Music is a blessing on earth. Studying music is not just about academics, as it also has aspects that can effectively heal your soul. However, choosing a suitable music school is a significant step towards your music career.

This blog highlights some of the world's finest musical institutions, but remember that the best school for you is one that aligns with your specific goals and aspirations. This connection can blossom into a lifelong musical journey for aspiring musicians. To help cultivate these talents, a variety of schools offer exceptional music programmes.

Top 10 Music Schools in the World

Royal College of Music (London, UK)

The Royal School of Music was opened in 1883 by King Edward VII. The school has trained many important musicians in the world of British and international music, such as Alfie Boe,  Roger Norrington, Vaughan Williams, and Holst.

The school offers various programmes, such as the Bachelor’s degree in music, which offers specialisation in Jazz, Historical Performance, Music Theory, and Conduction. There are also numerous postgraduate programmes, including the Master of Music, Artist Diploma, and Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance.

The college also provides courses for highly talented high school students, like their Junior and Piano Accompaniment Fellowships.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #1

• Top Courses: Classical Instrumental & Vocal Studies, Musicology, Electronic Music Composition.

Royal Academy of Music

Founded in 1822 and based in the heart of London, the Royal Academy of Music is Britain’s oldest degree-granting music institution and a leading global conservatoire. As a constituent college of the University of London, it combines deep musical tradition with modern artistic training.

Students benefit from one-on-one lessons, small-group teaching, and a broad range of performance, composition, and academic studies designed to prepare them for diverse careers in music, from solo performance to creative entrepreneurship. The Academy is known for its strong international reputation and has produced renowned alumni across the music world. 

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #2 

• Top Courses: Performance (Classical & Contemporary), Composition, Music Education & Pedagogy

Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London, UK)

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is one of the most prestigious, oldest, and top music schools in London and worldwide. It was founded in 1880 as the first music school in Great Britain. 

The school offers a wide range of music programmes for students of all ages, from short courses, summer schools, and workshops for those under and above 18 years old to various postgraduate studies and many bachelor's degrees in music. 

Courses offered by this school for undergraduates include BMus – Bachelor of Music Honours, which is a bachelor’s programme that offers intensive, personalised training for performers, composers, and electronic musicians, with a strong emphasis on developing practical musicianship. 

Furthermore, a two-year online course called Guildhall Young Artists Online provides foreign musicians with a unique opportunity to experience the first year of the Guildhall School's BMus programme through an advanced two-year online study.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #3.

• Top Courses: Performance, Composition, Conducting, and Music Therapy.

Conservatoire de Paris (Paris, France)

Conservatoire de Paris is one of the best music schools in the world and the oldest as well, as it was founded in 1795. This school has nurtured legendary musicians, including Hector Berlioz, Frédéric Chopin, Pierre Monteux, Maurice Ravel, and Maurice André.

The school provides specialised training and programmes at the highest level in different music fields, including Classical and Contemporary Music (instrumental, vocal, early music, jazz), Composition, Conducting, and Musicology.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #4

• Top Courses: Classical music performance (instrumental and vocal), Composition, and Conducting.

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

Founded in 1973, the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is one of the UK’s leading conservatoires, located in the heart of Manchester. The institution has built a strong international reputation for excellence in performance-led music education and professional training.

RNCM offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across performance, composition, conducting, and music research, with a strong emphasis on live performance, industry engagement, and career preparation within the global music scene.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #5

• Top Courses: BMus (Hons) in Performance and Composition, Popular Music, and Vocal Studies & Opera

Juilliard School (New York, USA)

Established in 1905 in New York City, Juilliard School ranks highly among the best music schools in the world. The school was first founded as the Institute of Musical Art and was named Juilliard after Augustus D. Juilliard in 1946.

The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate music degrees, where you will learn everything about Instruments, Vocal arts, Jazz Studies, Historical Performance, Composition, and orchestral conduction.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #6

• Top Courses: Composition, Conduction, and Jazz Studies.

The Royal Danish Academy of Music

Founded in 1867, the Royal Danish Academy of Music is Denmark’s oldest and most prestigious music institution. Based in Copenhagen, the academy is known for its strong grounding in European classical traditions alongside contemporary and experimental music practices.

It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate programmes in performance, composition, conducting, and music pedagogy, attracting students seeking a rigorous academic and artistic environment within Scandinavia.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #7

• Top Courses: Classical Performance, Composition, Conducting

Curtis Institute of Music

Founded in 1924, the Curtis Institute of Music is one of the most selective and elite music schools in the world. Located in Philadelphia, Curtis is unique for offering full-tuition scholarships to all admitted students, ensuring that admission is based solely on artistic merit.

The institute focuses on training exceptional performers, composers, and conductors through intensive one-on-one instruction and frequent professional-level performance opportunities.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #8

• Top Courses: Instrumental Performance, Conducting, Composition

Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

Founded in 1882, the Sibelius Academy is Finland’s most renowned music institution and a key part of the University of the Arts Helsinki. Named after composer Jean Sibelius, the academy is internationally recognised for its high academic standards and artistic excellence. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs with a strong focus on classical performance, composition, music education, and artistic research.

• QS World Rankings for Music 2025: #9

• Top Courses: Classical Music Performance, Composition, Music Education

Moscow State Conservatory P. I. Tchaikovsky (Moscow, Russia)

Moscow State Conservatory P. I. Tchaikovsky is one of the best music schools in the world. The school was established in 1866 by Nikolai Rubinstein as the first music conservatory in Russia, and it quickly proved itself as a leading centre for musical education.

The conservatory provides a range of departments that offer a wide range of disciplines, including Vocal Studies, which focuses on teaching and developing vocal techniques and principles. Orchestral Conducting, which specialises in choral and opera performances. In addition to Historical Theory, which is dedicated to studying and teaching music history and theories.

Over the years, the school has nurtured important musical figures, such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sviatoslav Richter, and Valery Gergiev.

• World ranking: #10

• Top Courses: Performance (classical), Composition, Conducting, Musicology, Music Theory.

Choosing the Best Music School for You

So there you have it. These were some of the world’s top music schools, along with all the reasons that make each of these schools special. The information presented here should help you make an informed decision about your musical future.

Now, it's time to turn those dreams into beautiful melodies. If you’d like to know more about other top universities in the world, check out our additional blog resources, such as Cracking UCAS Conservatoires: Your Complete Guide, Top Universities in the UK and How to Find Yours, and Top Computer Science Universities in the UK, about their rankings, top courses, and acceptance rates!