Sound Studies and Sonic Arts is a low-residency, part-time postgraduate program, that is aimed at professionals working in the field of sound with a university degree or exceeding creative talent. The program serves to deepen theoretical and practical skills of audio related theory and practice, particularly in cultural studies, musicology, aesthetics, sound art, performance, architecture, design and media production.

The standard duration of study amounts to six semesters and concludes with a degree in Master of Arts. The academic year starts each winter-semester in October. 

In exceptional cases students may apply for a condensed program duration to a two year full time Master's program concluding with a degree in Master of Arts.

The academic year begins each winter semester in October.

The Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master's program consists of alternating study modules (Basic Phase, Focus Phase, Project Phase). The Basic (first Winter) and Focus Phases (first and second Summer) consist of multiple courses for which presence in Berlin is mandatory. During Project Phases (second and third Winter) students may work off campus and on their own time. Each module concludes with an exam.

In exceptional cases students may apply for a condensed program duration to a two year full time Master's program concluding with a professional degree in Master of Arts.

See here for a visualization of the program course.

Opening Hours:

When school is in session, opening hours are: 

During recess period, opening hours are:  

Important Dates:

Office:

Lietzenburger Str. 45
10789 Berlin | Germany
Phone: +49 30 3185-2482

Or wirte us an email at office@sounds.berlin.

Yes. Due to a cooperation of all Berlin universities, students may make use of the extensive curriculum and all courses offered by the Berlin University of the Arts and other Berlin Universities to develop their study emphasis.

Sound Studies and Sonic Arts is an all English program. Classes are held in English and therefor it is critical that our students have an ease and familiarity with spoken and written English. To show English language competency, all applicants must provide proof of language proficiency.

The following are the options for proof of language proficiency:

a) COE (Council of Europe): C1
b) ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe): C1
c) IELTS Academic (International English LanguageTesting System): 6,5
d) Cambridge English Language Assessment: CAE (Certificate of Advanced English)
f) former TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper Based Test): 637*
g) former TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test): 95*
h) TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test in a test center): 100*
i) TOEFL iBT Paper Based (Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper Based Test in a test center): 100*
j) TOEFL iBT Home Edition (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test at home): 100*
k) degree in an Englishspeaking Bachelor or Master's program
l) statement of English as mother tongue

*TOEFL iBT scores are accepted from a single test date, "MyBest scores" are NOT accepted.

Our faculty and staff does of course also speak German and other languages.

The following requirements must be met for the application for the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master's program:

1. Diploma, Bachelor or equivalent higher-education qualification (completed study from the University of the Arts Berlin or from a different artistic and/or scientific University within Germany or an equivalent national or international degree after at least 6 semesters of study), for exceptions see below.
    
2. Relevant professional experience in the field of sound, minimum one year. In case applicant has no higher education (Diploma, Bachelor or equivalent higher-education qualification) a minimum of five years intensively working in the field of sound is required.
    
3. Artistic and creative talent, which will be assessed during the entrance examination.
    
4. English language competency. It is critical that our students have an ease and familiarity with spoken English. To show English language competency, all applicants must provide proof of language proficiency. The following are the only options for proof of language proficiency:
   a) COE (Council of Europe): C1
   b) ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe): C1
   c) IELTS Academic (International English LanguageTesting System): 6,5
   d) Cambridge English Language Assessment: CAE (Certificate of Advanced English)
   f) former TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper Based Test): 637*
   g) former TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test): 95*
   h) TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test in a test center): 100*
   i) TOEFL iBT Paper Based (Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper Based Test in a test center): 100*
   j) TOEFL iBT Home Edition (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test at home): 100*
   k) degree in an Englishspeaking Bachelor or Master's program
   l) statement of English as mother tongue

*TOEFL iBT scores are accepted from a single test date, "MyBest scores" are NOT accepted.

In exceptional cases, admission can be granted even if an applicant has not earned a university degree but all necessary qualifications for the program were acquired on the job, throughout a proven intensive preoccupation with sound over about five years, may that be artistic, creative, conceptual, theoretical or scientific.

