Apply to master’s studies in Early Music

Admissions guide to the 2.5-year programme in Classical Music Performance (Early Music as a main subject).

The main instrument in the Early Music programme is one of the following period instruments: wind instrument (Baroque bassoon, Baroque oboe, recorder, or traverso), string instrument (Baroque cello, Baroque violin, or viola da gamba), harpsichord, or lute. In addition, Uniarts Helsinki students applying to change their right to study may choose Baroque Trumpet or Natural Horn as their main instrument.

Admissions schedule 2024

  • Application period: Send your application in Studyinfo portal between 3 January 2024 8 am EET and 17 January 2024 3 pm EET
  • Submit required attachments and possible advance assignments at latest 24 January 2024 3 pm EET
  • Sibelius Academy confirms your eligibility to apply at latest 1 March 2024
  • Open University selection group: Certificate of completed path studies by 26 April 2024 3 pm EEST
  • Second stage between 2 and 6 May 2024 (one day per applicant)
  • Applicants demonstrating their language skills with a language skills certificate: Submit your test result certificate at latest 17 May 2024 3 pm EEST
  • Sibelius Academy publishes admissions results 2 June 2024
  • Confirm your study place at latest 11 July 2024 3 pm EEST:
    • Officially accept your study place
    • Register for the academic year
    • Conditionally admitted applicants: Submit the required degree certificate
    • Students who are required to pay tuition fees: Pay your tuition fee
  • Waiting list procedure ends 30 July 2024 3 pm EEST
  • New students’ studies begin in August 2024

Who can apply?

A person with the background education required for the degree programme in question and sufficient language skills may apply for studies.

In addition, a person who completes the required background education after the end of the application period, but no later than 11 July 2024 at 3 pm EEST is eligible to apply. In that case, the admission decision is conditional until the applicant submits a certificate of the completed degree or other studies required for eligibility. If the applicant fails to submit the certificate by said deadline, the study place will be cancelled.

The Sibelius Academy may, at its discretion, also accept a temporary certificate issued by the educational institution if it indicates that the applicant has completed all studies required for the degree and will receive the degree certificate later.

Sibelius Academy will check every applicant’s eligibility before the entrance examination.

Students are admitted to the Sibelius Academy based on their performance in the entrance examination. Certificate-based admissions or quotas for first-time applicants are not in place.

Master’s degree (2.5 years)

A person who has completed at least one of the following is eligible to apply:

  • A lower university degree in music (Bachelor)
  • A university of applied sciences degree in music
  • A foreign degree or qualification in music that provides eligibility for corresponding higher education studies in the awarding country
  • A lower university degree in another field and, additionally, higher education studies in music.

The Sibelius Academy may require that a person admitted to study towards a master’s degree complete complementary studies of a scope equivalent to a maximum of one year of studies in addition to the minimum number of ECTS credits required by the degree programme in order for them to attain the skills required in the training. In principle, complementary studies must be completed in the first year of study, and they must be included in the student’s personal study plan. The applicant is informed of the complementary studies required of them in connection with the admission decision. Such complementary studies must be mentioned in the programme’s admissions proposal.

Exceptions to eligibility

The applicant cannot apply for both 5.5-year and 2.5-year programmes of a single major subject or main instrument in the same year. However, if the applicant submits an application to both programmes, the Sibelius Academy will

  • take account of the application for the 2.5-year programme if the applicant is eligible for it, or
  • take account of the application for the 5.5-year programme if the applicant is not eligible for the 2.5-year programme.

If the applicant has completed a higher education degree at the Sibelius Academy, they cannot apply for the same degree programme, major subject or main instrument again.

The student admission for bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes applies to applicants who do not have a valid right to study at Uniarts Helsinki at the beginning of the applied right to study, with the exception of persons who have the vice rector’s permission to complete two degrees simultaneously. A degree student registered at Uniarts Helsinki may apply for a change of right to study within the Sibelius Academy or between academies. There are separate instructions for applying for a change of the right to study and for applying for a permission to complete two degrees simultaneously. More information on the rule of one study right can be found here.

Language requirements

The languages of tuition in the Classical Music Performance programme are Finnish, Swedish, and English. You must demonstrate your language proficiency in one of the abovementioned languages by the given deadline. However, the majority of group tuition at the Sibelius Academy is provided in Finnish or English.

How to apply

Submit your application in the spring’s first joint application period from 3 to 17 January 2024 by 3pm EET in the Studyinfo portal.

Click here to read instruction on how to fill the application form. Please note that you do not need to register in Studyinfo portal before completing the application form.

Submit the supporting documents and any advance assignments in accordance with the instructions provided.

