For more detailed information, please change to the German version of this website.

Orchestral Instruments Concert Exam

General information

Application deadline

20 September till 20 October for the summer semester
15 March till 15 April for the winter semester

Please note: Applications for flute, clarinet, trumpet and violin are not possible for the 2026 summer semester!

    • String instruments
      • viola, violoncello, double bass, guitar, harp
    • Wind and other orchestral instruments
      • oboe, bassoon, saxophone, horn/whale horn, trombone, tuba, percussion instruments
    • Historical instruments
      • ​​​​​​​Historical cello, historical bassoon, historical oboe, historical viola, historical violin, recorder, lute/theorbo, transverse flute, viola da gamba, historical double bass/violone

    • Master's degree in orchestral musician or soloist at UdK Berlin or in a comparable programme at another university or college of music
      • with the mark 1.0 (summa cum laude)
    • Outstanding musical talent

     

     

    • Standard period of study: 4 semesters, 120 credit points
    • Degree: Concert Exam (K)

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 50.00 (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
    • University degree certificate (MA)
    • Transcript of records for the MA degree
    • Preliminary examination document (VPD) from uni-assist, if applicable (see FAQs)
    • 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 und 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

 

Admission procedure

What happens after I apply?

For the instruments guitar, harp, clarinet, double bass, saxophone, trombone, viola, violin, violoncello and the percussion instruments,  a digital pre-selection will be carried out.

Applicants submit a selection of the program required in the admission regulations in the
upload portal Bemus https://bemus.udk-berlin.de/.
Total duration at least 30 minutes, maximum 40 minutes.

Information on uploading the digital portfolio

Login: Please use the login name and password that you used when registering and applying in the campus management portal my.udk-berlin.de.

Allowed file formats: PDF, MP3, MP4, MOV, M4V, WAV
File size: PDF max. 50 MB
MP3, MP4, MOV, M4V, WAV max. 2 GB per file
Max. Max. number of files: 4
Max. File volume 6.05 GB

For the other instruments, the pre-selection takes place in person at UdK Berlin as part of the entrance examinations.  

Detailed information on the entrance procedure can be found in the implementation regulations [Geman].

The entrance examinations usually take place in January/February for the summer semester and June/July for the winter semester. You can find the planned dates shortly before the examination period on the website of the College of Music here.
This information is without guarantee!

All applicants who have applied on time with the complete documents will receive an invitation to the entrance examination with the binding dates and further information by e-mail.

The following programme must be prepared for the entrance examination:

  • four representative works of the respective instrument, of different historical-stylistic provenance, taking into account, if possible, the areas of baroque - classical - romantic/classical modern and new music.
  • The selection, taking into account the aspects of stylistic diversity, representativeness and degree of difficulty, is the responsibility of the applicant and will be considered as part of the overall artistic performance to be assessed.
  • The commission reserves the right to listen to only parts of the prepared programme.  

The details on the appliction and the entrance exam can be found in the  implementation regulations[German]. 

 

Invitations to the entrance examination are expected to be sent out in the first week of December.