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):

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.

Master of Music (MMus), Master of Performance (MPerf) and Master of Composition (MComp)

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.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Senior Secondary School Certificate
• Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) 

As qualifications awarded at Secondary School level in Australia vary from state to state, please do contact us if you have another qualification not listed here, that you feel could meet the entry requirements for our undergraduate programmes: registry@gsmd.ac.uk 

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade:

• Bachelor degree
• Bachelor (Honours) degree
• Master's degree

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Reifeprüfung/Matura
• Reife- und Diplomprüfung/Matura
• Abschlussprüfungszeugnis (when studied for between 3-5 years)
• Berufsreifeprüfung/TVE-Diploma
• Studienberechtigungsprüfung.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade:

• Bachelor degree
• Diplomstudium/Magister
• Master's degree

Undergraduate

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

Postgraduate

• Bakdegreealavr [Bachelor’s degree] with a minimum passing grade.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs
• Brevet van de Aanvullende Secundaire Beroepsschool
• Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur
• Abschlusszeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts.

Postgraduate 

• Licence/Licentiaat/Bachelor or equivalent with 60%+ grade.

Undergraduate

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]
• Título de Auxiliar Técnico
• Título de Técnico (Ensino Médio)
• Título de Técnico

Postgraduate

• Título de Bacharel / Título de [subject area]
• Título de Mestre

Undergraduate

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

We can accept this qualification as long as it has been awarded by a general High School or a Vocational High School. 

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie [Diploma of Completed Higher Education]
• Bachelor’s degree with passing grade or above (3+).

Undergraduate

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 

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a GPA of 2.5 or above:

• Bachelor (Honours) degree
• Bachelor degree 
• Baccalauréat or Bachelier degree

Undergraduate 

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

Postgraduate

Any one of the following degrees with an overall grade of 60% or above:

• 学士学位 [Bachelor's degree] - studied for at least 4 years
• 硕士学位 [Master's degree]

Please note that you will need to provide your Bachelor's or Master's Degree Certificate as well as the Certificate of Graduation to prove you have obtained this qualification. 

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Apolytírio Lykeíou [Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate]
• Apolytírio Technikís Scholís [Upper Secondary Vocational School Leaving Certificate]
• Pistopoiitikó [Certificate] (when awarded by a recognised institution of tertiary education)

Postgraduate

• πτυχίο [Bachelor degree] - with a pass grade of 5 or above. Must be awarded in 2001 or later. 

Undergraduate

• Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce/Maturita [Secondary School Leaving Certificate]

Postgraduate

• Bakalář [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of 3 or above.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following:

• Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen/Bevis for HF-Eksamen (HF) [Higher Preparatory Examination Certificate]
• Bevis for Almen Studentereksamen (STX) [Higher General Examination Certificate]

Postgraduate

Any one of the following:

• Candidatus Philosophiae 
• Bacheloruddannelsen [Bachelor's degree]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus [Secondary School Leaving Certificate]
• Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus [Secondary School Leaving Certificate with the State Examination Certificate]
• Keskkooli lõputunnistus [Secondary School Leaving Certificate]

Postgraduate

Any one of the following:

• Bakalaurusekraad [Bachelor degree]
• Rakenduskõrgharidusõppe Diplom [Professional Higher Education Diploma]
• Diplomeeritud spetsialisti ülikoolidiplom / Kraadita Diploma [University Specialist’s Diploma]

Undergraduate

• Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen [Matriculation Examination] - with an average passing grade of 3 or above.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following:

• Kandidaatti/Kandidat [University Bachelor degree /Lower Academic Degree] - when awarded from 2005 and later. 
• [Professional Title] (AMK/YH) [Bachelor degree from a University of Applied Sciences].

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 10 or above:

• Baccalauréat
• Diplôme du baccalauréat général
• Diplôme du baccalauréat général (baccalauréat français international) (BFI) – awarded from 2024
• Diplôme d’accès aux études universitaires (DAEU)

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 10 or above:

• Grade de licence
• Maîtrise (Master 1)
• Diplôme d'ingénieur 

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of at least 4:

• Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife /Abitur
• Fachgebundene Hochschulreife / Fachhochschulreife

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 4 or below:

• Magister Artum / Diplom
• Bachelor’s degree

Undergraduate

• ΑΠΟΛΥΤΗΡΙΟ ΓΕΝΙΚΟΥ ΛΥΚΕΙΟΥ Apolytírio Genekou Lykeíou [Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate] - with an average passing grade of 9.5 or above.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following:

• ΠΤΥΧΙΟ / ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟΥ [University Degree/Diploma] - with a minimum passing grade of 5 or above.
• ΠΤΥΧΙΟ AEA [Degree/Diploma from an AEA].

