<p>I notice people have been inquiring about LIPA and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Does anyone have experience or information about the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff?</p>
<p>There is a website called The Student Room that is supposed to be like the CC of the UK. Maybe they could help.</p>
<p><a href="http://www..co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=113&%5B/url%5D">http://www..co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=113&</a></p>
<p>Looks like that site is blocked from CC…</p>
<p>Thanks, NJTheatremom! I did not know about this site (wonder why CC blocks it?!)</p>
<p>My daughter is at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (for Contemporary Performance Practice). Her Interlochen roommate from last year is at the Royal Welsh College (for acting) - apparently she is very happy. I am sure it is a fabulous experience.
By the way, I have checked out The Student Room and found lots of good stuff.</p>
<p>One definite aspect to many of the Royal conservatories in the UK is that they have very little academics. On the other hand, they provide a BA degree usually in 3 years instead of 4.</p>
<p>I guess the 3-year degree is a plus and a minus. College goes by so quickly that 3 years does not seem long enough. But three years of tuition is cheaper than 4…</p>
<p>BA programs in the UK last three years–that is “normal” in the UK for any subject, not just theatre, just as it’s “normal” for BA programs in the USA to last four years.</p>
<p>But remember that in the UK a US citizen will be a “foreign student” and so will be charged a higher tuition, and also will have a harder time finding funding for their education. So look very carefully before automatically assuming that it will be cheaper to attend school in the UK. (Also remember that living expenses in London will be very high, like New York, but other places in the UK are cheaper.)</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Thanks, Real. The RWCMD is in Cardiff, Wales, so probably not as expensive as London, but transportation costs seem to be high. Although the tuition is high for internationals, it is lower that full-freight at US private colleges like Fordham and NYU, especially if one pays for only 3 years.</p>
<p>Not all BA programs in the UK are 3 years. The CPP program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a 4 year program. Similarly, the music degrees at the RCS are 4 year programs. The undergraduate music degrees at the Royal Welsh College are also 4 years in length.
The international tuition at RCS is the same in 2012 as it was in 2011: GBP 13,779 or approximately $21,500. Last year my daughter received a very generous entrance scholarship and will apply for funding opportunities here in Canada for her second year at RCS. The international tuition at the Royal Welsh College is somewhat higher: GBP 15,700 or approximately $24,500.
International students are allowed to work in the UK part time during the school year and full time on breaks. I cannot speak for Cardiff, but housing expenses in Glasgow are certainly reasonable. Travel is also reasonable, as there is a student discount on trains.</p>
<p>Thank you for these details, Oldviola. My daughter did not apply for the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, but is wait-listed for the Welsh program. I’m a bit nervous about the idea of sending her so far away-- can you speak to the experience of having a student overseas?</p>