Application Requirement
Undergraduate Application Requirement
Age
For Undergraduate studies the LPMAM has a minimum entry age of 18 (as at 1st September immediately preceding enrolment).
Entrance Standards
The LPMAM will require evidence of professional performing potential in your principal study alongside sound general musicianship and a good aural response.
We do not consider it necessary to have taken any formal practical music examinations, preferring instead to focus on demonstrative ability, but as a guide to the technical standards we expect, you should consult the syllabuses for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) examinations at Grade 8 and DipABRSM level or Trinity/Guildhall examinations at Grade 8 and Associate Diploma (ATCL) level.
If your principal study is not a keyboard instrument, there is no formal minimum entry standard in keyboard skills expected at the audition, but ABRSM Grade 5 minimum (or equivalent) in piano is desirable for you to fully participate in the course and to enable you to improve your general musicianship.
Matriculation requirements
Prior to entry on to the LPMAM Undergraduate programme you have to have gained relevant academic qualifications as follows:
– English & Welsh Applicants: two passes at GCE Advanced-level (A2) or Pre-U certificate examinations, including Music. A pass at ‘AS’ level counts as half an A-level.
– Scottish Applicants: B grade and at least four C-grade passes in Scottish Higher, including Music. An A-C grade Advanced Higher qualification is considered to be equivalent to an A-level pass.
– Irish Applicants: B grade and at least four C-grade passes in the Senior Leaving Certificate (Higher Level).
Other qualifications which are accepted as equivalent to a Music A-level:
– A pass in ABRSM Grade 8 Theory plus a pass in ABRSM or Trinity/Guildhall Grade 8 Practical;
– BTEC (with three full units at Merit, or higher): a National Award in Music
Alternatively, the following will satisfy the application’s academic requirements:
– BTEC (with three full units at Merit, or higher): National Certificate or National Diploma
– ‘Access to Higher Education’ Diploma in Music
– International Baccalaureate: the Diploma, including music as a Group 6 subject
Entry to Year 2 or Year 3 of the Undergraduate Programme
For within the Undergraduate course the LPMAM will require satisfactory transcripts to show that you have passed Year 1 or Years 1 & 2 of a music degree at another institution. In addition, evidence will be needed that you have successfully covered the study areas which you would have to complete at the LPMAM to progress into Year 2 or into Year 3 (please see the progression requirements on our Undergraduate Courses page.).
For International Students
Academic Entrance Requirements
Prior to acceptance on to the Undergraduate Programme, you need to provide evidence that you have gained suitable academic qualifications.
A secondary school certificate of a sufficiently high level to permit university entry will generally be acceptable, however applications will be examined on an individual basis by the Admissions Board.
Please note these particular details for the following countries:
• China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan: Normally a High School certificate/diploma plus one year’s university-level study
• Russian Federation: Normally two years’ university-level study.
Confirming your qualifications
You should send photocopies of official transcripts or certificates to support your application. Please do not include original documentation. If we offer you a place you will then need to supply original documentation to the Registry prior to enrolment.
English Requirements
If your first language is not English, you must supply evidence of your proficiency in English, from:
• GCSE English Language at Grade C or above
• International GCSE in English as a Second Language at grade C or above
• IELTS Test of the British Council at 6.0 or above with a minimum score of 6.0 in the Writing sub-test
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) at 550 or above with computer-based total of 213 or above
• UCLES Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) at grade C or above
INTO English Language Programmes
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, INTO City University London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this programme.
Postgraduate Application Requirement
Age
For Postgraduate studies the LPMAM has a minimum entry age of 21 (as at 1st September immediately preceding enrolment).
Entrance Standards: Performance level
The LPMAM request a performance standard that is at least equivalent to that of a recognised music diploma in your Principal Study.
Academic Qualifications
You should normally be completing (or have completed) an undergraduate programme of musical study at the time of application.
Academic Qualifications: PGDip and MMDip
In order to apply and enrol for the PGDip and MMDip you must have received a good Honours Bachelor degree (normally in Music: Level 6 in the UK’s National Qualification Framework). Alternatively, an international qualification of an equivalent standard (for example, 1st Cycle in the Bergen Declaration of the Bologna Process) from a university or educational institution of university rank is required.
The LPMAM will consider candidates whose qualifications are of lower standard if there is evidence of an adequate academic background alongside experience in a relevant field.