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• 香港中學文憑  [Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, HKDSE] - with passing grade of 3, 3, 3, 3 or above.
• 香港高級程度會考-高級程度 [Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)] - Advanced Level, minimum 3 passes.
• Diploma in General Studies/Pre-Associate Degree.
• Foundation Diploma.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following:

• 學士學位 (榮譽) [Bachelor's degree (Hons)]
• 碩士學位 [Master's degree] - with a GPA of D (1.3) or above.

Undergraduate 

• Érettségi Bizonyítvány/Matura [Secondary Education Graduation Certificate] - with a passing grade of 2 or above.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 3 (out of 5) or above:

• Alapfokozat [Bachelor degree]
• Egyetemi Oklevél [University Diploma]

Undergraduate

• Stúdentspróf [Matriculation Certificate] - with a passing grade of 5 or above.

Postgraduate

• Baccalaureus or Bakkalárpróf [Bachelor's degree] - with a passing grade of 6.00 or above.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Ijazah - Skolah Menengah Kejuruan/Madrasah Aliyah Kejuruan (SMK/MAK) [Diploma - General/Islamic Vocational Secondary School] (when studied for between 3-5 years)
• Diploma I - (D1) also known as Ahil Pratama (A.P.)

Postgraduate

• Sarjana (S1) [Bachelor's degree]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Leaving Cert Applied
• Leaving Certificate with Higher Levels
• National Certificate
• Level 5 Certificate
• Level 6 Advanced Certificate
• One-Year Certificate (when awarded by the NCEA or the HETAC)

Postgraduate

• Honours Bachelor's degree

Undergraduate

• דועת תורגב [Matriculation Certificate/Te'udat Bagrut/Bagrut] - with at least a passing grade of 45 or above in at least 3 subjects.

Postgraduate

• תואר ראשון [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of 60% or above.

Undergraduate

• Diploma de Esame di Stato [DIPLOMA] - with a passing grade of 60 or above.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 100 or above:

• Laurea
• Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti
• Diploma di Mediatore Linguistic
• Diploma accademico di primo livello.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• 高等學校畢業證書 [Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate]
• 高等学校卒業程度認定試験 [Upper Secondary School Equivalency Examination]

Postgraduate

• 学士 [Bachelor degree] - with a GPA of C or above.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 5 or above:

• Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību [Certificate of General Secondary Education]
• Diploms par profesionālo vidējo izglītību (level III) [Diploma of Secondary Professional Education]

Postgraduate

• Bakalaura Diploms [Bachelor’s degree]
• Magistra Diploms [Master’s degree]

Undergraduate

• Brandos Atestatas [Secondary School Leaving Certificate] - with a passing grade of 6 or above.

Postgraduate

• Bakalauro Diplomas [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of 6 or above (10-point scale) or 3 or above (5-point scale)
• Magistro Diplomas [Master degree]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 6 and above or, 60% and above:

• Bachillerato Tecnológico/Bachillerato Técnico/Bachiller Tecnológico/Bachiller técnico
• Titulo de Técnico

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 7 and above or, 70% and above:

• Título de Licenciado 
• Título (Profesional)
• Título de Especialista

Undergraduate

• Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) [Gymnasium A/B and Atheneum A/B Diploma] - with a passing grade of 6 or above.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 6 or above:

• Bachelor degree
• Doctoraal
• Hoger Beroepsonderwijs (HBO)

Undergraduate

• National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 with NZ University Entrance

Postgraduate

• Bachelor (Honours) degree

Undergraduate

• Vitnemål for videregående opplæring [Leaving Certificate from Upper Secondary School – general study and vocational streams] - with passing grades of 3 or above. 

Postgraduate 

• Bachelorgrad (Bachelor’s degree) - with a passing grade of C or above.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 30% or above:

• Świadectwo Dojrzałości [Certificate of Maturity]
• Świadectwo Ukończenia Szkoły Policealnej [Certificate of Completion from a post-secondary school]

Postgraduate

• Licencjat / Inżynier [Bachelor/Engineer degree] when awarded from 2001 and later - with a passing grade of 3 or above. 
• Magister / Magister Inżynier [Master/ Master of Engineering degree]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 10 or above:

• Diploma Nível Secundário de Educação / Certificado Nível Secundário de Educação
• Nível 4 Qualificação do Quadro Nacional de Qualificações [Combined academic and professional programme – from 2010].

