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Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) is Wales's National Conservatoire, founded in 1949 as Cardiff College of Music within Cardiff Castle and awarded its royal title in 2002 during the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the fifth UK conservatoire to receive one. Its production-facing course is the MA Sound Design & Production, a two-year full-time postgraduate degree taught at RWCMD, Llanishen Studios and the Old Library, validated by the University of South Wales, covering recording, mixing and special effects across theatre, TV, film and live events.
Undergraduates can specialise through the BMus (Hons) Music course's Composition and Creative Music Technology pathway, built around one-to-one tuition in electronic composition and creative music technology alongside traditional notated composition. Entry to composition pathways is by portfolio and interview rather than performance audition.
Students on both pathways get access to Tŷ Cerdd (Music House Wales) and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, whose recording studios the college describes as among the largest dedicated recording facilities outside Abbey Road in London.
At a glance
- Price
- On enquiry
- Location
- Castle Grounds, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3ER
- Subjects
- Music production, Sound engineering
- Formats
- Degree
- Established
- 1949 as Cardiff College of Music
- Accreditation
- University of South Wales
Course structure
The formats Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama sells, and how long each one runs.
| MA Sound Design & Production | 2 years full-time |
| BMus (Hons) Music: Composition and Creative Music Technology pathway | 3 years full-time |
Worth knowing
- RWCMD moved from Cardiff Castle into purpose-built accommodation in the castle grounds of Bute Park in 1973, and changed its name from Welsh College of Music & Drama to Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama on gaining royal patronage in 2002.
- Sound Design & Production students can access the BBC National Orchestra of Wales recording studios, described by the college as among the largest dedicated recording facilities outside Abbey Road.
Frequently asked
What does Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama cost?
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama does not publish fixed prices; course costs are given on enquiry.
Where is Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama based?
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is based at Castle Grounds, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3ER.
What does Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama teach?
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama teaches Music production, Sound engineering, in these formats: Degree.
Is Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama accredited?
Yes. University of South Wales: MA Sound Design & Production is validated and awarded by the University of South Wales.
When was Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama founded?
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama was established in 1949, originally as Cardiff College of Music.
Sources
Every detail on this page is re-sourced from the school's own site, not copied from a register or aggregator. See the methodology for how that works.