Royal Academy of Music

The Royal Academy of Music (RAM), University of London, is one of the oldest and most respected music schools in the UK. It was founded in 1822 by John Fane with the help of Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. The academy received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV, supported by the Duke of Wellington. It is a public institution and a full constituent college of the University of London.

RAM offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in various music disciplines such as instrumental performance, composition, jazz, musical theatre, and opera. The academy has a diverse student body of about 795 students from over 50 countries, including around 375 undergraduates and 415 postgraduates. It also offers a Junior Academy for musicians under 18, which meets weekly.
 

The academy’s facilities are located on Marylebone Road in central London, close to Regent’s Park. The main building includes several concert halls such as the Duke’s Hall and the David Josefowitz recital hall. In addition, the academy has a public museum housing a significant collection of historical musical instruments and manuscripts, including works by Purcell, Handel, Vaughan Williams, and others.

RAM has a long history of notable alumni, including Simon Rattle, Elton John, Annie Lennox, and Henry Wood. The academy regularly hosts student performances and festivals, and its students perform nationally and internationally under well-known conductors. It also collaborates with other conservatoires worldwide and has a strong academic partnership with King’s College London.

The academy’s library contains over 160,000 items, including manuscripts, printed materials, and archives related to important musicians. The Royal Academy of Music also awards honorary fellowships and prizes such as the Bach Prize and the Gilbert Betjemann Prize for operatic singing.

In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, RAM is ranked second in Performing Arts. The academy’s total income for 2023/24 was £37.5 million. The current principal is Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, and the president is the Duchess of Gloucester. RAM continues to provide professional music education and supports lifelong learning across all ages.

The Royal Academy of Music was established in 1822 by John Fane, the 11th Earl of Westmorland, with the support of Nicolas-Charles Bochsa, a French harpist and composer. Its creation aimed to provide formal music education in the United Kingdom at a time when no such institution existed. In 1830, the academy was granted a royal charter by King George IV, an important step that gave the institution official status and support. The first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, was a key figure in the academy’s early years and a strong supporter of its mission. As an amateur violinist, he took a personal interest in the academy’s success.

Initially, the academy was located in a set of three eighteenth-century houses on Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, which were adapted to serve as teaching and practice spaces. This early location was described as a complicated and confusing layout for students and staff. Financial difficulties soon arose, and by 1866 the academy was at risk of closure. This situation led to the founding of the Royal College of Music, a separate institution intended to provide additional music education in London.

The academy’s fortunes improved significantly when William Sterndale Bennett, himself a former student and composer, became principal and chair of the board of directors. He worked to restore financial stability and improve the academy’s reputation during the late nineteenth century.
 

In 1911, the Royal Academy of Music moved to a purpose-built facility on Marylebone Road, designed by Sir Ernest George. This building included the Duke’s Hall, a concert venue seating 450 people, and marked the start of a long period of expansion. The Marylebone Road site remains the academy’s main location. In 1976, the academy expanded by acquiring neighbouring properties and constructing the Sir Jack Lyons Opera Theatre, alongside recital halls, a recording studio, and an electronic music studio.
 

Further development took place in the late 1990s with the addition of 1–5 York Gate, a building designed by John Nash in 1822. This building houses the academy’s museum, musical theatre studios, and teaching spaces. A new underground passage was built to connect the York Gate building with the main academy, and the David Josefowitz recital hall, seating 150, was also opened.
 

Throughout its history, the Royal Academy of Music has offered education in various areas of music. The majority of students study classical performance on instruments such as strings, piano, brass, woodwind, and percussion. Vocal studies, including opera, conducting, composition, jazz, musical theatre, and historical performance, are also part of the curriculum. In 1991, the academy introduced a fully accredited degree in performance studies, and in 1999, it became the first conservatoire to join the University of London as a full constituent college.
 

The academy maintains close academic links with King’s College London, where many academy students take humanities courses while receiving instrumental tuition. The Junior Academy offers training to musicians under 18 years old and meets weekly on Saturdays.
 

The library of the Royal Academy of Music holds over 160,000 items, including early printed music, manuscripts, and archives related to figures such as Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir Henry Wood. The academy’s museum holds significant collections of historic instruments, including stringed instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri, as well as manuscripts by Purcell, Handel, Vaughan Williams, and others.

