Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) is a diploma qualification of the Royal College of Music. Like the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music diploma, it was formerly offered in a teaching or performing version, but unlike the latter it is no longer available. Those awarded the diploma are entitled to use the post-nominal letters ARCM and to wear the appropriate academic dress: black bachelors' gown with a royal blue silk hood of simple shape, the cowl part-lined 3 inches and bound 1/4 inch with old gold silk, the neckband fully lined and bound 1/4 inch of old gold silk.