Conducting
Entrance exams for the start of studies in winter semester 2025/26
Application deadline: 07.05.2025
22.05. and 23.05.2025, from 10.00
Room 1.04.03 (Johannesgasse 4a, 1st floor, 1010 Vienna)
Theory test (for BA only):
20.05.2025, 09:00 - approx. 12:00
Room 2.04 (Johannesgasse 4a, 2nd floor, 1010 Vienna)
Here you can find further information concerning the theory test.
This entrance exam will take place on site in Vienna. Please make all organisational preparations (flight booking, visa etc.) in time to participate.
Programme for the entrance exam
Bachelor's Programme
The entrance examination is in several sections. You will need to pass the preceding part before moving on to the next section. The entrance examination is used to provide evidence of a talent for the field of study, the possession of basic knowledge in the field of theory, aural training and of an instrument.
The entrance examination has a written and verbal part and consists of:
• Examination of aural skills and rhythm
• Performance on the piano (the first movement of a piano sonata by L. v. Beethoven - except Sonatas op. 14, op. 27/2, op. 49 and op. 79 -, an étude with the level of difficulty of a virtuoso Chopin étude and a representative piece from the 19th and 20th century)
• Prima vista playing and singing (Mozart operas)
• Conducting: first movement either from: L. v. Beethoven: 4th symphony, W.A. Mozart: Linzer-Sinfonie or F. Schubert: 3rd symphony.
• Discussion with the candidate
Master's Programme
Prerequisite for admission to the Master’s degree course is a successfully completed Bachelor’s degree in the same field of study or an equivalent qualification as well as successfully passing the entrance examination and there being a place available on the course.
The Director of Studies can link admission to the Master’s degree course to the condition that specific courses beyond the syllabus of the Master’s degree must be completed or that written essays must be submitted. The student can be set a deadline to fulfil these conditions. If no deadline is set, these conditions must be fulfilled before the end of the course.
The entrance examination is used to check that the course candidate is at the level of a post-Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in the same field of study from an Austrian or overseas, post-secondary educational institution.
1st part Theory:
• Aural training and rhythm test
2nd part On the piano:
• sight-reading of score at the level of difficulty of a Bachelor’s degree in Conducting
• Accompanying: 15—20 minutes of an act of an opera of choice (highlighting the essential singer cues)
• Performance on the piano (the first movement of a piano sonata by L. v. Beethoven - except sonatas op. 14, op. 27/2, op. 49 and op. 79. - an étude of the level of difficulty of a virtuoso étude by Liszt, Rachmaninoff or Chopin and a representative piece from the 20th century
3rd part Conducting:
• 1st movement from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, No. 5 or No. 7
• 1st movement from Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 or No. 3
• 1st movement from Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1
4th part Discussion
Certificate of Performance
If you cannot join the exam on the given date, an individual exam date can be arranged.
The admission exam can be done directly on site in Vienna or by submitting respective application videos and serves to determine applicants’:
a) motivation for undertaking the programme of study
b) artistic proficiency (corresponding to Master’s level entry)
c) artistic and personal suitability
The admission process is split into three parts – applicants must be successful in Part 1 in order to progress to the next stage.
1. Submission of a short biography (including language skills), covering letter, repertoire list and an audition programme:
• Short biography: applicants should provide a written overview of the qualifications they have gained so far, their (language) skills, and the areas their activities have focused on.
• Covering letter: applicants should describe their personal expectations of the programme and what they are looking to get out of it. Applicants should also state their current artistic activities and skills and those they are aiming to acquire.
• Audition programme for Part 2: a programme for the artistic presentation that makes up Part 2 (corresponding to Master’s level entry).
2. Artistic presentation:
In the artistic presentation, applicants should demonstrate their instrumental proficiency and level of artistry. The programme should be put together by the applicant her/himself and should give as strong an impression as possible of her/his artistic qualifications. Instrumental proficiency should be at least that needed for Master’s level entry.
3. Colloquium:
Together with the applicant, a panel will discuss and reflect on the results of Parts 1 and 2 of the admission exam and examine the applicant’s individual and artistic potential as well as her/his personal goals and suitability.
Information required for all applicants
Schedule might be possibly altered even in the short term! Regarding that please look up this section of the website regularly. Thank you.
Applications for studying at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna can be submitted online at anytime; they will be reserved for the next admission period. Applications submitted after the application deadline can no longer be considered for the subsequent audition date.
The application for the entrance examination is done via the application mask in MUKonline. All necessary steps for the application for the entrance exam are listed here.