Academic Entry Criteria

Subject requirements

BMus Music; BA Production Arts; BA Digital Design & Production; BA Acting: We do not have subject requirements for entry to these courses. We will accept any subjects from suitable qualifications and with the required grades (see 'Grade requirements' below). 

BA Performance Design: For applicants to BA Performance Design our academic requirements of two A Levels or equivalent (see 'Grade requirements' below) must include at least one A-level, or the national (for example BTEC, Foundation Diploma) or international equivalent, in an arts and design subject. 

Suitable subjects could include but are not limited to Art and Design (including any of Fine Art, Graphics, Textiles, 3D Design or Photography pathways), Drama and Theatre or Graphic Communication. 

However, we recognise that students will arrive at BA Performance Design with a range of subject backgrounds. As such, we will consider a range of subjects as part of our assessment for entry, along with the interview and portfolio review. 

Grade requirements

By the first day of the programme all applicants should be able to provide documentary evidence to confirm passes in one of the following requirements (combinations of qualification types are also acceptable):

Please contact registry@gsmd.ac.uk if your qualification is not listed. Other qualifications may be considered.

Applicants from overseas can also refer to the International Admissions page for more information on life at the School.

Prior to interview, BA Production Arts, BA Digital Design & Production and BA Performance Design applicants are additionally required to have achieved a Grade B/Grade 5 or above in GCSE English Language, English, English Language and Literature or English Literature. Applicants without this qualification will be asked to complete a written submission which will be discussed on the day of interview. Applicants will then be required to submit their completed work within a week of the interview date.

Please note that graded music and drama examinations are not accepted as equivalent qualifications.

In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the approval of the relevant Programme Board, candidates whose abilities match the standards required for entry to a programme (including advanced standing) but who do not meet the standard entry requirements may still be considered. These applicants would be expected to provide alternative evidence of their ability to benefit from the programme including an additional written test.

Guildhall Artist Masters (Performance & Composition)

Applicants should normally have obtained an Undergraduate degree with Honours, or an international equivalent. Applicants without these qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their prior academic and professional experience.

MA Music Therapy

Applicants should normally have obtained an undergraduate degree with Honours in Music, or international equivalent, as a result of completing a minimum of three years in a music college or university music department. However, graduates in a different discipline or professional musicians of some years’ standing may be accepted, provided they demonstrate appropriate musicianship skills at audition. The School has trained students from a range of backgrounds including medicine, nursing, social work, neurobiology, languages, education and psychology.

MA Opera-Making & Writing

-    Composition Pathway
Applicants should normally have obtained an upper second class honours undergraduate degree in music with a composition specialism, or international equivalent. However, graduates in a different discipline will be considered provided the quality of their composition is equivalent to the expected academic standards for this FHEQ level 7 programme.

-    Writing Pathway
Applicants should normally have obtained an upper second class honours undergraduate degree in an arts subject, or international equivalent. However, graduates in a different discipline will be considered provided the quality of their writing portfolio is equivalent to the expected academic standards for this FHEQ level 7 programme.

Artist Diploma

Applicants should normally have obtained a two-year full-time Masters of Music Degree or international equivalent. This programme is for advanced students with exceptional individual aptitude and represents academic progression for Masters students, providing specialist, professional training.

MA Collaborative Performance Making

Applicants should normally have obtained an upper second class undergraduate degree with Honours (or international equivalent).

Applicants for a Music doctorate should normally have obtained an MMus or equivalent Master’s degree in addition to a BA (Hons) degree in music (upper 2nd or 1st class). Applicants without these qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their prior academic and professional experience.  Composers and performers are expected to be at an advanced stage of creative practice at the point of application.

Applicants for the Drama doctorate should normally have obtained a Master’s degree relating to theatre or a Master’s degree in any subject and evidence of relevant professional theatre activity. Applicants without these qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their prior academic and professional experience.

Applicants for the Music Therapy doctorate are expected to have significant previous engagement with music at master’s-level or equivalent professional experience.  In addition, if the research proposal includes delivering music therapy clinical work as part of the PhD, the candidate should be fully qualified and registered by the HCPC.  If the research proposal relates to music therapy practices but does not involve delivering clinical work, then the candidate must have a master-level Music Therapy qualification.