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 10 or above:

• Licenciado
• Mestrado Integrado [Intergrated Master's]
• Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE)

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 6 or above:

• Diplomă de Bacalaureat [Baccalaureate Diploma]
• Certificat de Competenţe Profesionale (de la Liceu/Colegiu) [Professional Competence Certificate – from a high school/college]

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 6 or above:

• Diplomă de Licenţă [Bachelor degree]
• Diplomă de Inginer [Engineer diploma]

Undergraduate

• Свмдетельство о результатах ЕГЭ (единого государственного экзамена) [Certificate of Unified State Examination] - with a passing grade of 3 or above. 

Postgraduate 

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 3 or above (5-point scale) or, 50 or above (100-point scale):

• Диплом специалиста [Specialist Diploma] 

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma from a Technical College/Vocational Institute
• Diploma from a Health College/Institute

Postgraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor degree 
• Master's degree

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 2 or above (5-point scale):

• Диплома о положеном завршном испиту/Diploma o položenom završnom ispitu [Diploma of Completed Final Examination – 4 years study]
• Диплома о положеном матурском испиту/Diploma o položenom maturskom ispitu [Diploma of Completed Graduation Examinations]
• Диплома о стеченом среднем образованиy/Diploma o stečenom srednem obrazovanju [Diploma of Completed Secondary Education - 4 years study].

Postgraduate

• Дипломирани/Diplomirani [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of 6 or above.

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications:

• NUS High School Diploma
• Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
• Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher NITEC)
• Polytechnic Certificate
• Polytechnic Diploma (part-time)

Postgraduate

• Bachelor (Honours) degree
• Graduate Diploma
• Master's degree

Undergraduate 

• Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške/Maturita [Secondary School Leaving Certificate – from a general upper secondary school] - with a passing grade of at least 4.

Postgraduate  

• Bakalár [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of D or better.
• Magister [Master’s degree] when awarded after 2002. 

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of C or better:

• 고등학교 졸업증명서 / 고등학교 졸업장 [High School Diploma/High School Certificate of Graduation]
• 고등학교 졸업학력 검정고시 [High School Graduation Equivalency Examination]

Postgraduate

• 학사 [Bachelor degree] - with a passing grade of 65% or above (100-point scale) or, D+ or better or, 1.5 or above (5-point scale).

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 5 or above:

• Título de Bachiller
• Título de Técnico en [subject area]
• Título Profesional de [Arts subject]

Postgraduate 

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing grade of 5 or above:

• Título Superior de [Arts subject]
• Título Universitario Oficial de Graduado en [subject area] (Grado)
• Título Universitario Oficial de Licenciado en [subject area] (Licenciatura)
• Título Universitario Oficial de Máster (Máster Universitario)
• Título de Máster de [Arts subject]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following with passing grades:

• Högskoleförberedande Examen [Higher Education Preparatory Diploma – awarded 2014 onwards]
• Avgångsbetyg/Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola [Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate - awarded up to 2013]

Postgraduate 

Any one of the following with passing grades:

• Bachelor degree / Kandidatexamen 
• Yrkesexamen [Professional Bachelor degree]
• Magisterexamen [Master's degree]

Undergraduate

Any one of the following qualifications with a passing mark of 4 or above (6-point scale):

• Maturitätsausweis/Eidgenössisch anerkanntes kantonales Maturitätszeugnis (German Speaking)
• Attestato di Maturità/Attestato di Maturità Cantonale riconosciuto dalla Confederazione (Italian Speaking)
• Certificat de Maturité/Certificat de Maturité Cantonal reconnu par la Confédération (French Speaking)

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing mark of 4 or above (6-point scale):

• Bachelor degree
• Diplom/Diplôme/Diploma
• Lizentiat/Licence/Licenza 
• Master's degree

Undergraduate 

Any one of the following qualifications with (at least) the minimum passing grade:

• Атестат про повну загальну середню освіту [Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education]
• сертифікат зовнішнього незалежного оцінювання (3HO) [Certificate of Independent External Examination] (should be presented with the above qualification). 
• Національний мультипредметний тест (HMT) [National Multisubject Test] - introduced from 2022 onwards and should be presented with the Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education.

Postgraduate

Any one of the following with a passing grade of 60% or above:

• Диплом бакалавра [Bachelor degree]
• Диплом спеціаліста [Specialist Diploma]
• Диплом магістрa [Master's degree]

Undergraduate

• High School Diploma (minimum GPA of 2.5) 

AND

One of the following: 

• SAT I (minimum balanced score of 1000); OR
• ACT (composite score of 21 or above); OR
• 2 Advanced Placement (AP) exams at grade 2 or above.

Postgraduate 

Any one of the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor degree (when studied for 4 years at least) - with a GPA of a minimum of 2.0 or better
• Master's degree 

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.