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Royal Northern College of Music

UCAS Code: R57

Location: Manchester, north-west England Show on Map

Site: Single site in city centre

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International conservatoire.

Student Population

Total Students:	740
Undergraduates:	71%
Postgraduates:	29%
FE Students:	0%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	525
Male:	54%
Female:	46%
Full Time:	100%
Mature on Entry:	9%
UK Students:	84%
State school entry:	78%

Teaching Staff

29 full-time, 177 part-time.

Broad study areas

Music.

Freshers

Admission Information:	AS- and A-levels accepted, key skills viewed favourably. UCAS tariff not used.
Drop Out Rate:	1%
Accommodation:	Majority of first years housed.

Institution

Founded:	1973, from merger of Royal Manchester College of Music (founded 1893, by Sir Charles Hallé) and Northern School of Music (founded 1920).
Site:	Modern buildings 1 mile south of city centre.
How to get there:	Manchester well-connected by coach and rail (to Manchester Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria stations; 2 hrs 40 mins from London), by road (M6/M56, M61, M62, M67), and by air to Manchester International Airport (10 miles south of city centre). Many buses from city centre down Oxford Road.

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Chaplains, counsellors, welfare officer, medical referrals, instrument purchase and loan scheme.
Amenities:	Opera theatre, concert hall, recital room; junior common room; café bar. Full programme of public events takes place throughout academic year.
Sporting facilities:	Arranged through SU and hall of residence.
Accommodation:	87% of first years in college accommodation (40% of all students). 316 self-catering places in halls, rent £115 per week for 42-week contract. Most students live in privately-owned accommodation for 2+ years: rents £60–£150 pw self-catering.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	Extensive reference and lending sections of books and performing material. Information provision, £85 pa spent for each student (FTE). Support from library and IT specialists; induction programme for all new students and IT courses.
Other learning resources:	Vast audio collection with playback facilities for records, tapes, CDs, videos and DVDs. Electronic studio keyboard laboratory, professionally-staffed recording studio. Specialist collections: Collection of historic musical instruments, RNCM archives.
Study abroad:	Exchanges in Europe through Erasmus scheme.
Careers:	Advisory service supporting professional studies element of degree programme.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £6000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by college.
Term-time work:	College allows term-time work for full-time students (external concert engagements make significant contribution to professional development), 75% believed to work. Some work available on campus (bar, front of house) and help finding work in concerts/gigs for suitable students.
Financial help:	Some fee reductions for students whose family income is up to £25k pa; also bursaries of up to £1110. A number of entrance awards. Also government funds and other funds used to alleviate student hardship especially when students do not qualify for public support. Some entrance awards for students of outstanding promise.
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £9000 pa for first degrees. International students pay £14,800 pa (except vocal which £15,400 pa).

Courses

Academic features:

Joint courses run with Manchester University and Manchester Met University.

Awarding body:

RNCM. University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University (joint courses).

Main undergraduate awards:

BMus

Length of courses:

4 years

Main subjects offered:

Music

Student view

Sophie Dicks (BMus Vocal & Opera), Vice President of the Students Union: Promotions

Living

What's it like as a place to live? Manchester is such a vibrant city and there is always so much going on. Great night life and reasonably cheap as well. I also think living the centre of Manchester is a lot safer as there are so many students around.

How's the student accommodation? The RNCM halls are literally the nicest I have seen. Everyone gets their own shower and toilet room, the rooms are huge and there is so much storage space. Halls staff are very friendly and happy to help with any problems. I have lived in private accommodation for 2 years now and the houses in my area (Hulme) are very new and really modern and all very well priced, affordable for anyone with a student loan without a doubt. Estate agents are used to dealing with students also.

What's the student population like? The nationality of students at the RNCM is mainly British, however there are a lot of Spanish, Chinese, Australian, Norwegian etc. There is probably a student from every country in the college! The great thing is everyone comes from musical background so immediately you have something in common with someone.

How do students and locals get on? The area in which we live in is mainly students so it is rare that we see any locals.

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? It is an incredible place to study. The facilities are amazing, 4 theatres, 100s of practise rooms and studios, a library filled with pretty much every piece of music ever written, there is a bar and restaurant within the college and recording facilities. Courses are mainly performance based, which is great for musicians really wanting to go into the performing side of the business.

What are the teaching staff like? Inspiring people. Care about the students, want the best for their students.

Socialising

What are student societies like? There aren't so many student societies in the college, but as we are such a small university the student union is a very tight community.

What's a typical night out? Drinking in the college bar, and then moving onto to some of the pubs on Oxford Road.

And how much does it cost? £20.

How can you get home safely? I always make sure I have money for a taxi. Costs £4 back to my house

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Everyone is always skint, but that is because none of us students can manage our money well enough! It is not expensive really, not compared to London. You can easily live cheaply.

Average price of a pint? £2.

And the price of a takeaway? £5.

What's the part-time work situation? The part-time jobs people usually get are bar jobs as there are more of them. I know many people who work part-time, as do I, and aren't being paid minimum wage. There are a number of jobs going in the university, ushering for concerts and working in the bar and restaurant (which is what I do). The staff at the college would only disapprove if it was getting in the way of studies.

Summary

What's the best feature about the place? The staff/student relationship is the best. Staff are so friendly and will help you with anything you need.

And the worst? The difficulty of trying to get a practise room!

And to sum it all up? Best thing I have ever done.