Study Musicology, Music Pedagogy in Germany

The following areas of study are included in musicology and music pedagogy:

• Ethnomusicology deals with the role of music in societies and cultures around the world. In this context, you also examine political, ideological, and ecological issues.
• Music history focuses on musical styles of the past and the evolution of music.
• Music pedagogy is primarily concerned with the learning of music and didactics in music. Accordingly, this area teaches you basic educational theories and practical skills.
• Courses of study in music theory cover music-theoretical methods and discourses as well as the analysis of compositional techniques and musical styles.
• Musicology, on the other hand, is a liberal arts degree that deals with the various aspects and characteristics of music, in the past and present, especially in the context of history and culture.

As you can already deduce from this list, various fields of study are open to you depending on your interests and musical abilities.

As a basic admission requirement for the study of musicology, music pedagogy, you need the general or subject-specific university entrance qualification or an equivalent. The specific admission restrictions and requirements differ depending on the degree programme.

For the more historically-scientifically oriented subjects such as musicology, music theory or ethnomusicology, aptitude tests, internal selection procedures or an NC, i.e. a minimum grade point average, are less often asked for. But even if it is not necessarily a formal application requirement, some basic understanding of music is desired by higher education institutions.

If you want to enrol in a music pedagogy degree programme, you must be able to play one or more instruments, as the use of instruments is a very important part of the academic training there. It is also possible to study an instrument and then combine this with music education.

At many higher education institutions, you have to go through a multi-stage application process, especially for music pedagogy. For admission, you have to pass so-called aptitude tests in which, in addition to practical skills on one or more instruments, some basic theoretical knowledge is also tested. In addition, singing and aural skills are tested.

There are big differences between the individual courses of study when looking at degrees and how long it takes to get them.

The degree programmes with a focus on the history and science of music can be studied partly as a major, but sometimes only in combination with another (minor) subject. Such combination Bachelor’s degree programmes are normal at many German higher education institutions.

You also have various options with regard to your degree when you pick a music pedagogy degree programme. Depending on the place of study and type of higher education institution, you can study music pedagogy as a major or minor subject at Bachelor’s level, as a major subject at Master’s level or as a sub-subject as part of a teacher training programme.

The standard period of study for both scientific and pedagogical studies is usually six to eight semesters for a Bachelor’s degree and four semesters for a Master’s degree.

Studying is free of charge at most higher education institutions in Germany. You usually only have to pay tuition fees if you choose a private higher education institution. Although there are no fees, you usually have to pay a semester fee of 100-400 euros once a semester. This covers administrative costs and the student union. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

Rents vary depending on the city you want to study in. In large cities, housing is often scarce and expensive, while in smaller cities it is comparatively affordable. In any case, student halls of residence are usually your cheapest option. As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

Dual study programmes or part-time study formats are very rare in this field of study in Germany.

In addition to the classical pedagogical areas such as music education institutes, higher education institutions and music or adult education centres, music educators nowadays also work in museums or cultural associations and societies. Advertising agencies or institutions for youth or senior citizen work are also potential career options.

Careers for graduates of historical-scientific degree programmes can be found in the cultural and media sector, but also in the education sector. Musicologists work at opera houses, radio stations or in the press and are also sought after in the field of social work.

Find out more information on the current labour market in this field by searching job listings on the website of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency). If you are interested in musicology, you can find details and further links here. Information on music pedagogy can be found here (links only available in German). Take a look around! Learn more about your opportunities as an international skilled worker in Germany and the requirements on the Make it in Germany website.