Just found out that I've had to pay £200 to CUKAS for music college auditions and the one off £15 fee. And boy was I reluctant to do that! I really need to get another job and soon! So out of pocket now

Do I seem to be the only person who actually knew we had to pay audition fees? :s

I knew, just didn't know that it all had to be paid off all at the same time!

That's exactly what she said.... :s
It does say in the FAQ section of the website but I think they should have probably made it a bit more obvious. Along with the fact that references need to be sent off before the deadline - something I didn't find out until last week...

I found out THIS MORNING! in fact, worse, the fact that they needed POSTING...

They do allow time to get the references in.


CUKAS is very vague and ambiguous about the final stages of applying

CUKAS is very vague about the whole thing - what makes it harder is that our centre don't seem to know a lot about it so we're totally alone!! For example there isn't a box to tick for deferred entry - you have to contact the institutions and ask them if they accept it and then write it in your personal statement which is really stupid!!! I couldn't find anything on the website about when the references had to be in, I eventually found it in a music article given to me by our head of music...hopefully it will get there in time! Sitting with fingers crossed hoping that my application actually worked and that it's ok!
Lets just say I am very glad that the first part is over...I will have to leave my email address with the heads of centre in the hope I can provide a little bit of help and advanced warnings to whoever goes through it next year!

Well I rang Birmingham and they said they do allow time for referees to come in by post, presumably for this reason. I mean it is a bit unfair that if a load of people do what I did or similar and don't get offered auditions because of the short deadline. Not to mention the things that can go wrong with posting letters etc.

Where have you applied to? I've applied to
Birmingham Conservatoire
Royal College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Just to Leeds College of Music - I only wanted to do a 3 year course because I want to go into teaching afterwards and I don't want to be at uni forever!! The course looks really interesting so I'll just have fingers crossed for the auditions!