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CONTENTS

1. What are specialist colleges and conservatoires?

2. What are the benefits of studying at a specialist college or conservatoire?

3. Are there any negatives to studying at a specialist college or conservatoire?

4. How do you know where would be best for you to study?

5. Are interviews different for specialist colleges and conservatoires?

6. Do you get career support from specialist colleges and conservatoires?

7. Who are the specialist colleges and conservatoires in the arts league table?

What are specialist colleges and conservatoires?

Specialist colleges and conservatoires offer students exclusive education in art, drama and music. They offer a more tailored approach to meet the specific needs of performing and creative arts students.

Conservatoires and specialist colleges may expect you to be in college from 9am to 5pm during the week. You may also have performances or workshops in the evening and at weekends, or exhibitions in the case of art schools. Students are also expected to put in plenty of practice time.

What are the benefits of studying at a specialist college or conservatoire?

Specialist colleges or conservatoires offer several benefits including:

• Focused curriculum: a more in-depth curriculum with scope to tailor it to individual interests and needs
• A range of expertise: staff are often experienced professionals and offer considerable knowledge and experience to help you achieve your potential
• Resources: access to state-of-the-art equipment, studio spaces and materials, so you can hone your craft
• Networking: building connections with other students, tutors and industry professionals. This can help with future collaborations and projects

Are there any negatives to studying at a specialist college or conservatoire?

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

• Cost: it can be more expensive to study at a specialist institution than a general university
• Competition: you鈥檒l be up against stiff competition from other talented people
• 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鈥檒l need to explore other qualifications

How do you know where would be best for you to study?

There are pros and cons to studying at a specialist college or conservatoire.

It may be a great option if you are certain you want to specialise in a particular field and are determined to succeed. A focused group of fellow students may help inspire your creativity.

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.

Are interviews different for specialist colleges and conservatoires?

You鈥檒l 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.

Do you get career support from specialist colleges and conservatoires?

Yes. You will have opportunities to practise for auditions and interviews and access careers advice.

Look out for work experience opportunities during your studies. Take any chance to attend networking events, masterclasses and workshops to build up your CV and contacts.

Who are the specialist colleges and conservatoires in the arts league table?

Below we give a rundown of the institutions featured in our Arts, Drama & Music League table.

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Based in the heart of London, Guildhall offers training in music, drama and production arts. It takes the top spot in our arts league tables in 2025.

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Also in London, this school provides courses in a complete range of performing and dramatic arts disciplines. It comes second in the 2025 arts league table.

Royal Academy of Music

A creative space for musicians to connect, collaborate and create. It remains steady at third place in the 2025 arts rankings.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

This Glasgow-based multidisciplinary conservatoire offers specialised teaching across music, drama, dance, production, film, and education. It is ranked fourth in our arts league table.

Royal College of Music

Based in Kensington, London, RCM supports students as individual artists, encouraging musical experimentation and collaboration. It takes fifth place in our arts league this year.

Royal Northern College of Music

Set in Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music college offers professional musical training. It comes in at number six in our table for 2025.

Glasgow School of Art

An arts school developing creative approaches with new audiences, through studio-based learning and research. It ranks seventh in our league table.

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

In at eight is a London-based creative conservatoire that offers contemporary dance and dance science, as well as music programmes such as jazz and musical theatre.

Courtauld Institute of Art

Ranked ninth in 2025, the Courtauld is a small, friendly, specialist centre for the study of art history, conservation and curating.

Rose Bruford College

On the outskirts of London, Rose Bruford offers BA and MA/MFA degrees in performance, design, management and technical arts. It also runs shorter programmes and foundation courses.

Arts University Plymouth

Away from the hubub, in the south-west of England, is Arts University Plymouth. It prepares graduates to find creative solutions to the challenges posed by fast-changing technology or the climate emergency.

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

This institute offers performing and creative arts training for an international community. Creatives, performers, technicians and film-makers collabor together on productions and projects.