Opera
Entrance exams for a start of studies in winter semester 2026/27
Application deadline: Wed., 04.03.2026
Process:
1. Submission of the completed application form by the application deadline
2. On-site appointment:
Fri, 20.03.2026 - Sat. 21.03.2026 (whole day)
Konzertsaal (Singerstraße 26, 2. OG, 1010 Wien)
Please make all organizational preparations (flight reservations, visa, etc.) in time to participate.
Programme for the entrance exam
Master's Programme
The entrance examination for the Master’s degree is used to check the candidate’s aptitude for the specific requirements of the Master’s degree, with particular consideration of their prior knowledge and skills.
The condition for admission to a Master’s degree is a completed Bachelor’s degree (in a pertinent branch of study) or an equivalent qualification from an Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational facility, as well as successfully passing all parts of the entrance examination.
To pass the entrance examination, a rating of “Passed” is required in all sections. Admission also depends on the specific availability of a course place. Being placed on the waiting list supposes a probability of future availability (i.e. by the end of the semester in question) of a course place.
Step 1:
Applications for the entrance examination are submitted via the application form in MUKonline.
All the necessary steps for registering for the entrance examination are listed here.
On-site appointment:
Two-part exam structure
1st round:
- 1 aria of your choice from the submitted repertoire (the repertoire consists of 5 arias in at least 3 different languages, one of which must be in German. One work must be from the 20th or 21st century and feature an advanced, non-tonal musical language)
- Recitation of a short literary text of your choice in German from memory, max. 2 minutes (poem, prose or monologue)
- A short, tonal piece will be selected by the committee and handed out for sight-singing
Round 2 (live, on the following day – after passing round 1):
- 1 aria is selected by the commission from the repertoire submitted in the 1st round and performed by the candidate
- Scenic-musical work in a simulated teaching situation with this aria
- Presentation of an atonal piece selected and handed out by the commission (after 30 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of rehearsal with accompaniment)
- Technical discussion (candidate with the commission)
All works from the submitted repertoire must be performed from memory.
Candidates must bring their own sheet music.
An accompanist will be available.
Certificate of Performance
Dates for the entrance exam are arranged individually.
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 for the programme.
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.