We are pleased to be able to consider a wide variety of international qualifications for entry to our graduate programmes. The following equivalencies are used for students studying under the US/Canadian grade point average (GPA) marking scheme:
First-class Honours: GPA 3.6/4.0
Upper second-class Honours: GPA 3.3/4.0
Lower second-class Honours: GPA 3.0/4.0
In conjunction with the attained grades, we will also consider the type and length of the degree programme you have studied as well as the institution where this learning took place.
Academic qualifications: Advanced Research Programme
In order to enrol on the Advanced Research Diploma programme, you must have been awarded an upper second class Honours Bachelor degree, and preference is given to those with an additional Masters degree.
If you have any queries regarding the suitability of your qualifications prior to making an application, please contact our Admissions Officer at registry@lpmam.com. If you require more specific advice, the National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) can also assist – call +44 (0)870 990 4088 or e-mail info@naric.org.uk.
Academy qualification: Advanced Diploma in Performance (Opera)
Applicants to this programme will be assessed strictly on merit. Applicants will need to demonstrate at both the Audition and interview that they will be able to meet, or exceed, on an on-going basis the standards required to participate fully in LPMAM Opera productions and scenes. Candidates will need to demonstrate that they will be able to acquire the depth of knowledge and understanding, skills and experience demanded through participation in LPMAM Opera’s artistic and educational projects. Successful applicants will normally have a Master’s qualification or equivalent (in a relevant subject). However, we will consider on a merit-basis applications from students who may not meet the normal requirements.
For applicants whose first language is not English the normal language requirement is IELTS 7.0/Pearson 70 (Academic Test).
Applicants whose qualifications and/or English language qualifications do not meet the expected requirements will be given additional interviews following their entrance audition to determine their suitability for study at this level. If deemed appropriate, the interviews will include an APEL process. Additional interviews will be conducted by one of the postgraduate tutors and/or an APEL panel consisting of the Head of Programme and Deputy Principal (Programmes and Research).
MMDip written requirements
For those applying for the MMDip, it is a requirement to include two pieces of academic written work on musical subjects. Each piece should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length – if you wish to use a sample from a longer piece of work please choose an extract. You must also include a Concert Proposal or a Research Project Proposal (see below).
You must write in English including when English is not your first language. We cannot accept translations.
In choosing which work to submit please consider samples that are representative of you and your interests. The two pieces should ideally show contrasting elements of your skills: for example one could demonstrate detailed research into a particular area, and another could reveal your own individual response to issues. In both the interview and the written work we will be considering your responsiveness, adaptability and creativity as well as critical engagement. In addition we are looking for maturity in your musical development and interests as well as basic research techniques and extended writing skills.
The primary method of assessment rests on your performance at the entrance audition. All MMDip candidates are automatically considered for PGDip, so if you are also interested in PGDip study you should only apply for MMDip because you will only be considered for one audition applicable to both courses of study.
If you do not submit written work, or if the assessment at your entrance audition interview is that your submitted work is not strong enough for MMDip entry, or if you decide you only wish to pursue PGDip studies, your application will be transferred to the PGDip programme.
Your written work should be sent to the LPMAM Registry office to arrive by 31st January 2024.
When applying for the Concert Project MMDip, in addition to the two pieces of written work, you should include a Concert Proposal. This should describe both your plans and aims for a potential Concert Project. It should address the following questions:
1. What repertoire do you plan to work on?
2. Why do you consider this repertoire interesting?
3. Why is it important to you?
4. How do you consider that you will be able to continue exploring this repertoire?
5. What do you propose for how to present this repertoire in concert, including: programme design; venue; collaborators.
When applying for the Performance and Research MMDip, in addition to the two pieces of written work you should include a Research Project Proposal. The Proposal should address the following questions:
1. What subject area (e.g. repertoire, perspective) do you wish to explore?
2. How does this subject relate to your personal performance interests?
3. How does your proposed subject relate to work already published in this area? (please provide specific examples)
4. What structure do you envisage for your project?
At the application stage, the proposal is considered as a way for us to determine your suitability to undertake an extended dissertation. If you are successful, it won’t be necessary for you to rigidly stick to your proposal as we understand that as a project develops it adapts and changes from the original brief.
If you are applying for Composition MMDip, please see the Composition Department page. If you do not submit written work, or if the assessment at your entrance audition interview is that the work is not strong enough for MMus entry, we will not be able to offer you a place.