Supporting documents

Submit the supporting documents via the Studyinfo portal as PDF files by 3pm EET on 24 January 2024. If the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish, or English, append a translation by an authorised translator into one of these languages.

Documents required from all applicants:

  • Degree certificate of the background education and a transcript of study records
    If you complete your degree after the end of the application period, it is adequate to submit the degree certificate by 3pm EEST on 11 July 2024. However, all applicants must submit a transcript of records during the application period.

    In case of a foreign degree, the Sibelius Academy may request clarification on the degree’s status within the awarding country’s education system.
  • Certificate demonstrating language proficiency
    If you demonstrate your language proficiency based on your previous studies, the degree certificate or its appendix must clearly indicate the language in which the degree was completed. The degree demonstrating language proficiency must be completed by 3pm EEST on 11 July 2024.

You will NOT need to submit a certificate of your prior education (degree certificate, transcript of records) or language proficiency if they are based on one of the following:

  • You have completed the Finnish matriculation examination in 1990 or later.
  • You have completed a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification in 2017 or later.
  • You have completed a Finnish further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification in 2018 or later.

In the above cases, we will receive your information from the electronic qualification register. If necessary, the Sibelius Academy will ask you for further information by e-mail.

Applicants applying for an entrance examination which includes sections that are organized remotely or by video recording shall also be required to:

  • Official proof of identity
    Append a copy of your passport, EU identity card or Finnish driving licence to your application.

Applicants to programmes organised in English are also required to submit:

  • A document exempting from tuition fees
    If you apply to study in English, you will be liable to pay tuition fees unless you submit a document indicating that you are exempt. For more information on tuition fees, see Tuition fees and scholarships.

Refugees, persons in a refugee-like situation and asylum seekers:

If you are unable to submit documentary evidence of your degree, you may still be deemed eligible to apply. Submit a reliable report on the completed degree that grants you eligibility to apply and an additional report explaining why the documents are not available. In addition, submit an official decision on your refugee status (asylum decision or residence permit based on protection, or a proof that such an application is pending). Submit the required documents by email to the Admissions Office by 24 January 2024 3pm EET. The Sibelius Academy will make a decision on your eligibility based on the submitted report. Applicants with refugee status must provide proof of their language skills required for the studies in one of the ways specified in the selection criteria (in Language requirements).

Advance assignments

Any advance assignments are mentioned in the target programme’s admissions criteria. The advance assignments must be submitted as attachments to the application.

The advance assignments must clearly state the applicant’s name and the programme to which they relate. Do not submit any other advance assignments than the ones requested. Upload the materials to the Studyinfo portal as early as possible. Large files may take several hours to upload.

Entrance examinations

You can be invited to the entrance examinations if:

  1. you have submitted an electronic application form and the required attachments at Studyinfo portal, and
  2. Sibelius Academy deems you eligible based on the submitted documents.

The implementation of the entrance examinations for each programme is described in the programme’s admission criteria. The entrance examination schedules of separate programmes may overlap. If the applicant has applied for multiple programmes, they must choose which examinations they attend in case of overlaps.

A programme’s entrance examination may consist of several phases and contain multiple sub-tests. If the applicant fails to pass all the compulsory sub-tests for the entrance examination or the applicant’s entrance examinations do not meet the requirements set for them, they cannot be admitted as a student.  

The Sibelius Academy will send applicants instructions for participation in entrance examinations in the entrance examination invitation. The exact times for individual entrance examinations are confirmed at the latest in the morning of the entrance examination day. Individual examination times cannot be changed except for compelling reasons not attributable to the applicant. Such reasons include the matriculation examination (or a corresponding event) and an accident or sudden illness (a medical certificate is required). In such cases, the examination time can only be rescheduled within the limits of the Entrance Examination Board’s working timetables.

The entrance examination is a closed event attended by the applicant, the Entrance Examination Board and the agreed assistants (for example, an accompanist, a training choir, a board assistant or the applicant’s assistant). Entrance examinations may not be recorded.

If you wish to cancel your participation in the entrance examination, notify the Sibelius Academy Admissions Office by email as soon as possible.

Individual arrangements in the entrance examination

If you require individual arrangements in the entrance examination because of a sensory or physical disability or other corresponding reason, more information on individual arrangements can be found here.

Early Music entrance examination

The Early music programme has two selection groups:

  1. General selection group
  2. Open University selection group

On the application form, you must select the selection group in which you are applying. New students in both selection groups will be selected separately. However, the selection groups have a joint waiting list.

The first stage of the entrance examination is different for each selection group. The second stage of the entrance examination is the same for both selection groups.