Applicants for all other doctorates should normally have obtained a Master’s degree in a relevant subject in addition to a Bachelor’s honours degree. Applicants without these qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their prior academic and professional experience.

Applicants for the PGCert Performance Teaching should normally have obtained an undergraduate degree in music, acting, dance or production arts or equivalent qualification. If you have a degree in a different subject then appropriate professional experience in music, acting, dance or production arts may suffice. Please submit a professional CV in that case. An applicant without an undergraduate degree may be eligible for non-standard entry and will be required to supply additional documentation, for example a professional CV and an academic essay. We strongly encourage applicants to offer at least one reference from a line manager in their current or most recent role.

There are two pathways: PGCert and PGCert (HE). If you already have appropriate experience of teaching at HE level you may have the option of taking the PGCert (HE) pathway which will lead to additional professional recognition – Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. In order to be eligible for the PGCert (HE) pathway, you need to be able to draw on at least 50-60 hours of authentic HE Learning & Teaching practice whilst doing the course.

MA Music Therapy applicants must receive a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (previously CRB) must be received by the start of the programme. More information on the DBS checks can be found on the Gov.uk website.

As secondary school leaving qualifications vary from state to state in Australia, it will depend on which state you have completed your qualification in. Please contact the registry team with your australian qualification type and the Admissions team will be able to help you further. 

Reifeprüfung/Matura

Дыплом аб сярэдняй спецыяльнай адукацыi [Diploma of Specialised Secondary Education]

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs
• Brevet van de Aanvullende Secundaire Beroepsschool
• Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Certificado de Conclusao de Ensino Medio [Certificate of Completion of High School]
• Certificado de Conclusao de Segundo Grau [Certificate of Second Degree Completion]

• Диплома за Cредно Oбразование [Diploma of Completed Secondary Education]

We realise the above qualification is no longer awarded therefore, if you are an applicant with Bulgarian qualifications, please contact the Registry team at registry@gsmd.ac.uk 

Any one of the following qualifications:

• General High School Diploma
• Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma
• High School Graduation Diploma
• Diplôme d'Études Collégiales (DEC)

If you have a Province-specific qualification that is not listed above, please conact the Registry Admissions team for further information at registry@gsmd.ac.uk 

高考  [Chinese University//College Entrance Examination (Gaokao)]

Upper Secondary School (Lykeio) Leaving Certificate (Apolytirio)

Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce [Secondary School Leaving Certificate]

You should send us your qualification results by uploading them to your eGo application portal. If for any reason that is not possible, you can instead send them as an attachment by email to your Admissions Coordinator.

If you are completing A Levels and/or BTECs in the summer directly before your course starts you should provide your results slip to your Admissions Coordinator as soon as your receive them.* If you completed them anytime before then you should provide your certificates instead.

* Please note that we will not be able to accept results slips that only provide details of provisional results. 

If you are completing the International Baccalaureate you should refer your results to us electronically through the IB Organisation using our institution code 003380.  Please include your Guildhall student number when you refer your results to us. 

Please also email your Admissions Coordinators to tell them you have done this. 

We can accept a range of evidence showing you have met the academic entry criteria in your offer including:

• A scan of your qualification certificate and/or transcript printed on official qualification paper
• A scan of a letter printed on official school, university or other institution letter headed paper
• Documents verified through official online verification services (where available), e.g. CISCE, official university verification systems etc.,

All documents should confirm your personal details, the name of the qualification, the grade(s) you achieved and the date the qualification was awarded. If you have been awarded your qualification but have not been given your final certificate or transcript and will not receive these before enrolment, you should ask your university or institution to send an email from an official domain name to your Admissions Coordinator. In the email they should provide your name, the qualification you took and the grade(s) you achieved.

If your qualification documents are not in English, you must provide the original as well as an English translation that has been issued by a certified translator. The certified translation must be signed and/or stamped by the certified translator.