FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions 
On this webpage, you will find the answers to all the questions you may have concerning music studies in Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY ME?
1. Why should I go and study abroad?
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
2. What are the differences between conservatoires, music academies, music colleges, and Musikhochschulen in Europe?
3. Should I go inside or outside the framework of an exchange programme?
4. How do I find the right institution/teacher?
5. What is the difference between undergraduate and graduate?
6. Do I have to do an audition? How?
7. What language requirements do I have to meet?
8. Can I choose my teacher?
9. What about teacher training courses?
10. Do I have to take courses in addition to my main instrumental/vocal classes?
11. How long can I go and when?
12. When and how should I start making preparations?
13. What if the curriculum at the institution abroad is different from the one I am used to?
RECOGNITION
14. What is ECTS?
15. How does ECTS system compare to credit points system in other countries?
16. What is a Diplomat Supplement?
If you are part of an exchange programme:
17. Will I receive academic or credit recognition at home if I take part of an exchange programme?
18. What is a Learning Agreement?
19. What about examinations?
FINANCES:
20. Do I have to pay tuition fees abroad?
21. Why and how should I apply for a grant?
22. Is it possible to keep my national grant/scholarship during the period of study abroad?
PRACTICAL ISSUES
23. What practical things do I have to think about?
24. An Action Plan in short
ERASMUS MUNDUS
25. What is ERASMUS MUNDUS?
WHY ME?
1. Why should I go and study abroad?
Studying abroad has many benefits. Functioning in a different living and musical environment could change your musical development in important ways. It will give you the opportunity to gain more insight into the international music field and the flexibility that is needed from you as a musician. This will be to your benefit, since the music profession is nowadays becoming more and more international. Studying abroad is also a good method to develop your network of personal and professional contacts.
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HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
2. What are the differences between conservatoires, music academies, music colleges, and Musikhochschulen in Europe?
In the various European countries, there are many differences in systems for professional music training. The different use of terminology is confusing, too: conservatoire, conservatory, school of music, music academy, Musikhochschule, and music university. If you want to have more information about a system in a particular European country, please visit the descriptions developed by this project of national systems for professional music training in Europe, which can be found at www.studymusicineurope.org/nationaldescriptions.
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3. Should I go inside or outside the framework of an exchange programme?
There may be an exchange programme set up by your home institution, which will permit you to go on a study abroad period during your studies. If this is the case, you will receive assistance with your plans in many ways from your home institution. However, if this is not the case or you would like to go for an entire study programme to an institution abroad, you will have to organise it yourself, which will be more difficult and time-consuming, but not impossible. Remember that many have already done so.
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4. How do I find the right institution/teacher?
Most institutions for professional music training have an international office and an international relations coordinator or contact person who will be able to answer to all your questions in English. Most institutions also have websites; you can find contact details, relevant information and links to European institutions for professional music training under the section Institutions of the website. You should also discuss your plans with your current and past teachers. They usually also have international contacts and may be able to help you with choosing the right teacher and institution.
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5. What is the difference between undergraduate and graduate?
Many European countries are currently introducing the 3-cycle system. This is also the case in music. The term undergraduate normally refers to first cycle or equivalent studies (usually called Bachelor). The term graduate or postgraduate normally refers to second cycle or equivalent studies (usually called Master). The 3rd cycle usually refers to Doctorate/PhD courses, although at the 3rd cycle level there is much variety throughout Europe (see for more information on 3rd cycle courses the national descriptions).
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6. Do I have to do an audition? How?
In almost all cases you have to have an audition. Information about the requirements should be available on the website of the institution you are interested in. Usually a CD or videotape is accepted. Sometimes theoretical tests are also required, but sending a transcript of records with modules you have taken so far and the results achieved will normally be sufficient.
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7. What language requirements do I have to meet?
Some knowledge of the language of the host country is recommended; in some cases, it is required. You should ask the international office/contact person in the institution to question whether it is necessary and possible to follow a preparatory language course either at your home institution before your departure or at your host institution before your arrival. Some institutions ask those who are not native speakers of the language in which lectures take places to take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and/or a Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
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8. Can I choose my teacher?
Students who want to study exclusively with a specific teacher and are not part of an exchange programme are advised to make contact with this teacher beforehand; for example, during a summer course or a personal meeting/audition. In the case of an exchange programme, the choice of teacher will depend on the arrangements your institution has made with the partner institution abroad. Usually you can mention a preference for a specific teacher, but this teacher might not have a place in his/her studio. In that case, another teacher might be proposed.
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9. What about teacher training courses?
Teacher training may vary substantially from country to country in Europe. You will have to find more information through the international office/contact person and the host institution whether you can follow courses in this area and if these courses will be recognised as part of your study abroad programme. The European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) has produced descriptions of national music-teacher-training systems in the various European countries (for more information please consult the national descriptions) These descriptions provide information on how these systems are constructed; information has been collected on classroom music teachers and instrumental/vocal teachers.
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10. Do I have to take courses in addition to my main instrumental/vocal classes?
This depends on the arrangements you will have with the institution abroad. It will also depend on your study phase, which might ask for these additional courses. Many conservatoires in Europe are part of larger higher education institutions or have connections with universities and can therefore provide classes in other fields than music. Even if it is not compulsory, it is advisable to follow courses in addition to your main instrument classes, since many institutes offer very interesting and useful courses.
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11. How long can I go and when?
If you are part of an exchange programme, this depends on the arrangements made between your institution and the host institution: the length of the exchange periods can usually vary from a few weeks up to one full academic year.
If you are not part of an exchange programme, it is advisable to spend a whole year or an entire study programme abroad. Please take into account that academic calendars can be different in the various countries.