General selection group

The main instrument exam consists of two stages. The first stage will be carried out remotely by video and the second on site at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

First stage: Advance assignment 

Submit the following advance assignment via the Studyinfo portal by 24 January 2024, 3pm EET (Finnish time):

  • A video recording on which you perform an approximately 5-minute repertoire of your choice with the period instrument you have listed in your application form, which is different from the repertoire you will play in the second stage of the entrance examination.  

The compositions do not have to be played from memory. Compositions including accompaniment should be performed with accompaniment, if possible. The accompanying instrument may be a keyboard instrument, plucked instrument, cello, or viol. 

You must play facing the camera so that your face and hands are visible at all times. If your main instrument is Harpsichord, shoot the video recording from the side, so that you are fully visible while playing. The video must not be shot from too far away. You must be visible in the frame from head to knees. The video recording must not be edited. All pieces included in it must be played continuously in one uninterrupted take. If your video exceeds the 1 GB maximum size, you may divide a single-take video into smaller segments. 

Based on the scores given for the first stage, the Board will invite some of the applicants to the second stage of the entrance examination. Information on the results of the first stage will be sent by email. 

Second stage 

The second stage of the main instrument exam will be held on site at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki between 2 and 6 May 2024 (one day per applicant). The exact time will be announced, at the latest, in the invitation to the second stage entrance examination. The second stage consists of an instrument audition and an interview.

Instrument audition 

Repertoire for the instrument audition: 

  1. Musical acquisition assignment which will be sent to applicants by e-mail two weeks before the entrance examination 
  2. Two freely selected compositions representing different stylistic periods 
  3. Prima vista playing at the discretion of the Board  
  4. For harpsichord and lute players: A continuo assignment which will be sent to applicants by e-mail two weeks before the entrance examination 

The compositions do not have to be played from memory. Perform the repertoire with the period instrument you have listed as your main instrument on the application form. 

Compositions requiring accompaniment are to be played with accompaniment. The accompanying instrument is a harpsichord. You may use your own accompanist or one provided by the university. In your application form, please indicate if you want to use a university accompanist. The Sibelius Academy does not offer the opportunity to practice with the accompanist before the entrance examination. Changes to the accompanist selection cannot be made after the deadline for the submission of the sheet music (22 April 2024).

If you use the accompanist provided by the university: 

  • Submit the sheet music of your freely selected compositions as instructed in the invitation to the entrance examination. Submit the sheet music in PDF form and each composition as a single file (not one page per file). The maximum file size is 20 MB. The names of the composer and the composition as well as your name and the programme you are applying for must be stated at the beginning of the sheet music of each composition. 
  • Bring the same sheet music to the entrance examination as either originals or copies taped together. 

Interview   

The Entrance Examination Board will interview the applicant in connection with the instrument audition. 

Open University selection group

Applicants who have completed 30 credits in required path studies in Early Music at the Uniarts Helsinki Open University before the Early Music on-site entrance examination may apply in the Open University selection group. More information on the Open University path to Early Music Studies can be found on this page.

The applicants who have completed the required Open University path studies by the given deadline will have direct access to the second stage of the entrance examination, which will be held on Sibelius Academy premises in Helsinki.

First stage

Submit a certificate of completed Open University path studies as a PDF file via the Studyinfo system by 26 April 2024.

Applicants in the Open University selection group will be sent a conditional invitation to the entrance examination before the on-site entrance examination, which will be cancelled if the applicant has not completed the required Open University path studies by the given deadline.

Second stage

The main instrument on-site entrance examination will be held at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki between 2 and 6 May 2024 (one day per applicant). The exact time will be announced, at the latest, in the invitation to the second stage entrance examination. The entrance examination consists of an instrument audition and an interview.

Instrument audition

Repertoire for the instrument audition:

  1. Musical acquisition assignment which will be sent to applicants by e-mail two weeks before the entrance examination
  2. Two freely selected compositions representing different stylistic periods
  3. Prima vista playing at the discretion of the Board
  4. For harpsichord and lute players: A continuo assignment which will be sent to applicants by e-mail two weeks before the entrance examination

The compositions do not have to be played from memory. Perform the repertoire with the period instrument you have listed as your main instrument on the application form.

Compositions requiring accompaniment are to be played with accompaniment. The accompanying instrument is a harpsichord. You may use your own accompanist or one provided by the university. In your application form, please indicate if you want to use a university accompanist. The Sibelius Academy does not offer the opportunity to practice with the accompanist before the entrance examination. Changes to the accompanist selection cannot be made after the deadline for the submission of the sheet music (22 April 2024).

If you use the accompanist provided by the university:

  • Submit the sheet music of your freely selected compositions as instructed in the invitation to the entrance examination. Submit the sheet music in PDF form and each composition as a single file (not one page per file). The maximum file size is 20 MB. The names of the composer and the composition as well as your name and the programme you are applying for must be stated at the beginning of the sheet music of each composition.
  • Bring the same sheet music to the entrance examination as either originals or copies taped together.

