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Overview

Supervision​

You will normally be supervised by a team of either two or three people:

  • The Head of Department, acting as principal supervisor and instrumental/vocal specialist
  • An academic tutor, acting as secondary supervisor

Or, where additional specialist subject expertise is necessary:

  • The Head of Department, acting as principal supervisor
  • An instrumental/vocal specialist, acting as secondary supervisor
  • An academic tutor, acting as secondary supervisor

The team are jointly responsible for supervising your work towards the three elements of the programme: the preparatory project, final project, and commentary.

Further details may be found in the Supervision policy.

Research skills​

You are required to successfully complete the online Training in Good Academic Practice (TGAP) that is housed in the St Andrews Moodle virtual learning environment.

You will also take part in a series of seminars that will explore practice-based research methodologies in the performing arts.

Further details may be found in the Research skills policy

Progress review​

You will have a formal review of your progress on the programme early in term 2 following the completion of the preparatory project. In the case of opera students this will comprise the performance of a role at the RCS in January: instrumentalists will typically give a recital during the ‘mid session’ period in early February.

The review will comprise an interview with a panel of two RCS members of staff who are not members of your supervisory team, normally one specialist from the relevant discipline and one generalist academic.

The supporting materials for the interview will comprise:

  • Record of ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ for the Preparatory Project
  • Assessor feedback for the Preparatory Project
  • Reports from each of the supervisors
  • A self-assessment report, plan for completion and initial outline of the commentary
  • Reviewer’s reports from any previous reviews

Further details may be found in the Progress review policy and Progress review guidance

Assessment​

Preparatory project​

Your preparatory project will be assessed by two internal assessors from the Conservatoire, neither of whom will be one of your supervisors. The assessors will follow the established Conservatoire practice of independent grading (‘blind marking’) leading to a single jointly agreed feedback report and a pass/fail grade.

Final project​

Your final artistic project will typically take the form of a live performance, which you must also document and submit as a recording.

Submission​

There are two different ‘submissions’:

Submission for examination​

After the performance of the final project, you will create and submit a portfolio for examination that comprises the recording of the final project plus your written commentary.

Submission of final copies for graduation​

Following a succesful outcome of the examination – possibly after corrections – you will re-submit the final portfolio to the St Andrews library, which then allows you to proceed to graduation.

Examination​

Examining committee​

A committee of three examiners will be appointed:

  • an external examiner
  • an internal examiner
  • convenor, who will also act as an internal examiner

The examining committee will make a holistic judgement of the work, including the evidence of the preparatory project, the final project, and the written commentary.

Viva​

Your final assessment for the degree will be an oral examination (viva voce) conducted by the examining committee. You will have the opportunity to discuss your final performance and commentary with the examiners, and explain how the work has enhanced your artistic practice and made a significant and original contribution your chosen artistic sphere.

Outcome​

The examining committee will recommend one of a number of outcomes. Summarised briefly, these are:

  • approve submission and award degree
  • approve submission subject to typographical corrections
  • approve submission subject to minor corrections, to be completed within three months
  • do not approve submission in its present form: revise and resubmit within six months
  • reject submission, no award of degree

Further details may be found in the Assessment policy and the Postgraduate Senate Regulations.

Graduation​

Assuming the examining committee approve the submission you graduate at St Andrews in November, followed by the option to attend a further graduation at the Conservatoire in July of the following year.