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12. When and how should I start making preparations?
Keep in mind that preparing a study time abroad takes a lot of time! Please take a close look at all relevant deadlines. Usually you should start a year (six months at the least) before the actual trip abroad, but sometimes even sooner if the institution you want to go to has an early deadline.
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13. What if the curriculum at the institution is different from the one I am used to?
A different curriculum should be the very reason why you want to study abroad! A thorough choice of courses can substantially enrich your practical and theoretical knowledge and by extension your qualifications.
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RECOGNITION
14. What is ECTS?
To facilitate academic and credit recognition, the majority of European higher education institutions have adopted the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This system provides a common scale for measuring in credits the student workload required to complete course units (for example, one full year of studies generally amounts to sixty credits).More information about ECTS can be found under the section Recognition of the website.
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15. How does ECTS compare to credit point systems in other countries?
For detailed information about the various systems of credit points in the world, please see the document The International Recognition of Studies and Qualifications in Higher Music Education under the section Recognition of the website.
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16. What is a Diplomat Supplement?
The Diplomat Supplement (DS) is a document attached to a higher education diploma aiming at improving international ‘transparency’ and facilitating the academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.). It is designed to provide a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were successfully completed by the individual named on the original qualification to which this supplement is appended. More information about the Diploma Supplement can be found under the section Recognition of the website.
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If you are part of an exchange programme:
17. Will I receive academic or credit recognition at home if I take part of an exchange programme?
The exchange agreement made by your institutions should have a clear provision in relation to academic or credit recognition. An exchange study period should be an integral part of the programme of study at your home institution. Full academic recognition should be given for the study period abroad, as decided upon in the learning agreement between the home and the host institution. Make sure the host institution provides you with documents of proof about the courses you have followed, the credit points obtained, performances you took part in, what kind of assessments you were asked to do, and so on before returning home. A short evaluation letter from your principal teacher can also help.
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18. What is a Learning Agreement?
For most exchanges, an agreement will be drawn up before the exchange takes place, with details on the courses the student will be taking. In the framework of exchanges within Europe, this agreement is an essential part of an exchange arrangement and is called the Learning Agreement: the Learning Agreement is a contract that indicates precisely what courses you will be studying. Students are expected to complete a Learning Agreement well before they arrive: it should be signed by the student, the relevant persons in the home institution, and the relevant person in the host institution. Subsequent modifications to the Learning Agreement are permitted as long as all parties concerned agree on them. At the end of the study period abroad, the host institution will provide the exchange student as well as the sending institution with a transcript reporting the results obtained in the agreed programme of study. The Learning Agreement should contain information about the course (name, number of credit points, the type of assessment) and some general information about the student.
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19. What about examinations?
In an ideal exchange programme, in which both institutions have sufficient trust in each other’s quality and assessment standards, the examination procedure you will follow should be the one adopted by the host institution. This may involve written papers and oral and/or performance examinations. In general, you should not have to pass another examination in your home institution to receive academic recognition for your study abroad period.
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FINANCES
20. Do I have to pay tuition fees abroad?
If you decide to do a study-abroad period outside the framework of an exchange programme, please take into account that substantial tuition fees could apply, especially in relation to institutions in the United States and in some European countries.
In a well-developed exchange programme, exchange students should not have to pay fees (for tuition, registration, examinations, access to rehearsal rooms/studios and library facilities, etc.) to the host institution. In this system, tuition fees will have to be paid by the student to the home institution only (where appropriate). However, exchange students should take into account that small fees may be charged for certain costs, such as insurance, student unions, the use of photocopiers, recording products, etc. on an equal basis with local students. It is vital to draw up a budget at a very early stage. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to get a work permit abroad.
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21. Why and how should I apply for a grant?
Even if you do not have to pay tuition fees, going abroad may be very costly. You will have to pay for travel, visa and permits, insurance, housing, etc. Your international office/contact person can inform you if there are grant possibilities. You can also obtain information from the embassy of the host country or from in the Practicalities section of this website.
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22. Is it possible to keep my national grant/scholarship during the period of study abroad?
The international office/contact person of your institution can provide more you with more information on the subject.
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PRACTICAL ISSUES
23. What practical things do I have to think about?
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Finding accommodation is one of the first steps you need to organise. Often the least expensive alternative is to have a room on campus. However, European institutions might not have a campus. You should contact the campus accommodation office of the institution abroad about this as soon as possible or ask for advice from the international office/contact person of the host institution.
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Whether you need a visa and a residence permit depends on the country you are from, the country you are travelling to, and the duration of your stay. The international office of the host institution should be able to provide you with more details about visa and permits. For relevant links to different national websites, please visit the section Practicalities of this website.
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You have to take care of health, travel, instrument, and liability insurances before departure. The international office of the host institution should be able to provide you with more details about these issues.
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24. An Action Plan in short
Below you will find a list of things and actions you should think of when planning to study abroad.
a. Gather information
b. Select an institution abroad
c. Clear study programme
d. Budget/cost-plan
e. Grant application
f. Visa and residence permit (if applicable)
g. Insurance
h. Language preparation
i. Accommodation abroad
j. If required and if possible: work permit
k. Social preparation
l. Address abroad
m. E-mail account
n. Contact address
Arrive several days before the start of your studies
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ERASMUS MUNDUS
25. What is ERASMUS MUNDUS?
The Erasmus Mundus programme is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education funded by the European Union. The Erasmus Mundus programme offers Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses (involving three different European countries in at least three different European countries), the Erasmus Mundus scholarships (addressed to highly qualified students and scholars from third-countries), Partnerships (between European and third-countries higher education institutions). More information can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html
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