How to apply for UCAS Conservatoires in 5 steps

You can now apply for 2016 UCAS Conservatoire courses on our website. To apply on-time for a music course, we must receive your application by 1 October. If you're applying for dance and drama courses, you must submit your application by 15 January.

Here are five things you need to do to apply...

1. Find the right course for you
The best place to start is our search tool. If you’re not sure which conservatoire or course is right for you; we’ve got lots of great advice. Try attending an open day to get a taste of conservatoire life, as it gives you the opportunity to meet the tutors, speak to current students and check out the campus.

2. Register
When you’re ready to start your application you need to register.  All you have to do is answer questions about yourself and create a password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be given a username. Make sure you keep a note of your log in details so you don’t have any problems at a later date!

3. Start your application
When you log in, you’ll see this page which shows the sections you need to complete:

Each section must be complete before you can send your application. There’s lots of advice on filling in your application on our website.

When it comes to adding your qualifications, enter every place you’ve received a formal qualification from in the ‘Education’ section.  This should start from the age of 12 onwards. You can search for your schools by clicking on the ‘Add a school/college’ link and then select the ones you’ve attended.

If the school isn’t listed, just click on the ‘My school/college is not listed’ option which will allow you to enter the details in manually.

Once you’ve done this, add your qualifications in the ‘Qualification’ section. Similarly to the Education section, you need to search for the course type. If the qualification isn’t listed, find the different options for ‘Other’ and select the most relevant one to enter the details manually.

When you get to the personal statement we’ve got some great tips on what to include.

4. Send your application
The application fee is £20, which you pay with a credit or debit card. If you need to pay by an alternative method, such as a bank transfer, you can send us your application without the payment. However, you must send a payment to us within 14 days of sending us your application, otherwise it’ll be cancelled.

Each conservatoire will have an audition fee - you can pay for this when you send us your application or by bank transfer if you’re going to pay at a later date. Some conservatoires may waive the audition fee but you need to discuss this with them.

It’s important to arrange your payments as soon as possible as the conservatoires can’t make a decision until you’ve sorted your application AND audition fees for all courses.

5. Wait for your auditions
After your application has been sent and the fees have been paid, the conservatoires will get in touch with you about auditions. All updates will come from the conservatoire and they’ll also be in Track.

So make sure you’re prepared. Auditions may seem daunting but it’s your opportunity to shine. We've put together a handy document to help you make the most of your audition.

Good luck with your application!

If you have any questions about applying then have a look on our website. You can also get in touch with our advisers on Facebook or Twitter who’ll be happy to help.

Get the views of conservatoire applicant Charlotte, who has been sharing her experience in her blog.

Apply 2016 - how to apply...

Apply 2016 is now up and running so you can start filling in your application, ready to send it on its way to the universities in September. Even though your application deadline may seem ages away, it’s worth registering as early as possible to save any last minute dramas down the line. If you’re unsure where you want to go or what you want to study, you don’t need to select your universities or courses just yet. However, you can start by filling in the other sections so you’re ahead of the game. So where do you begin?

Getting started
The basics come first; with questions based around your personal details so they should be straight-forward enough to answer. If you come across any questions that aren't clear, click on the red question mark which explains what you need to include. Check out our handy how-to video for a more in depth view in to the application.

Education
This section’s where you need to add any schools or colleges you’ve attended from around the age of 13 onwards, along with the qualifications you’ve taken. It’s worth having your certificates to hand as they’ll be useful if you’re unsure of any of the details, such as your awarding bodies. There’s quite a lot of info you need to add here so we’ve created this video to help you.

Personal statement
This is your opportunity to shout about your strengths, talk about your interests and expand on why you want to go to university and study your chosen course. On a practical note, it’s best to create a draft of your personal statement in a Word document first then copy it over once you’re happy with it. It’s a good idea to ask a family member, teacher or friend to have a look over it before you add it to your application. A second pair of eyes will pick out any errors you might’ve made or remind you of some important information you’ve missed off. Reading it aloud a couple of times is a good way to check that what you’ve written flows correctly.

Reference
You need a reference before your application can be sent. This should be from a current or previous teacher but can come from someone who knows you in a professional capacity, such as an employer. Your referee can’t be a family member or friend.

There are a couple of ways to get a reference – read on to see which is the right way for you.

i) If you’re applying through your school or college: 

When you register, you’ll be asked to enter a buzzword if you select that you’ll be applying through your school or college. This will link your application to your school or college so your teacher can write your reference. They’ll also be able to look over your application and help you along the way, and when the time comes, they’ll send it to us on your behalf.

ii) If you’re applying independently: 

There are a couple of ways to get a reference if you’re applying independently. If your previous school or college is happy to complete a reference then in the ‘Options’ section you can select ‘ask a registered school, college or centre to write a reference only.’ This route needs a buzzword from the school or college so you’d have to discuss this with them.

Alternatively, you can enter your referee’s contact details in the reference section and we’ll send them an email with instructions on what to do.

If you’re opting for this route, make sure you speak to your referee first and ask if they’ll be able to provide you with a reference before you send them a request. Once they've completed it you’ll be sent an email and the reference section will be marked with a red tick.

Good luck with your application!

If you have any questions about applying then have a look on our website. You can also get in touch with our advisers on Facebook or Twitter and they’ll do their best to help.