Germany is one of the top places to study in the world, this is proved annually by the tons of international students sending applications to top German universities yearly.
If you are one of these international students who would love to study in Germany and also want to major in music, or you currently live in Germany and you do not know what university offers a music degree, then this article is the one for you.
In this article, I will be giving you a list of the 20 top music schools in Germany. Each provides top-notch instruction in various music fields that would help transform you from a beginner to a professional level.
Also Read: 93 Best Music Schools In Europe By Country
One of the best career choices you will ever make is to study music in Germany. This is due to the fact that universities in Germany provide students with the precise skill set they need to succeed, which fortunately encompasses both the academic and practical components of learning.
Although many do, not all foreign students travel to Germany to study engineering. In addition to engineering, Germany is renowned for offering a wide range of other academic programs, such as business schools, medical schools, humanities, and, well, the arts.
Don’t give up if studying music in Germany is something you’re interested in doing; it will be worthwhile.
The List of Top Music Schools In Germany
You must demonstrate your artistic abilities in order to get accepted to a German music college. Regardless of where you apply for a degree linked to music, this is one of the primary admission requirements.
With a music degree, you will have a lot of flexibility in how you structure your courses. In essence, this means that you can select your degree program based on how well you are informed about the subject matter you want to study.
Many German universities will let you start as a first-year student and explore your possibilities for a particular field of study, while other universities will offer you specialized courses right away that you can select from based on your preferences. Without wasting more time, below are the top music schools in Germany.
State University for Music and Performing Arts in Mannheim
The university’s primary courses include conducting, keyboard instruments, concert and opera singing, and orchestral instruments (orchestra and choir).
These courses are offered in the postgraduate programs Soloist Training (4 semesters) and part-time Soloist Training (8 semesters), as well as the degree programs Artistic Training (10 semesters) and Music Teacher Studies (8 semesters for music school instructors and freelance teachers) .
In the School Music study program, they can also be taken as a specialized subject (teacher training for grammar school education, 9 semesters).
Find out more information here
University of Music and Theatre Hamburg
HfMT University of Music and Theatrical, established in 1950, offers a range of programs in and related to the performing arts, from classical training in fields like singing and theater to theatre direction and music instruction.
The HfMT offers students the highest caliber of artistic instruction and is situated on the shore of Outer Alster lake. 83 classrooms, a theater, a vocal studio, a dance studio, and the main performance hall with more than 400 seats are all features of HfMT.
The university is also one of the most well-known cultural institutions in Hamburg, hosting hundreds of cultural events each year.
Find out more information here
Also Read: 16 Top Music Schools In Perth & Their Details
University of Music and Theatre Leipzig
The bachelor’s degree is the first artistic university degree that qualifies a student. At the HMT, the artistic bachelor’s program typically lasts eight semesters.
It offers a pathway to a career as a professional musician and serves as a requirement for further development and growth of creative abilities throughout master’s degree or master class studies. Typically, admission requirements include meeting university entrance requirements and passing an entrance exam.
The master’s degree is an additional academic qualification in the arts. A suitable bachelor’s degree and passing the entrance exam are often requirements for a master’s degree. The master’s degree helps to widen one’s professional basis or to complement bachelor’s degree coursework.
Find out more information here
Berlin University of the Arts
The college continues the legacy of its prestigious predecessor organizations, which for the past 200 years have offered the best musical training in Berlin. It represents a wide variety of musical styles and provides chances for both specialized study and exposure to the music of all genres.
The spectrum includes courses in church music, conducting, composition, and sound engineering, as well as art instruction in symphonic and chamber music, early music, and contemporary music.
Find out more information here
Also Read: 22 Top Music Schools In Brisbane
Nuremberg University of Music
The third State University of Music in Bavaria, the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg (Music University of Nürnberg), was recently founded in 2008. However, its history dates to the first decade of the nineteenth century.
Currently, Nuremberg trains 400 students in musical performance and music teaching. With its practically preserved medieval wall, Bavaria’s second city demonstrates its long and rich history and lovely architecture.
All orchestral instruments, as well as singing, piano, organ, guitar, accordion, and classical saxophone, are taught in first-rate programs. Additionally, there is a vibrant jazz department that is well incorporated into the city’s nightclubs and a department of early music that frequently brings in unique events due to its connections across Europe.
