I would like to reiterate something that guest folk degree student said,

most people are here just to learn. To take everything they can from brilliant teachers, to meet like-minded people.

I agree whole heartedly, for me the fact that hopefully a bit of paper arrives at the end of the course is not the point, the four years spent in association and learning from great musicians is.

Also to answer.

Is a certain technical standard of performance expected as a condition of entry to the course?
Because this is a folk music course it is excepted that some of us students come at music from a deferent angle to that of classical music, so grades are not an essential but there is an audition and you do need to be fairly proficient on your instrument; if for no other reason you will be playing with other students all the time if you are not able to keep up it is hard. My playing is not at the highest level, I have only been playing for four years, but the emphasis is not on were you are, but on improving, growing and learning. This year's class has a wide mix, from people that I have seen performing already to me; each one gets something different from the course.

Paul D