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Music Education Bachelor of Arts

General information

Application deadline

15 March till 15 April for the winter semester

    • General Higher Education Entrance Qualification
      • Exception: not required if applicant can demonstrate outstanding musical talent
    • Musical talent
    • german language skills C1 according to CEFR

    • Standard period of study: 8 semesters, 240 credit points
    • Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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
    • School leaving certificate
    • Transcript of records, if applicable (Application for a higher semester)
    • Preliminary examination document (VPD) from uni-assist, if applicable (see FAQs)
    • Proof of German language proficiency at C1 level according to CEFR for international applicants (see FAQs)
      • Application also possible with German B2
    • 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

 

 

Entrance examinations

What happens after the application?

The examinations usually take place in June. They are conducted as in-person examinations at the Berlin University of the Arts.
The concrete date will be sent to applicants by e-mail with the examination invitation at least 4 weeks before the entrance examination.

The examination consists of the following:

A. Examination in major subject
1. Instrumental pedagogy (Exam main instrument for the Instrumental Pedagogy 1 profile)

• Presentation of 3 pieces from different eras
• Sight-Reading of an easy piece
• Interview about pedagogical aspects and interpretation

The entrance exam for the main subject drums covers the
fields of classical drums and drum set.

2. Vocal pedagogy (Exam in the main subject vocals)

• Singing of at least three pieces from different eras, one
should be a Lied and one should be a part from an opera
or oratorio, one has to be in German
• Sight-singing of an easy piece
• A subject-specific interview

If applicable the admissions committee can ask for a voice
examination and/or a medical opinion about the physical
and vocal health of the applicant

3. Music and movement

• Exam main subject (instrument or vocals)
Presentation of 2 pieces of medium difficulty and Leaf play of a light piece
• Main exam rhythmic
Group (90 min.) and individual exam (30 min.)
a) Music: presentation of one of the applicant’s own compositions over a certain theme (e.g. theme and variation, arrangement of a Lied); instrumental improvisation (tonal and freetonal); rhythms and metres;
singing of a Lied (e.g. children’s song, folk song, etc.)
b) Movement: presentation of a prepared movement with self-chosen music; improvisation with and without music; rhythmic tasks
c) Interaction: partner- and group-tasks
d) Teaching: animating and leading of a learning group (10 min.), the topic can be chosen by the applicant and may derive from the whole area of music and movement
e) Colloquium: Discussion on artistic and educational issues

B. Examination in piano as a subsidiary subject:

• Presentation of at least 2 prepared pieces
• Sight-playing
• Playing of cadences resp. improvisation

Examples of the level of difficulty for piano as a subsidiary subject:

J. S. Bach, Kleine Präludien, 2st. Inventionen
Sonatinen, z. B. Clementi op. 36
Schumann, Album für die Jugend (1. Teil)
Tschaikowski, Jugendalbum
Bartók, Für Kinder

The piano exam is also obligatory for applicants with the main subject guitar.

C. Examination in music theory:
• aural tests and harmony (Duration: approx. 1 hour)
• written test music theory (duration: approx. 1 hour):
identifying intervals, chords, basso continuo, basics of classic harmonics

Sample tests can be found here:
https://www.udk-berlin.de/universitaet/fakultaet-musik/institute/institut-fuer-musikwissenschaft-musiktheorie-komposition-und-musikuebertragung/musiktheorie/downloads/

Recommendations for the degree of difficulty for the some of the main instruments:

• piano: e.g. Prelude and Fugue or Suite by Bach, a classical sonata (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven), a romantic or a more contemporary work
• Organ: e.g. from the era before or of Bach (Prelude and Fugue), from the 19th and 20th century (Reger, Pepping among others)
• Harpsichord: e.g. English (Byrd, Bull); Italian (Frescobaldi, Scarlatti); suite or toccata by Bach
• Violin: e.g. a concert (Bach, Mozart), a Sonata, a Spielstück or an etude of greater difficulty
• Viola: z.B. ein Konzert, eine Sonate und ein Spielstück or an etude• Violoncello: e.g. a concert on the level of difficulty of a concert by Boccherini, Saint-Saens or Lalo, a sonata, another piece for example an etude by Duport or Popper
• Double bass: e.g. a concert or a sonata, an etude (Simhandl Nr.15-20)
• Guitar: e.g. a technically demanding Spielstück respectively etude (e.g. Sor-Etüde op. 29)
• Fluit: among others one concert (e.g. Stamitz, Haydn)
• Oboe: among others one concert (e.g. Haydn)
• Clarinet: among others one concert, a sonata movement (Sonatensatz) and a Spielstück or etude (e.g. Stamitz) that focuses on technique
• Bassoon: among others one concert, a sonata movement (Sonatensatz) and a Spielstück or etude
• French horn: one piece from the classical era (Haydn, Mozart) or one oft he two Richard Strauss concerts for French horn
• Trumpet: e.g. concert (Hummel) or sonata (Hindemith)
• Trombone: a concert with piano accompaniment, e.g. Sachse: Concertino B-Dur, Gräfe: Konzert B-Dur, Paudert: Arie - Andante, Allegro, Moderato
• Recorder: from the 18th or 20. century (concert, sonata, Spielstück)