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University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar
The University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar envisions itself as a global center for higher learning and research. It is at home in the highly symbolic cultural city of Weimar and is deeply steeped in the history of European music.
Their educational model, which was inspired by Franz Liszt, is built on three pillars: teacher preparation, research, and practical music training. A holistic education requires these three pillars, which also reinforce one another.
Public performance is a crucial component of instruction. The institution hosts more than 300 concerts and performances annually, in addition to the 60-year-old legacy of the Weimar Master Classes and four international contests for piano, violin, and chamber music.
Find out more information here
Also Read: 12 Best Music Schools in Cambridge: Classes & Fees
The State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart
In addition to piano, organ, and singing, the university provides a wide range of courses in which students can enroll, including composition, conducting (of the orchestra and choir), guitar, harp, and elementary music education (EMP).
The extensive list of practical disciplines offered in Stuttgart is completed by musicology and music theory. All subjects are available for study in both the creative and music pedagogy programs. They also provide church music and music for schools. Students can use their time at the RSO Stuttgart’s orchestral academy to supplement their academic work.
The University has the authority to provide doctoral degrees and post-doctoral (professorial) qualifications in musicology and music education.
Find out more information here
University of Music and Performing Arts Munich
Before being accepted into a study program, applicants must successfully complete an audition (an assessment of their artistic ability).
In addition to passing the aesthetic proficiency test, applicants from non-German-speaking nations who are applying to bachelor’s degree programs must demonstrate that they know enough German to follow the required study program. A few post-graduate programs also need German proficiency.
Find out more information here
Also Read: 16 Best Music Schools in Boston-Tuition & Requirements
University of Music Wuerzburg
Conducting, composition, all orchestral instruments, accordion, vocals, guitar, piano, organ, saxophone, and classical percussion are among the wide range of topics covered.
The departments of elementary music education, historical instruments, jazz, chamber music, church music, and school music are given particular attention. Academic and music-related topics expand the practice-focused spectrum of courses.
The creative master class and the option for a scientific doctorate are added to the bachelor’s and master’s programs in the third cycle.
Find out more information here
Folkwang University of the Arts
The music programs of Folkwang University are quite diverse and extensive. Church music, jazz, musicals, voice|music theatre, composition and conducting, as well as postgraduate and supplementary courses Chamber Music, Popular Music, Concert Performance, and Orchestral Performance, are all offered in addition to instrumental training (in all orchestral instruments and other instruments).
Additionally, they provide training in musicology, music pedagogy, and school music teaching. In keeping with the concept of a “university of the arts,” equal weight is placed on the practical and creative parts of these programs. Currently, all courses are taught in modules and have been modified for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs.
Find out more information here
Other Music Schools In Germany:
| Music School | |
| University of Music Saar | Website |
| Cologne University of Music and Dance | Website |
| Carl Maria von Weber University of Music | Website |
| Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz | Website |
| University of Bayreuth | Website |
| Karlsruhe University of Music | Website |
| University of Music Detmold | Website |
| University of Music Trossingen | Website |
| Justus Liebig University Giessen | Website |
| University of Augsburg | Website |
General Admission Requirements
German music colleges have stringent admission requirements, and some institutions even have Numerus Clausus (a set number of seats reserved for a subject), which might make it difficult to get accepted.
The following criteria must be met in order to be admitted to a music college in Germany:
- Results of an aptitude test.
- Written examination or audition
- Language Requirements in English (depending on the program’s language of instruction)
- Language Requirements in German (depending on the program’s language of instruction)
- Earlier Foreign Certifications and Qualifications Are Recognized
- Visa, residence permit, and financial resources documentation (when applicable)
- Display Musical Motivation
- Basic knowledge of a certain field of study, both practically and theoretically
In essence, you must have excellent results to get accepted into a German music university. However, it is not impossible if you get started early. Since aptitude exams are frequently held a year prior to the start of the course, it is crucial that you obtain the essential information regarding the specific criteria of your university as soon as possible using the links provided.
Also Read: 11 Top Music Schools in Berlin-Costs & Details
Cost of Studying Music In Germany
You won’t have to pay tuition if you decide to pursue your studies at one of Germany’s state-funded music institutions or academies. All that is required of you is a semester administrative fee, which is normally between 100 and 350 euros per semester.
The public institutions in Baden-Württemberg, which have reinstated tuition prices and typically charge students from outside the EU no more than 3,000 EUR/year, would be an exception.
