Fees and Bursaries

Principal study only (1 hour principal study, and core curriculum)

£1,086.00 per term

£3,258.00 per annum

Principal and second study (1 hour first study, 30 minutes second study, and core curriculum)

£1,407.00 per term

£4,221.00 per annum

£449.00 per term

£1,347.00 per annum

£399.00 per term

£1,197.00 per annum

An additional 15 minutes of individual lesson time may be available where appropriate, and this will incur an extra fee (£160.50 per term).

Primary Winds Programme (*30-minute shared lesson and woodwind workshop, including woodwind ensemble, musicianship games and activities)

• £338.00 per term
• £1,014.00 per annum

Individual lessons may be available for Tier 2 and 3 pupils where appropriate, and these incur an extra fee (£160.50 per term).

For the Primary Winds Programme, RBC has a small stock of beginner woodwind instruments which students may borrow free of charge, initially for one year. These instruments are available on a first-come first-served basis. Alternatively, there are a number of musical instrument hire purchase schemes available nationally. 

We also have a limited number of bursaries available for children from low-income families. These include:

• Five ringfenced Future Talent bursaries of £500 each for young woodwind players who have already passed Grade 1 or higher

• A small number of full or partial awards funded by the Decca Bursary (a restricted fund of Universal Music UK Sound Foundation: Charity Number: 1104027) for absolute beginners who wish to learn to play a woodwind instrument. To be considered, please tick the bursary box on the Junior RBC application form.

Closing date for applications for September 2025 entry: 31 July 2025. (Applications received after this date will be considered for September 2026 entry.)

For further details about the Primary Winds Programme, please contact Primary Winds Programme Leader - Dr Luan Shaw: luan.shaw@bcu.ac.uk

All applicants between the ages of 8-18 years old can apply for a bursary, though the awards are means-tested.

Eligibility is assessed at audition based on talent and potential.

Please apply by completing the application form listed on our How to Apply page.

Applications will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis. We encourage applications to be submitted by Friday 25 July 2025 for those wishing to start in September 2025, however applications after this point will still be considered.

If you indicate that you are interested in a bursary on your application form, we will send you a bursary application form to complete shortly after. You will also be invited to an audition at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and receive your decision after a successful audition.

After a successful audition and review of your financial circumstances, you will receive a decision on your place at Junior Conservatoire and whether you are successful in securing a scholarship.

There are 45 Music and Dance Scheme National Grants, 40 Leverhulme Trust Scholarships and further awards from the Wolfson Foundation.

Any bursary will be automatically deducted from your fees.

You can re-apply for a bursary each year at the Junior Conservatoire. Existing award holders are automatically sent application forms.

You might be eligible for an award from an external funder such as Future Talent or Young Sounds UK.

If you have any questions about our fees or bursaries, please contact the Junior Conservatoire office (Mia.Walters@bcu.ac.uk or 0121 331 5905).