Inchwise Education · Research
Guides and Writing
Admissions guides to the four UK conservatoires and the four English specialist music schools, in English and Chinese, with every figure sourced and dated. Plus two continuing columns — one on music education and educational mobility, one on the British classroom from inside it.
Applying to a UK conservatoire
Undergraduate entry at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School and the Royal Northern College of Music: audition requirements and repertoire, overseas audition centres in mainland China and Hong Kong, English language requirements, application fees, international tuition for 2027–28, and which scholarships an overseas audition forfeits.
Royal College of Music
Auditions in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong; scholarships assessed automatically at audition; IELTS 5.5 at undergraduate level. The ABRSM award — full tuition plus £5,000 a year — requires auditioning in London, so an overseas centre forfeits it.
Royal Academy of Music
Entry requirements, audition repertoire and the funding routes open to an international undergraduate, with the figures published for 2026–27.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
What the Barbican conservatoire asks for at audition, how its overseas centres work, and what it costs.
Royal Northern College of Music
The widest mainland China audition coverage of the four — Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai and Shenzhen, plus Hong Kong — and the lowest application fee, at £114.50.
Applying to a specialist music school
England has four specialist music schools taking pupils from primary age: the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School, Chetham’s School of Music and Wells Cathedral School. Each guide covers audition requirements, fees, what the government’s Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) bursary covers, boarding, and what an international family has to arrange.
The Yehudi Menuhin School
Entry from age 8 to 19, about 90 pupils in total. Audition requirements, what the Music and Dance Scheme covers, and boarding.
The Purcell School
Entry ages 11 to 18 in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Audition, academic provision alongside the instrument, and fees.
Chetham's School of Music
The largest of the four, in Manchester, with entry from Year 9. Audition, fees and finance.
Wells Cathedral School
Specialist music places from 8 to 18 inside a full cathedral school in Somerset.
Dr Xiaoyun Peng · 彭曉芸專欄
Music education pathways, educational mobility, attention and screens, bilingual children, and philosophy in the age of AI. Written in Chinese, with an English abstract on each piece. Read the column.
Dr Zhihao Yan · 顏志豪專欄
The English classroom reported from inside it: philosophy for children, special educational needs, school trips, teacher training and what a British primary day actually looks like. Written in Chinese, with an English abstract on each piece. Read the column.
Published record
Press coverage, bylined articles, books and academic invitations for both directors, 2007–2026, with dates and links — In the Press.
Last updated: September 2026.