Fortepiano
Entrance exams for the start of studies in winter semester 2025/26
Application deadline: 26.01.2025
17.02.2025 and 18.02.2025
Concert hall (Singerstraße 26, 2nd floor, 1010 Vienna)
All parts of the admission test will take place on site in Vienna. Please make all organizational arrangements (flight reservations, visa, etc.) in time to be able to participate. You will receive the exact date by mail shortly after the registration deadline.
Programme for the entrance exam
Master's Programme
The entrance examination 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 in the practical field. The condition for admission onto the Master’s degree is a completed Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from an Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational facility, as well as successfully passing all parts of the entrance examination.
Fulfilment of the admission requirements in terms of quality are based on the requirements of graduating with a BA in the Early Music degree at the MUK. Admission with a degree qualification that is not relevant to the subject may be linked with the condition that academic achievements from the Bachelor’s degree have to be completed in addition to the Master’s curriculum (see §10 of the Study and Examination Regulation of the articles of association).
Entrance exam
1) Performance from a representative technically demanding programme, from which the committee will select pieces lasting no more than 25 minutes
- At least 3 different styles
- Uninterrupted continuo (only for lute and harpsichord)
2) Prima Vista Performance
3) Improvisation of a prelude or a fantasy (at least 8 bars)
4) Compositional analysis of a work of one's own choice from the examination program with effects on the interpretation (dissonance treatment, tempo selection, phrasing, figures, etc.) The selected work must be submitted to the Commission in 6 copies.
5) Suitability interview based on the letter of motivation
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 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.