The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) has been ranked as one of the world’s top five destinations to study the performing arts in the world, according to a new study.

International higher education think tank QS Quacquarelli Symonds listed the conservatoire, in Glasgow, as number five for performing arts in its QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, which was published on Wednesday.

It’s the sixth time since the ranking was established in 2016 that RCS has been rated in the global top 10.

The Royal College of Music in London took the top spot in the 2022 rankings for the performing arts, while Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts was placed second.

Just above RCS was the Juilliard School in New York and the Conservatoire de Paris, ranking third and fourth respectively.

What is RCS?

RCS was established in 1847 and provides education across a range of performing arts, research and learning environments, including classical and modern music, drama, dance, production and film.

Students from more than 60 countries study at RCS, which has active partnerships with all of Scotland’s national arts companies.

Who studied at RCS?

Notable alumni include actors James McAvoy, David Tennant, Sam Heughan and Ncuti Gatwa; Hollywood composer Patrick Doyle; screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns; opera star Karen Cargill; conductor Ryan Bancrof; and guitarist Sean Shibe.