Specialist arts, drama, and music unis

CONTENTS

1. What is a conservatoire or performing arts college?

2. Is a conservatoire or performing arts college better than a university?

3. Are there any downsides to studying at a performing arts school or conservatoire?

4. What’s the application process?

5.  Top performing arts institutions in the 2027 rankings

6. Who are the specialist colleges and conservatoires in the Performing Arts league table?

What is a conservatoire or performing arts college?

Conservatoires and performing arts colleges offer specialist training in music, drama, or dance. Their primary focus is on performance, building practical skills and industry know-how, and developing your creative talents through hands-on training.

• ‘Conservatoire’ generally refers to institutions that specialise in music. The term originated from 16th-century training for musicians and composers. Today, many conservatoires cover a wider range of disciplines and may not even include the word ‘conservatoire’ in their name.
• Performing arts colleges or drama schools more often focus on contemporary music or acting, though the exact subjects offered vary by institution. Their focus is on developing students as performers and giving them the chance to hone their skills.

Conservatoires and performing arts colleges may require you to attend classes from 9am to 5pm during the week, with performances or workshops in the evening and at weekends. You are also expected to put in plenty of practice time.

While conservatoires and performing arts colleges suit many aspiring performers, they’re not the only route into the arts – and for some students, studying at a university may be a better fit.

Is a conservatoire or performing arts college better than a university?

If your passion is music or the performing arts, they offer several benefits, including:

• Creative education: the curriculum will seek to develop your individual talents, with scope to tailor it to your interests.
• Performance expertise: staff are often industry practitioners. They can offer expert knowledge and experience to help you achieve your potential.
• Performing arts facilities: from grand pianos to soundproof practice rooms, recording studios and 100+ seat venues. Resources at these institutions will get you used to professional equipment and venues and give you the chance to perform.
• Professional networks: you'll have opportunities to connect with industry professionals, which may help your career.

This route works best if you’re certain you want to specialise and are motivated by intensive, practical training alongside like-minded students.

Are there any downsides to studying at a performing arts school or conservatoire?

There are some differences to consider when choosing this option, including:

• Narrow focus: if you have a wide range of creative interests, you may find less scope to explore these.
• Limited career options: if you decide on a different career path once you graduate, you’ll need to explore other qualifications.
• High competition: to get a place you’ll be up against stiff competition from other talented people.
• Intense workload: practice, practice, practice… alongside academic work. This can sometimes lead to burnout, including physical issues (such as repetitive strain) or performance anxiety.
• Cost: it can be more expensive to study at a specialist institution than at a general university. Tuition fees may be capped for UK-resident undergraduates, but not for postgraduates or international students.

If you have a range of other interests or want to investigate a range of career paths, it might make sense to study at a university. Larger institutions may offer more in the way of extracurricular activities, and more scope if you want to change direction.

What’s the application process?

For some institutions, you may need to apply via UCAS Conservatoires. This is a separate application process from the normal undergraduate admissions managed by UCAS.

For others, you may need to apply directly to the institution via its own website.

You’ll usually need to attend an audition, interview, send a recording or show a portfolio, depending on your specialism.

Find out more by reading our guide to Performing Arts applications.

Top performing arts institutions in the 2027 rankings

How do you find the best conservatoire or performing arts college?

Choosing between a performing arts college or conservatoire can be challenging. Institutions vary widely in their focus and approach. Some build on long traditions of classical music training, while others are more contemporary or specialise in areas like dance, acting, or musical theatre. Our Performing Arts table helps by offering an evidence-based comparison. This allows you to compare different institutions on measures such as graduate destinations and student satisfaction.

But rankings are only part of the picture – the right choice will ultimately depend on personal fit, ambitions, and learning style. Visiting and experiencing an institution for yourself is an essential part of deciding where you’ll thrive.

Below we give a rundown of the institutions featured in our Performing Arts league table. Go to the Performing Arts Table 2027 to find out how they score for graduate prospects, student satisfaction and more.

To be included in our Performing Arts Table, institutions must meet specific data criteria. This includes having at least 50% of undergraduates studying the following subjects: cinematics and photography, performing arts, music, drama, and dance.

Many of these colleges and conservatoires also feature in individual subject tables.

• Drama, Dance & Cinematics
• Music

Also in the subject tables is the Northern School of Contemporary Dance – a new addition to the Dance, Drama & Cinematics ranking for 2027.

There are many other specialist colleges and conservatoires that don't meet the criteria to be included in our Performing Arts league table. In most cases, it will be because they don't have the data available for us to include them for comparison.

These include members of Conservatoires UK that are part of a larger university – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (part of Birmingham City University) and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (part of the University of South Wales). 

Who are the specialist colleges and conservatoires in the Performing Arts league table?

BIMM University

BIMM University delivers creative arts education in music, performing arts, filmmaking and creative technology, with campuses across England. Industry partnerships with organisations such as Sony Music and Spotify help students build professional skills and networks. Famous graduates include George Ezra, Tom Odell and Ella Mai.

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Based in London’s Barbican, Guildhall School of Music & Drama offers professional training for musicians, actors and production artists. It works closely with leading ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, and counts Michaela Coel among its alumni.

Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP)

ICMP specialises in contemporary music education, with courses in performance, songwriting, production and music business. Small class sizes, one-to-one tuition and strong industry links support students preparing for careers in modern music.

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

LAMDA is the UK’s oldest drama school, offering conservatoire training in acting, directing and production arts. Its West London campus features professional theatres and studios, and alumni include Benedict Cumberbatch and David Oyelowo.

Leeds Conservatoire

Leeds Conservatoire is the UK’s largest multidisciplinary conservatoire, offering courses across classical, jazz, popular music, acting and musical theatre. Based in Leeds’ cultural quarter, it was the first UK conservatoire to remove audition fees and works with partners such as Opera North.

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Founded by Sir Paul McCartney, LIPA offers degrees across acting, dance, music, filmmaking and technical arts. Students from over 40 countries collaborate on practical projects that reflect real-world creative industries.

Rose Bruford College

Rose Bruford College offers specialist training in acting, stage management, design and technical theatre. Located on the outskirts of London, it also runs foundation and postgraduate courses and has alumni including Gary Oldman.

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

RADA has delivered vocational training in the dramatic arts since 1904, preparing actors, designers and technical specialists for professional careers. Based in central London, its alumni include Cynthia Erivo and Taron Egerton.

Royal Academy of Music

Founded in 1822, the Royal Academy of Music is the UK’s oldest conservatoire. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide range of musical disciplines, with world-class facilities near Regent’s Park.

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Part of the University of London, Central offers hands-on courses in acting, musical theatre, design, production and writing. Its training emphasises collaboration and creative practice across the performing arts.

Royal College of Music

Located in Kensington, the Royal College of Music is one of the world’s leading conservatoires. It offers programmes in performance, composition and conducting, with frequent opportunities to perform in professional settings.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is Scotland's national conservatoire, providing specialist training in music, drama, dance, film and production. Based in Glasgow, it encourages creative collaboration and has alumni including Ncuti Gatwa.

Royal Northern College of Music

Based in Manchester, the RNCM offers expert training in classical and contemporary music. Students perform regularly in purpose-built venues and benefit from the city’s thriving music and arts scene.

Trinity Laban

Trinity Laban brings together contemporary dance, dance science and music at its London campuses. Purpose-built studios and theatres support collaborative, cross-disciplinary training for performers and composers.

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