Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (RSAMD) - In Depth

Founded: 1847. Site: Central Glasgow.

How to get there: Glasgow well connected to all regions of the UK by train (5 1/2 hours from London to Glasgow Central, under an hour from Edinburgh), by coach (8 1/2 hours from London to Buchanan Bus Station), by air (1 hour flight from London; Glasgow Airport 7 miles from centre or Prestwick Airport 22 miles) and by road (M8). Academy walking distance from Queen Street and Central stations and bus station.

Special features: Many top professional concert artists and theatre directors in recitals, productions and masterclasses.

Academic features: Degrees in acting, technical & production arts, contemporary theatre practice, Scottish music, music performance (BMus) and music education (BEd) and digital film and TV.

Awarding body: RSAMD.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEd, BMus.

Length of courses: 3 or 4 years.

Library & information services: 80,000 music volumes, 13,800 books, 7600 sound recordings, 60 study places, 14 listening booths, computer lab. Converged library and IT services. Annual expenditure on information provision, £62 per (FTE) student. Ratio workstations to students 1:23 (open 12 hours/day), 30 with access to library and Internet. IT support staff; tours of library and IT services for new students.

Other learning facilities: Concert hall (360 seats), theatre (340 seats); TV studio; recital room; broadcasting studio; electro-acoustic recording studio. Opera school, including large performance space, rehearsal rooms and coaching rooms.

Study abroad: Links and exchanges with colleges and conservatoires in Europe, Canada and America.

Careers: Information and advice.

Student advice & services: Counsellor and welfare adviser.

Accommodation: Some academy accommodation available; all first years housed. Advice and assistance in finding suitable privately owned accommodation: £68 per week for self-catering.

Living expenses budget: No Academy-recommended minimum.

Financial help: £22,700 government funds; £4000 mature student bursary, 110 students helped. Entrance scholarships of £94,000.32 students helped.

Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £9975 pa.