Notable alumni include conductors and musicians such as Henry Wood, Simon Rattle, Elton John, Annie Lennox, and Maxim Vengerov. The academy’s students perform regularly at the academy’s venues and across London, including Kings Place, St Marylebone Parish Church, and the South Bank Centre. The institution also hosts festivals dedicated to living composers and celebrates their work.
 

By 2025, the Royal Academy of Music will continue to be a leading institution for music education. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, and higher degrees such as PhD and DMus. The academy supports lifelong learning through its Junior Academy and community music projects. It remains a registered charity and part of the University of London, with Jonathan Freeman-Attwood serving as principal since 2008, and the Duchess of Gloucester as president. The academy has a total income of around £37.5 million as of the 2023/24 financial year and continues to attract students from over 50 countries. It maintains its position as a centre of music education and performance, developing new facilities, fostering international collaboration, and contributing to the cultural life of London and beyond.

The Royal Academy of Music offers a wide range of courses designed to train musicians at different levels, from beginners to advanced performers and composers. The academy provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma courses across various areas of music study. It also offers specialised training for younger students through its Junior Academy.
 

At the undergraduate level, the main degree offered is the Bachelor of Music (BMus), awarded by the University of London. This degree programme covers different music disciplines and includes practical performance, composition, musicology, and theory. Students choose a main area of study, such as an instrument or voice, and receive individual tuition and ensemble experience. The BMus degree combines practical skills with academic study, preparing students for a career in music.
 

Postgraduate courses include Master of Music (MMus), Master of Performance (MPerf), and research degrees such as PhD and Doctor of Music (DMus). The MMus focuses on advanced study in performance, composition, conducting, or musicology. The MPerf is a performance-focused degree for students who want to develop their playing or singing at a high level. Research degrees allow students to carry out in-depth study and contribute new knowledge to the field of music.
 

The academy also offers diplomas like the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM), which is a professional teaching qualification in music. The LRAM diploma is open to students who want to work as music teachers or pursue professional music careers.
 

Students can study a variety of specialisms within the academy’s departments. These include classical instrumental performance for strings, piano, brass, woodwind, percussion, harp, organ, and guitar. Vocal studies cover opera, song, and musical theatre. Composition courses allow students to create new music, while conducting courses train students to lead orchestras and choirs.
 

The academy has departments for jazz studies and musical theatre, offering courses that combine performance, improvisation, and theory. Historical performance is another key area, focusing on playing music from earlier periods using period instruments and historically informed techniques.
 

In addition to degree courses, the Junior Academy provides musical training for students up to 18 years old. It offers lessons, ensembles, and workshops on Saturdays, helping young musicians develop their skills.
 

The Royal Academy of Music also provides access to practice rooms, recital halls, recording studios, and electronic music facilities. Students have opportunities to perform regularly in concerts and festivals both within the academy and in external venues across London.
 

There are collaborative programmes with King’s College London, allowing students to combine music studies at the academy with humanities courses at King’s. The academy participates in exchange programmes such as SOCRATES, which enable student and staff mobility with other music schools across Europe.

• Ranked 2nd worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Rankings 2024 (Subject Ranking).
• Placed 3rd for Arts, Drama & Music in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
• First UK conservatoire to become a full constituent college of the University of London (since 1999).

Many students secure placements in orchestras, opera companies, music theatres, and teaching positions across the UK and internationally. The academy’s career support team works closely with students to provide guidance, auditions, and networking opportunities. Approximately 85-90% of graduates find relevant work in the music profession within a year of finishing their course. This high job integration rate reflects the academy’s practical training and industry connections, preparing students well for professional careers in music.

• Royal Academy of Music: Home| Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Academy of Music| University of London
• Royal Academy of Music| Wikipedia
• Royal Academy of Music : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details| Top Universities
• Royal Academy of Music | Courses| UCAS
• Royal Academy of Music| YouTube · Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Academy of Music (@royalacademyofmusic)| Instagram · royalacademyofmusic
• Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Royal Academy | UCAS
• Royal Academy of Music Employees, Location, Alumni| LinkedIn · Royal Academy of Music
• Royal Academy of Music: Courses, Admission, Cost| Shiksha
• Royal Academy of Music, University of London| IDP Hotcourses Abroad
• Royal Academy of Music, University of London| Complete University Guide
• Royal Academy of Music courses and application information| siuk-egypt.com
• Royal College of Music: Home| Royal College of Music
• Study At the Royal Academy of Music - AEC Overseas| AEC Overseas - Abroad Education Consultants