Apply to degree studies in Vocal Arts (Bachelor + Master)
First joint application to higher education, spring 2026. Admissions schedule, required certificates and advance assignments as well as information about participating in the entrance examinations.
Degree studies with Vocal Arts as a main subject are a part of the Classical Music Performance programme.
Admissions schedule 2026
- Application period starts on 7 January 2026 at 8:00 and ends on 21 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- Fill in and send your application in Studyinfo portal
- Submit the required supporting documents and possible advance assignments in the Studyinfo portal no later than on 28 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- If you demonstrate your language proficiency with a language test taken in spring 2026, the test must be completed no later than 2 March 2026
- Submit a certificate of participation in the language test no later than 2 March 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- Submit the final test result that meets the language requirements as soon as possible, but no later than 31 March 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time)
- Sibelius Academy will confirm your eligibility to apply no later than on 6 March 2026
- Submit the sheet music for your entrance examination by email no later than on 1 April 2026
- General music skills test online 15 April 2026 at 10:30 or 18:30 EEST (Finnish time)
- Entrance examination in Helsinki 5–8 May 2026
- Sibelius Academy publishes admissions results 27 May 2026
- Confirm your study place no later than on 9 July 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time)
- Officially accept your study place
- Register for the academic year
- If you’re admitted conditionally, submit the required degree certificate
- If you are are required to pay tuition fees, pay your tuition fee
- New students start their studies with an orientation period in August 2026
Who can apply?
You are eligible to apply if you meet the degree programme’s educational requirements and have sufficient language skills.
The Sibelius Academy will verify each 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 used.
Required educational background
You are eligible to apply for education leading to both a Bachelor and a Master of Music degree (3 + 2.5 years) if you have completed at least one of the following:
- The Finnish Matriculation Examination
- An International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
- A European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma at a European School
- A Reifeprüfung or Deutsche Internationale Abitur diploma
- A Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification, a further vocational qualification, or a specialist vocational qualification defined under the Act on Vocational Education and Training (531/2017)
- A foreign degree or qualification that makes you eligible for corresponding higher education in the awarding country
- A Cambridge Advanced International Certificate (AICE)
- A degree at a Finnish higher education institution or a degree abroad corresponding to at least a bachelor’s degree.
In addition, a person who has been granted the right to study in a university in Finland is eligible to apply.
Your educability is also taken into consideration in the admissions process. The new degree must provide you with sufficient new competence. Bachelor’s programmes are intended for applicants who do not already hold a bachelor’s degree in the field in question. If you already have a degree of the equivalent level, we primarily encourage you to apply directly to a master’s programme.
Your eligibility if you graduate after the application deadline
Candidates for the Finnish Matriculation Examination and other applicants who receive their degree certificate in the spring after the application deadline are deemed conditionally eligible to apply. In this case, the decision on your admittance is conditional until you submit a certificate of your completed degree or other studies required for eligibility. Submit the certificate to the Sibelius Academy no later than on 9 July 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time). If you fail to submit the certificate by the given deadline, the study place offered to you will be cancelled.
The Sibelius Academy may, at its discretion, also accept a temporary certificate issued by the educational institution if it indicates that you have completed all studies required for the degree and will without a doubt receive the degree certificate later.
Language requirements
The languages of instruction in the Classical Music Performance programme are Finnish, Swedish, and English. You must demonstrate your language proficiency in one of the above-mentioned languages by the given deadline. However, most of the group instruction at the Sibelius Academy is taught in Finnish or English.
Other exceptions to eligibility
You cannot apply for both the 5.5-year and the 2.5-year programmes in the same main subject or main instrument in the same year. However, if you do submit applications to both, the Sibelius Academy will:
- consider the application for the 2.5-year programme if you are eligible for it; or
- consider the application for the 5.5-year programme if you are not eligible for the 2.5-year programme.
If you have completed a higher education degree at the Sibelius Academy, you cannot reapply to study the same main subject (or, in the case of Classical Music Performance, the same main instrument) from which you graduated.
Student admissions to the bachelor’s and master’s programmes are intended for applicants who do not have a valid right to study at Uniarts Helsinki at the time the new study right begins. Separate instructions are available for applying for a change of study right. More information about the rule of one study right can be found here.
How to apply
Fill in and submit the electronic application form in the Studyinfo portal
Complete the electronic application form during the spring’s 2026 first joint application period, between 7 and 21 January 2026 by 15:00 EET (Finnish time), in the Studyinfo portal. Please note that you do not need to register in the Studyinfo portal before filling in the application form. More information on how to fill in the application form can be found here.