However, tuition fees are a requirement at private universities. Private universities often charge between $8,000 and $20,000 in annual tuition. Depending on the degree program, level of study, and institution, you may have to pay less or more.
Get all the tuition information from your preferred university before deciding to enroll in a music program.
Why You Should Study Music In Germany
International students can choose Germany for a variety of reasons when choosing a study place. Numerous of its colleges and universities are listed among the best in the world.
Germany is the ideal choice for students who want to grow in their chosen careers because of its highly trained academic staff, intriguing and subject-specific program degrees, and internationally recognized credentials.
Additionally, pursuing your music degree in Germany places you in a milieu that has produced some of the best composers and artists. You will have the opportunity to reside in a setting that is very cultural and filled with music lovers.
You will have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally, learn about other cultures, and ultimately make a living doing what you love.
Also Read: 20 Top Music Schools in New Jersey:Music Career Guide
What Are German Music Schools Like?
Passing the entrance exam is one of the first stages to being admitted into a music program. You must have some prior knowledge of your chosen instrument or area of concentration if you plan to enroll in a music course in Germany.
The most important thing is that you should love learning music. You can manage your entire theoretical and practical course load in this way.
In Germany, studying music entails acquiring both practical and theoretical knowledge and abilities, including things like music technology, history, harmony, and arrangement.
You will take part in various teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, projects, and performances, depending on your program. This is particularly crucial because it allows you to broaden your knowledge and acquire new abilities.
You may find music classes in Germany that are focused on a variety of topics. The piano is one of the most widely used instruments among students. You might choose to specialize in a certain field or instrument based on your preferences.
Modern music, classical music, chamber music, music management, and many other topics are covered in master’s degree programs in music. German students who pass their concert exams are likely to achieve great success.
German music schools place a high priority on international relationships, and many of them might provide their students with exchange opportunities to ensure that they are exposed to diverse viewpoints.
The industry and several higher education institutions have close ties, giving students the chance to perform on stage. The music industry’s job market is extremely competitive, just as the admissions process.
What is the Best Music University in Germany?
- University of Freiburg.
- University of Leipzig.
- University of Marburg.
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
- Leuphana University of Luneburg.
- University of Saarland.
- University of Regensburg.
- Justus Liebig University Giessen.
Is Germany Good To Study Music?
Admission to a German art or music college is contingent on artistic talent and motivation, despite the fact that it is difficult to get in.
Around a quarter of the students at the 24 state music institutions are international, demonstrating the popularity of studying music in Germany among students from around the world.
Can I Study Music In Germany For Free?
You won’t have to pay tuition if you decide to pursue your studies at one of Germany’s state-funded music institutions or academies.
All that is required of you is a semester administrative fee, which is normally between 100 and 350 euros per semester.
Is Berlin University Of The Arts Free?
With the exception of a few master’s degree programs in advanced education, there are no tuition costs at the UdK Berlin.
However, a fee of roughly 300 euros per semester is required of all enrolled students at Berlin’s universities.
Where Can I Study Music In Berlin?
- BIMM Institute Berlin.
- Catalyst.
- Department of Audio Communication at the TU Berlin.
- Akademie DEUTSCHE POP.
- Berlin University of the Arts.
- Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin.
- Institute for Musicology and Media Studies at Humboldt University Berlin.
- Jazz-Institut Berlin.
What Is Musicology The Study Of?
The term “musicology,” which includes all facets of music in all cultures and throughout history, literally means “the study of music.”
How Many People Study Music In Germany?
In comparison to 802,000 students 10 years ago, 920,000 students are today enrolled in music education programs.
With around 61,000 students taking lessons, the violin is the third most popular instrument behind the piano and the guitar.
What is the Harvard of Germany?
Because of its outstanding reputation in business and economics, the University of Mannheim is sometimes referred to as “the Harvard of Germany.” The city of Mannheim is found in the Bundesland (state) of Baden-Württemberg, 70 kilometers south of Frankfurt.
Is College In Germany Free For Foreigners?
Germans, Europeans, and all non-Europeans are not required to pay tuition to study there. Whether you are from the EU or EEA is unimportant.
This holds true for nearly all academic programs at public universities.
Can I Make A Career Out Of Music?
A career in music as a full-time job is a goal for many aspiring artists.
Anyone can succeed as a musician, but one needs a strong work ethic and the appropriate mindset.