The next possible application period, for the winter term 2023/24 is from February 1 - March 1, 2023. Only during these weeks will you be able to access the application form online and apply for the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts program.

The next possible application period, for the winter term 2023, is from February 1 - March 1, 2023. Only during these weeks will you be able to access the application form online and apply for the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts program.

When applying, please choose an application TRACK 1, TRACK 2, or TRACK 3. Your choice can not be changed at a later point.

Applicants with a degree from a German university (TRACK 1) or with no university degree (TRACK 3), may apply directly at our department during the application phase.

Applicants holding a degree from a non-German university (international and EU) (TRACK 2) please first translate your university reports to German or English and apply for a Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD) at uni assist e.V. Please be aware: You are responsible to apply for your VPD early enough to receive it in time for our application period in February. Please calculate at least 8 weeks processing time at uni assist e.V. Then please apply online at Sound Studies and Sonic Arts and send in hardcopies of your application. Details see below.

International Applicants please also see the UdK International Appllicants Guide for more information.

The application period for the winter term 2023 will be February 1- March 1, 2023. Only during this time will you be able to access the application form online and apply for the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts program.

1. Apply online 

Please create an account and apply online via the UdK Online Application Platform. Be aware: the application system can not handle hotmail, outlook or yahoo email addresses - please use different providers. 

Register online at the my.udk application platform (my.udk-berlin.de) during the application period. (The system cannot handle hotmail, outlook or yahoo email addresses - please use different providers). 

On this platform you can see whether your formal application documents have been received, if any are missing and your current applicant status. We strongly advise to agree to the online application system updates via email (during sign on) to be notified about your application stuatus, problems and decision! Otherwise you will have to sign in regulary to check.

After registration you will receive an email with your application number and login data.

The online application consists of two platforms: my.udk-berlin.de for all formal documents and bemus.udk-berlin.de for your artistic portfolio. Your login credentials are the same for my.udk-berlin.de and bemus.udk-berlin.de.

2. Pay the application fee

Applicants are charged a fee of 30 euros for the application procedure including admission to all courses of study at the UdK Berlin.  This fee does not apply to teacher training programs in subjects for which the Senate Administration responsible for educational affairs has defined an urgent need for teachers at public schools. Proof of payment of the fee must be submitted with the application documents.

Please include a copy of the relevant bank statement with  the value date with your formal application documents (in case of transfer from abroad: deposit receipt). Other proofs (like a transfer order) are not accepted. Money paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances, even if the application is withdrawn or rejected. Your application documents will only be admitted to the application and admission procedures when proof is provided that the fee has been paid in full.  

Bank Account:

Kasse der UdK Berlin
Berliner Volksbank
IBAN: DE 72 1009 0000 8841 0150 46
BIC: BEVO DE BB XXX

Berliner Volksbank eG
Budapester Straße 35
10787 Berlin
Germany

Please indicate the following information in your bank transfer: 35/01036, your full name, your applicant's number, 

If transferring money from abroad: Please make sure that your bank transfer includes acceptance of all due costs (OUR – sender pays costs).

3. Compile and combine the following documents for the formal application on my.udk-berlin.de into one PDF file (max. 20 MB) (instructions: www.udk-berlin.de/en/application/questions-and-answers-about-the-application/faqs-on-the-campusmanagementportal-myudk-berlin/, video tutorial: www.udk-berlin.de/fileadmin/2_dezentral/FR_IPA/HIS_und_Bemus/04_Bewerberinnen_Tutorial_extern_englisch.mp4 * note: no need to print – we are digital only)

• Bank statement (in case of transfer from abroad: deposit receipt, other proofs (like a transfer order) are not accepted, pay all applicable transfer fees) documenting payment of the application fee. 

• Uni-assist e.V. Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD) (if applicable from PHASE I)

• Applicants from the People’s Republic of China must obtain a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) in China. Please see the UdK International Applicants Guide for more information.

• University reports and certificates (except for TRACK 3 applications) 

• Proof of linguistic ability. The following proofs are accepted: COE, ALTE, IELTS Academic, Cambridge English Language Assessment: CAE, TOEFL CBT, TOEFL PBT, TOEFL iBT, degree from an English-speaking Bachelor/Master’s program, English as mother tongue (see our website for details)

• Curriculum vitae in tabular form (in reverse chronological order: education, professional experience with sound, other professional experience, artistic projects, publications, further information)

• Record of professional experience and evidence of relevant professional experience in the field of sound.