You may only submit one application form during the application period. If you submit multiple applications, only the most recent one will be considered, and all previous applications will be cancelled. The Sibelius Academy will not notify you of cancelled applications.
Upload the required attachments to your application
Submit the required supporting documents to the Sibelius Academy via the Studyinfo portal as PDF files no later than 28 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time).
If your certificates are in a language other than Finnish, Swedish, or English, you must also include an official translation in one of these languages. Accepted translations include those made by an authorised translator or an official certificate attachment issued by the institution (such as a Diploma Supplement). Self-made or other unofficial translations will not be accepted.
If you are a refugee, in a refugee-like situation, or an asylum seeker and are unable to provide documentary evidence of your qualifications, you may still be deemed eligible to apply. More information can be found on our website here.
All applicants must submit the following documents:
1) Degree certificate and transcript of records from your prior education
If your degree will be awarded only after the application period has ended, it is sufficient to submit a copy of your degree certificate to the Sibelius Academy no later than 9 July 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time). However, all applicants must submit a transcript of records no later than 28 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time).
You do not need to submit a certificate of your prior education (degree certificate, transcript of records) if:
- you have completed the Finnish matriculation examination in 1990 or later; or
- you have completed a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification in 2017 or later; or
- you have completed a Finnish further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification in 2018 or later.
In the above cases, your information will be retrieved from the electronic qualification register. The matriculation examination results of Finnish upper secondary school graduates in spring 2026 will also be checked from the register. If necessary, the Sibelius Academy will contact you by email for additional information.
In case of a foreign degree, the Sibelius Academy may request further clarification regarding the status of the degree within the education system of the awarding country.
2) Certificate demonstrating language skills
If you demonstrate your language skills with your prior studies, the degree certificate or its appendix must clearly indicate the language of instruction. The degree used to demonstrate your language skills must be completed no later than 9 July 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time).
If you cannot demonstrate your language skills with your prior studies, you must submit a language test result that meets the Sibelius Academy’s language requirements. The language test must be completed no later than 2 March 2026 to be considered in the spring 2026 admissions. Submit a certificate of participation in the test to the Sibelius Academy no later than 2 March 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time). Submit the final test result that meets the language requirements to the Sibelius Academy as soon as possible, but no later than 31 March 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time).
3) Official proof of identity
Attach a copy of your passport, EU identity card, or Finnish driving license to your application. This document will be used to verify your identity in the parts of the entrance examination conducted remotely or via video recordings.
Applicants who are applying to study in English are also required to submit:
4) A document exempting you from tuition fees
If you are applying to study in English, you will be considered liable to pay the tuition fee until you submit a document exempting you from the fee to the Sibelius Academy. More information on tuition fees can be found here.
Submit any advance assignments to the Sibelius Academy via the Studyinfo portal
If the programme you are applying to requires advance assignments, this will be indicated separately in the entrance examinations section of this page. Submit the required advance assignments to the Sibelius Academy via the Studyinfo portal no later than 28 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time).
Your name and the programme you are applying to must be clearly indicated in the advance assignments.
Advance assignments should be uploaded to the portal as early as possible. Large files may take several hours to upload.
You must follow good scientific and artistic practices. All documents related to the admissions process must be your own work and must not present the ideas, information, words, images, works, or other materials of others without proper citation. Improper use of artificial intelligence may be considered misconduct, and your submission may be rejected.
Advance assignments submitted by email or as email attachments will not be processed. Do not submit any assignments to the Sibelius Academy other than those specifically requested in the admissions guide.
Pay the application fee (if applicable)
Applicants from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee in order to apply to higher education studies. If you are from outside the aforementioned area and are applying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree programme in Finland, you must pay the application fee.
The application fee is 100 euros, and it is collected by the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Paying the application fee ensures that your application will be processed as described in this admission guide. However, paying the fee does not guarantee admissions to studies.
More information on the application fee can be found here.
Taking part in the entrance examinations
You may be invited to the entrance examinations if:
- You have submitted your electronic application and the required attachments to the Studyinfo portal by the given deadline; and
- the Sibelius Academy has deemed you eligible to apply based on the documents you have submitted.
Your eligibility will be assessed based on your application, certificates, possible advance assignments, and other submitted documentation. If your application and its required attachments meet the minimum requirements, it will proceed to academic evaluation.
The implementation of the entrance examinations for each programme is described in the programme’s admissions guide. Entrance examination schedules for different programmes may overlap. If you have applied to multiple programmes, you will need to choose which examination to attend in such cases.
A programme’s entrance examination may consist of several stages, each of which may include multiple sub-tests. If you do not submit all the required entrance examination assignments, fail to successfully complete all compulsory sub-parts included in the examination, or your entrance examination assignments or performances do not meet the requirements, you cannot be admitted as a student.
