to act as a good role model for other students, and to be an ambassador for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The RCS Scholarship Fund is supported by the generosity of many charitable trusts, companies, businesses, individual members of the public and from bequests, therefore we ask students not to approach these bodies independently:

• ABRSM

• Barcapel

• Cameron Macintosh Foundation

• John Mather Trust

• RCS Trust

• The Leverhulme Trust

• The Wolfson Foundation

• Universal Music UK Sound Foundation

• Inches Carr Trust

• Thomas and Margaret Roddan Trust

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is pleased to be working in partnership with the WM Mann Foundation and the Foundation’s Indonesia-based Trustee Ainsley Mann to offer scholarship and accommodation support for exceptional Indonesian postgraduate students.

Application criteria

To be considered for this incredible opportunity, students must show outstanding aptitude in their field and be prepared to enhance the performing arts in Indonesia. Specifically, students must be able to articulate how they plan to share the skills and knowledge they have learned at RCS with the performing arts community in Indonesia during and after their studies. They must also be interested in actively fostering collaboration with Glasgow and Scotland and Indonesia within their chosen discipline and outline how this will be achieved.

Award information

In return, the WM Mann Foundation will donate 75% of international postgraduate fees (the remaining 25% will be covered by RCS) and will also cover the cost of one year’s accommodation at BASE, the award-winning student accommodation which is a five-minute walk from the main RCS campus. The Foundation will also be a continuing point of contact throughout your studies and will work closely with staff at RCS to ensure you have everything you need to make the most of your studies.