• Letter of motivation (max. 1 page A4).

Upload these files in a PDF file (max. 20 MB) to your profile on my.udk-berlin.de between 1 February - 1 March. The application platform closes automatically on 1 March, 12 AM. Files can be uploaded and/or deleted until the end of this deadline.

4. Compile the following artistic documents for the upload on the portfolio server bemus.udk-berlin.de (instructions here: www.udk-berlin.de/en/application/questions-and-answers-about-the-application/faqs-on-the-bemus-upload-portal/, pdf tutorial here: www.udk-berlin.de/fileadmin/2_dezentral/FR_IPA/HIS_und_Bemus/Bemus_HowToDo_Bewerber_innen.pdf). Your login credentials are the same for my.udk-berlin.de and bemus.udk-berlin.de.

• Work samples (no more than 5 samples that altogether sum up to a total length of a max. 20 min, labelled according to the given pattern: surname, first name, title of the work). Possible file formats are PDF (max. 200 MB!) and MP4, MOV, M4V, AIF, AIFF, WAVE, WAV, MP3, JPG, JPEG and PNG (2 GB max. per file). 
•  
• List of provided work samples with the following information: title, genre, length of project, year of creation, context, your role in the project, relation of chosen sample to whole project (PDF, max. 200 MB!)

Upload these files to your profile on Bemus (bemus.udk-berlin.de) between 1 February - 1 March. A total of max. 10 files with a total volume of 20 GB may be uploaded. The application platform closes automatically on 1 March, 12 AM. Files can be uploaded and/or deleted until the end of this deadline.

Based on the submitted application documents, the admissions committee will ask selected applicants to take part in an entrance examination. In case the selected applicant chose our application TRACK 3 an aptitude test will also take place. 

Notices of admission will be given out shortly after the entrance exam.

Please see HOW TO APPLY for more information. International Applicants please also see the UdK International Appllicants Guide for more information.

Download the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts info flyer

Download our handy application checklist

Applicants holding a degree from a non-German university (international and EU) (TRACK 2) first need to translate their university reports to German or English and apply for a Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD) at uni assist e.V prior to the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts application period. Then apply at the UdK.

The Preliminary Review Documentation (VPD) contains the following information:

which educational certificates were presented
how uni-assist evaluates these educational certificates
how uni-assist rates the grade within the German system of grades

Please be aware: You are responsible to apply for your VPD early enough to receive it in time for our application period in February. Please calculate at least 8 weeks processing time at uni assist e.V.

Also see the UdK International Applicants Guide for more detailed information.

APPLY HERE FOR THE UNI ASSIST E.V. VPD 8 WEEKS PRIOR TO OUR APPLICATION PERIOD

Yes, the UdK charges and application fee of 30 Euros.

Applicants are charged a fee of 30 euros for the application procedure including admission to all courses of study at the UdK Berlin.  This fee does not apply to teacher training programs in subjects for which the Senate Administration responsible for educational affairs has defined an urgent need for teachers at public schools. Proof of payment of the fee must be submitted with the application documents.

Please include a copy of the relevant bank statement with  the value date with your formal application documents (in case of transfer from abroad: deposit receipt). Other proofs (like a transfer order) are not accepted. Money paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances, even if the application is withdrawn or rejected. Your application documents will only be admitted to the application and admission procedures when proof is provided that the fee has been paid in full.  

Bank Account:

Kasse der UdK Berlin
Berliner Volksbank
IBAN: DE 72 1009 0000 8841 0150 46
BIC: BEVO DE BB XXX

Berliner Volksbank eG
Budapester Straße 35
10787 Berlin
Germany

Please indicate the following information in your bank transfer: 35/01036, your full name, your applicant's number, 

If transferring money from abroad: Please make sure that your bank transfer includes acceptance of all due costs (OUR – sender pays costs).

