Master of Arts in Musicology

In the Musicology Master's degree program, students deepen the knowledge and skills acquired during their Bachelor's studies. The focus is on the independent application of musicological methods to clearly defined and, in some cases, self-selected subject areas. The program prepares students for career fields such as music journalism, music publishing, concert and opera dramaturgy, music management in concert, festival, or music theater contexts, as well as music research and teaching.

Both major and minor Master's programs are designed to allow students to develop their own academic profile. Lectures and seminars are largely freely selectable according to chosen focal areas. Students can specialize in one of the following areas—Historical Musicology, Cultural Anthropology of Music, or Music Theater Studies—and obtain a specialized degree in the chosen field. Independent academic writing is a central focus, particularly with regard to the Master's thesis. However, this is complemented by a strong practical orientation, including the creation of practice-related contributions such as reviews, program booklet texts, or podcasts. For details on study organization and structure, please refer to the study plan.



Basic information
Degree:

Master of Arts in Musicology, Universität Bern (MA)
Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
Degree programs:
  • Major 90 ECTS credits


Offer for other degree programs:

  • Minor 30 ECTS credits
Combination possibilities:

see below
Duration: 4 semesters
Language: German
Beginning studies: Fall or spring semester

Details of program

The goal of the study of Musicology is:

  1. To enable students to engage independently and intellectually with music,
  2. To provide students with a deeper analytical understanding and advanced methods to systematically analyze musical or music-cultural phenomena from both the past and the present, and to communicate the insights gained both within and outside of academia,
  3. To impart comprehensive, music-relevant knowledge, techniques, and methods, and to foster an understanding of historical, sociological, performative, aesthetic, cultural, and political contexts.

The Master seminars and lectures are assigned to three main areas of study, which, depending on the chosen study profile, may also be listed as "With Special Qualification" on the Master's diploma (more information on current courses in these areas can be found here):

  • Historical Musicology
  • Cultural Anthropology of Music
  • Music Theater Studies

Scheme of program

Combination possibilities

The Master's degree program in Musicology consists of a major with 90 ECTS credits and a minor with 30 ECTS credits.

Any subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern can be chosen as a minor. However, students are not permitted to have a major and minor in the same branch of study.

Structure
Major ECTS
 Minor ECTS 
90  30 

Requirements

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master’s degree program in Musicology (major):

a) Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern or another Swiss university in musicology (at least 60 ECTS credits), provided that the necessary requirements for the successful completion of the master's program are met by fulfilling additional requirements in the form of conditions or stipulations equivalent to up to 60 ECTS credits.
b) Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern or another Swiss university in a different branch of studies with at least 60 ECTS credits in musicology, provided that the necessary requirements for the successful completion of the master's program are met by fulfilling additional requirements in the form of conditions or stipulations equivalent to up to 60 ECTS credits.*
c) Bachelor of Arts in Musicology or a similar title from a recognized foreign university with at least 60 ECTS credits in musicology, provided that the necessary requirements for the successful completion of the master's program are met by fulfilling additional requirements in the form of conditions or stipulations equivalent to up to 60 ECTS credits.*

*Conditions must be met prior to admission to the master’s program. Additional requirements must be completed by the end of the master’s program. The respective ECTS will be listed as extracurricular achievements in the diploma supplement.

Please consult the admission requirements for the minor as presented in the plan of studies.

If more than ten years have passed since the bachelor’s degree was earned, additional requirements may be imposed.

Swiss bachelor's degrees/programs

from the University of Bern

that allow admission to the desired master's degree program without any assessment:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Musicology, 120 ECTS
  • Bachelor of Arts in Musicology,  60 ECTS

from other Universities

 
from Universities of Applied Sciences

which authorize the holder to be directly admitted to the requested Master’s program with corresponding requirements (PDF, 168KB)

Language requirements

A C1 level of German is mandatory for studying musicology. Additionally, you will need English language skills that enable you to read research literature fluently. Knowledge of French and Italian, enabling you to understand relevant original texts and research literature, would also be an advantage.

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

Application and admission

Current UniBE students

Apply for a change to the M A in Musicology, Universität Bern by self-service as part of the re-registration for the next semester.
Renewal of semester registration → Self-service
Recognition of academic achievements
Procedure and timing of the renewal of semester registration
   

Application with a Swiss degree

Online application
Assessment
Steps from application to registration
 

Application with an international degree

Online application
CHECKLIST - documents for your application / important information
Steps from application to registration

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

After your master's

The career opportunities are as diverse as the course: orchestra management; editing concert programmes at a concert hall; radio or newspaper journalism; assistant or artistic director at an opera house; lecturing at a music academy; university professorship at a university; library or archive work; publishing house editing; sheet music publishing. Studying and choosing a career require flexibility and proactivity. But with a little perseverance, you will have good chances in the rapidly changing job market and even better prospects of enjoying work that constantly offers surprising insights.