Interview

The Entrance Examination Board will interview the applicant in connection with the instrument audition.

Entrance examination assessment

Applicants’ performance in the entrance examinations is assessed by programme-specifically appointed Entrance Examination Boards. The boards assess the knowledge, skills and capabilities of each applicant and their capacity to complete the degree studies within the normative duration for the completion of a degree. The assessment takes account of how the applicant’s previous education and experience reflects in their competence and assesses their competence in relation to the objectives set in the curriculum.

In addition, during the entrance examinations for early music, the Board will assess the applicants’ 

  • artistic merits and uniqueness 
  • knowledge of performance practices from different periods 
  • stylistic awareness, musical organisation and phrasing 
  • technical quality (tone, intonation, motor skills). 

During the interview of the entrance examination, the Board will also assess the applicant’s objectives in relation to the degree programme’s curriculum, which emphasises ensemble playing, research and seminar work. 

Scoring of the entrance examination

General selection group: In the first stage of the entrance examination, the Board will score the applicants’ performances on a scale of 0 to 1 and in the second stage on a scale of 0 to 25 points. The applicant’s score for the first stage will not affect their score for the second stage. The score for the second stage will remain the applicant’s final score.

Open University selection group: The Board will score the applicants’ performances on a scale of 0-25 points during the second stage of the entrance examination. The score for the second stage will remain the applicant’s final score.

Admissions results

The Entrance Examination boards rank the applicants of each programme based on their entrance examination score. The final decision on students admitted to the programmes and those placed on the waiting list is made by the dean of the Sibelius Academy.

A study place is offered to highest scoring applicants who meet the selection criteria. Applicants ranked behind the admitted students may be placed on a waiting list in the order of their score. In Early Music programme all applicants who are placed on the waiting are placed on the same shared waiting list. A study place will become vacant and can be offered to an applicant on a waiting list only if one of the applicants admitted to the same degree programme (or group) chooses not to accept the study place, or if someone who has been conditionally admitted fails to submit the necessary documents by the end of the deadline.

If there are no applicants who meet the admissions criteria, some programmes may choose not to admit new students. If a specific degree programme does not admit any new students, applicants to that programme cannot be placed on a waiting list.

Announcement of results

Admission results, including the names of the applicants who have given the permission to have their names published online, will be published on the Uniarts Helsinki website. In addition, each applicant can view their situation in the Studyinfo portal. Admitted applicants and those placed on the waiting list are informed of the results by email.

Feedback

Applicants may request feedback on their entrance examination performance. The feedback provides the applicant with information on how the evaluation criteria stated in the admission criteria were applied in the assessment of their entrance examination. Instructions for requesting feedback will be published on the Uniarts Helsinki website in connection with the publication of the admission decision.

Rectification procedure

If you believe that the Sibelius Academy has acted contrary to its admission criteria, you can request for rectification to the student admission decision from the Sibelius Academy in writing within 14 days of the publication of the admission results.

The rectification procedure is not intended as a means for receiving feedback, asking for further information about the admission or requesting unjustified re-evaluation.

More information about the rectification process can be found here.

Accepting the offered study place and starting your studies

An offer of admission can be accepted either via the Studyinfo system or by filling in the confirmation form attached to the letter of acceptance and by delivering it to the admissions office. You must accept your study place by the given deadline. If the confirmation arrives late, it will not be considered.

Accepting an offer of admission is a binding choice, which cannot be changed or cancelled later on.

You must also register as attending at the Sibelius Academy before the academic year begins – more information will be sent to you along with your acceptance letter.

First-year studies begin in mid-August with an orientation period that is compulsory for all new students.

More information on accepting the offered study place and starting our studies at the Sibelius Academy can be found here

Questions or comments?

You can contact us via e-mail at siba.admissions@uniarts.fi.

If you have any questions, please check first if your question has been already answered on our frequently asked questions page. This page will be updated constantly. Please check it regularly to see if new questions have been answered. Please note that in principle we do not explain the entrance examination assignments. The instructions are in the admissions guide.

If you have any questions regarding student life at the Sibelius Academy or in Helsinki, you can contact our Student Ambassadors at siba.student.ambassadors@uniarts.fi.

The Sibelius Acad­emy Ad­mis­sions Chat

What is it like to study at the Sibelius Academy and live in Helsinki? How do you apply to the Sibelius Academy? We answered these questions among others in our Admissions chat broadcast in November 2023. The recording of the event is available on Sibelius Academy’s Instagram account. Please click here to open the recording.

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