Yes, our application procedure is online only! From VPD to application documents, entrance examinations and aptitude test, the whole precess is now online only.

Yes. Based on the application documents submitted, the admissions committee will ask selected students to take part in a one-day admission examination in April. This admission examination tests the applicant’s ability to evaluate sound environments discursively and conceptually. It is followed by a personal interview.

(1) Candidates invited to the admission examination will be given a choice of exercise in the areas of art, design (design, architecture) or science (text). One week before the examination prospective students are to turn in title, abstract and all written work to the examination committee in digital form. During the admission interview, candidates are to present their work within 10 minutes.

(2)  In case of an aptitude test (necessary for candidate without approved university degree but five years of intensive work in the field of sound, TRACK 3) the candidates will in addition receive an exercise to proof their capability of authoring a scientific work in the field of sound. This work is to be submitted in digital form one week before the admission exam.

(3) The admission interview will consist of the following aspects:

a)presentation of the submitted work from (1) and subsequent questioning

b) an oral examination in the field of Theory (auditive art and culture), Practice (sound art und auditive design), Listening (basic musical and technical aural skills) and audio technology

c) an interview about the candidates motivation for the study

d) in case of an aptitude test: an interview about the submitted work from (2)

We welcome around 25 new students each academic year.

To earn a Doctorate (Promotion) in Sound Studies, students conduct research on their own and present their results in a written thesis and an oral defense. Like in most German universities, no Ph.D. program with regular coursework and assignments is offered. Students are basically left to their own devices and meet with their advisors individually. The Doctorate is granted for work in the field of theory; we can not consider practice-based approaches or work in the realm of artistic research.
To enroll, doctorate students usually need to have completed a Master’s degree with an emphasis on theory. For further information, please get in touch with Prof. Dr. Sabine Sanio and include your academic CV, a list of publications, and an outline of the research project you want to pursue.

Please contact Prof. Dr. Sabine Sanio (sabine.sanio_ @udk-berlin.de), if you are interested!

You can find the doctoral degree regulations here (an English translation will be available soon).

Sound Studies and Sonic Arts does not offer the possibility to attend courses as a guest student. Instead you have the opportunity to take selected courses as an external participant. For this you will need the approval of the course instructor. 

The tuition for external participants is 600€ or 800€ a course, depending on the credit points earned.

External participants may also earn a confirmation of participation.

Yes, since the Master's Sound Studies and Sonic Art is a postgrad program, we charge a tuition.

Tuition is 18,800€ (2023*) for the whole three-year Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master's Program, payable in installments.

Additionally to the tuition, there are semester fees of 313,49 € (2022)* in total including a semester ticket for all public transportation within Berlin to be paid to the University.

They are comprised of the following:

-Contribution to the student services (social contribution to the “Studentenwerk”) under the ordinance on social insurance contribution
-Student body fee (AStA)
-Re-registration fee in according to § 2(7)of the Berlin Higher Education Law
-Contribution to the semester ticket and for the social fund
-Administrative fee of the student body fee for the semester ticket according to Section 18a of the Berlin Higher Education Law (BerlHG). 

* tuition and fees may be subject to change

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We invite you to attend one of our events or to contact us to arrange for a private consultation.

For questions about administrative issues or content of the program please contact us at 

► ask_ @sounds.berlin

To make an appointment for a private consultation please contact Andrea Hundertmark at the office.

► hundertmark_ @udk-berlin.de

For questions concerning international students and study abroad, please also see the UdK International Appllicants Guide for more information or contact the Foreign Student Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt)

Study and research opportunities at UdK Berlin, application requirements and admissions procedures, Visa regulations and financing, accommodation, health and welfare, scholarship programs of DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the Fulbright-Commission and government grants, study abroad

► aaa_ @udk-berlin.de
► www.udk-berlin.de/service/international_office

Yes! Each fall we offer one or more online information session with various professors and faculty members, where we introduce you to our program, courses, opportunities, faculty and facilities. If you are interested in taking part please write an email to ask_ @sounds.berlin to be informed of the dates as soon as they are determined.

The next online information sessions will be offered 3 December 2022.

Download the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts info flyer

Download our handy application checklist