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Jazz Bachelor

General information

Application deadline

15 February till 15 March for the winter semester

    • Exceptional artistic talent
    • german language skills B2 according to CEFR

    • Standard period of study: 8 semesters, 240 credit points
    • Degree: Bachelor of Music (B Mus)

Your application – step by step

All of the steps listed below must be completed within the application period for the respective study programme. We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible within the application period so that you can clarify any questions that may arise with our StudyGuide in good time.

  • Register and verify your identity (if you have not already done so) on the UdK Berlin application portal: https://my.udk-berlin.de

     

  • Fee per application: EUR 30.00 (plus fees for international transfers)

    Proof of payment: bank statement or transfer confirmation with value date

    Universität der Künste Berlin
    IBAN: DE 72 1009 0000 8841 0150 46
    BIC: BEVO DE BB XXX
    Payment reference: 35/01036, study programme, name, application number

    Berliner Volksbank eG
    Budapester Straße 35
    10787 Berlin
    Germany
     

    For international transfers:
    Please ensure that you cover all transfer fees incurred (OUR – sender pays costs) when making the transfer.

  • During the application process, you will be asked to submit formal documents. Please prepare these as individual PDF files (max. 5 MB each).

    Formal documents:

    • Curriculum vitae with details of musical training
    • School leaving certificate
    • Transcript of records, if applicable (Application for a higher semester)
    • Proof of German language proficiency at B2 level according to CEFR for international applicants (see FAQs)
      • Application also possible with German B1
    • Proof of payment of application fees

  • Log in to the application portal (https://my.udk-berlin.de) and submit an application for admission to your desired study programme within the application period and upload the formal documents.

     

FAQs and Tutorials

Submitting application documents at a later date

Are you unable to submit your school leaving certificate or university degree certificate within the application deadline? 

Studying without a school leaving certificate (section ‘General university entrance qualification - §11 BerlHG’)

Changing universities / Applying for a higher semester

Recognition of international educational qualifications (VPD and APS)

Language certificates (requirements and accepted certificates)

Help and tutorials for the my.udk application portal

Help and tutorials for the Bemus upload portal

 

 

Portfolio

The following artistic work samples must also be uploaded to the Bemus platform by the application deadline:
Improvisations on two tracks from the general jazz repertoire (e.g. rehearsal recording, no studio quality required). At least one of the pieces is to be recorded with an accompanying band.
An original composition is also desired (not compulsory).

Possible file formats: PDF, MP3, MP4, MOV
Each file max. 2 GB, in total not more than 5 GB, max. 6 files

Please also upload the formal documents to be submitted in paper form as PDF file.
The PDF file and the audio files should be named according to the following pattern: Surname_First_Name_Applicationn umber_ Course_Content

Admission procedure

What happens after the application?

The admissions procedure consists of the pre-selection on the basis of the submitted sound recordings and an entrance examination.
As a rule, the entrance examination takes place at the end of May/beginning of June.

The selected applicants will receive the invitation with further information and the dates by e-mail.

Pre-selection:
The admission’s board chooses candidates for the entrance exams based on the uploaded recordings.

Entrance exam:
Usually the exam consists of the following parts:
1. examination in the respective main subject (instrumental or vocal): playing with the provided rhythm section
- three stylistically different titles from the general jazz repertoire with improvisation
- if possible an own composition
- spontaneous task (e.g. improvisation / etude)
2. transcription: written presentation of a self-made solo transcription, playing of this transcription to the original recording
3. sight-reading / sight-singing
4. jazz piano (compulsory subject): performance of an easy to moderately difficult functional harmonic jazz piece, it should be a self-prepared arrangement, an improvisation is desired but not obligatory. Basic skills of playing jazz voicings must be recognizable (e.g. F13, Cm7b5, G7alt...).
For pianists: Performance of a "classical" work
5. colloquium (description of musical career to date, explanation of professional goals)
6. composition/aural training: after successful completion of the practical examination disciplines, a written examination must be completed. The following knowledge will be tested - partly with sound examples:
- Notation in treble and bass clef with determination of the octave ranges (rhythm, melody dictation)
- keys and their accidentals, modes (church keys) as well as other typical jazz scales
- Intervals (also larger than one octave)
- chords
- triads with inversions (major, minor, diminished,augmented, sus4)
- seventh chords
- Jazz chord symbol writing,
- Recognition of simple chord combinations or cadences using sound examples.
- Recognition of instruments by means of sound examples