Leeds Conservatoire

Leeds Conservatoire, which previously operated as Leeds College of Music, specialises in music and the performing arts from a base in central Leeds. Its story starts in 1965, when the Leeds Music Centre opened to run evening classes, and the institution has since developed into a complete conservatoire of roughly 1,500 students. The University of Hull has validated its undergraduate and postgraduate degrees since 2013. It is a member of the European Association of Conservatoires and of Conservatoires UK, and it is also part of the Berklee International Network.

Contemporary music has long been a particular strength. In 1993 the institution launched the first jazz degree in Europe, and no UK conservatoire offered a popular music degree before it did. Today the portfolio covers classical, jazz, folk and popular music, songwriting, film music and electronic music production, together with acting, musical theatre and actor musicianship, and a number of undergraduate courses offer the option of a foundation year. Quarry Hill is the principal site and includes the St Peter's Square building. It also holds All-Steinway School status, with Steinway instruments making up the great bulk of its pianos.

Information for International Students

Depending on the course chosen, international applicants use either UCAS Conservatoires or UCAS Undergraduate. The usual approach is to upload recorded audition or portfolio material, which the relevant department then assesses, although the conservatoire also auditions in person in certain countries, such as China and the USA. Auditions typically take place between October and April. Students requiring a Student visa must show IELTS 6.0 overall, with no component under 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. Those who fall slightly short can take a six- or twelve-week pre-sessional English course offered in partnership with Bayswater.

When the applicant has accepted an unconditional offer and paid the tuition deposit, the admissions team provides the CAS required for the visa, and applicants are encouraged to leave generous time for the paperwork this involves. The conservatoire's own residence, Joseph Stones House, sits above the St Peter's Square building and contains 152 en-suite rooms, while private halls and shared houses in the surrounding area offer further choice. Information on scholarships is available for international applicants, and wellbeing support is designed specifically around the needs of international students.