The Sibelius Academy will send applicants instructions for participating in the entrance examinations along with the entrance examination invitation. Exact times for individual entrance examinations will be confirmed no later than the morning of the examination day. Individual examination times can only be changed for compelling reasons beyond the applicant’s control. Such reasons include the Finnish matriculation examination (or an equivalent event), as well as accidents or sudden illness (a medical certificate is required). In these cases, rescheduling is only possible within the working timetable of the Entrance Examination Board.
The entrance examination is a closed event attended by the applicant, the Entrance Examination Board, and designated assistants (such as an accompanist, a rehearsal choir, a board assistant, or the applicant’s assistant). Entrance examination performances may not be recorded.
If you wish to cancel your participation in the entrance examination, please notify the Sibelius Academy Admissions Office by email as soon as possible.
Individual arrangements in the entrance examination
If you require special arrangements in the entrance examination because of a sensory or physical disability, illness or other corresponding reason, you must apply for individual arrangements by filling in a separate application form.
If you require special arrangements in the entrance examination due to a sensory or physical disability, illness, or another comparable reason, you must apply for the right to individual arrangements by filling in a separate application form.
More information on individual arrangements can be found here.
Vocal Arts entrance examinations
Advance assignments
Submit the following advance assignments to the Sibelius Academy via the Studyinfo portal no later than on 28 January 2026 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time):
1) CV (max. length one A4-page), featuring only the following information:
- Your name
- A list of previous music training (subject, teacher, when the subject(s) was/were studied, school)
- A list of level performances/examinations (subject, level, date attained, grade, and school)
- A list of previous courses and qualifications in music theory or other relevant subjects (subjects, grade, teacher, school)
- A description of any other musical activities or practices in which you have been involved (e.g. teaching, participation in orchestras, choirs, operatic societies etc.)
Name your document as follows: lastname_firstname_cv.
2) Motivation essay (max. length one A4-page): “Why I wish to study Vocal Arts”. Name your document as follows: lastname_firstname_motivation.
3) Video recording on which you must perform the following two compositions:
- A freely selected classical solo song written after the year 1800, with accompaniment; and
- A freely selected aria from an opera or oratorio/cantata, with accompaniment.
Please note that the video recording must not include any works other than the two compositions mentioned above.
The video recording must have been filmed no earlier than on 1 July 2025. Note! The material must be accompanied by information on the compositions performed and the date of the recording (for example, in a separate PDF file, submitted with the advance assignments). Name your video recording as follows: lastname_firstname_videorecording. If you have multiple recordings, include the name of the composition in the filename.
In the advance assignment, arias and lieds must be sung in the original language and from memory. Arias must be performed in the original key. All works must include accompaniment and be sung in the original written or sounding key with accompaniment. You may also use a backing track for accompaniment. A variety of stylistic periods and vocal languages in the works performed is encouraged. The same works may not be performed in both the advance assignment and the entrance examination.
You must sing facing the camera so that your face is visible at all times. The video must not be shot from too far away. You must be fully visible in the frame. An individual composition must be recorded as a continuous and unedited take. However, not all compositions need to be recorded in the same session.
Based on the scores given for the advance assignments, the Board will invite selected applicants to the actual entrance examination. Information on the results of the advance assignments will be sent by e-mail.
Entrance examination
The Vocal Arts entrance examination will be held at the premises of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki between 5 and 8 May 2026. The entrance examination also includes a general music skills test.
Entrance examination programme:
- A classical solo song written after the year 1800 in your native language, with piano accompaniment;
- An aria from an opera, oratorio, or cantata;
- A freely selected and performed text passage (monologue or similar) performed in your native language from memory, with a max. duration of 3 minutes;
- A rehearsal situation testing your musical and artistic capabilities (the song to be rehearsed will be given to you moments before the rehearsal);
- Assignments on stage expression skills; and
- Interview.
Arias and lieds must be sung in the original language and from memory. Arias must be performed in the original key. Baroque arias are sung in the original written or sounding key with piano accompaniment. A variety of stylistic periods and vocal languages in the works performed is encouraged. The same works may not be performed in both the advance assignment and the entrance examination.
Both vocal assignments are performed with piano accompaniment. In the assignments, you must use the accompanist provided by the Sibelius Academy.
Submitting the sheet music:
Submit a list of the programme you will perform in the entrance examination and the sheet music for the programme no later than 1 April 2026 by e-mail to siba.lamuvalinnat@uniarts.fi. The sheet music must be submitted in the key they will be performed in (all works must be performed in their original language, the arias must be performed in their original keys). The sheet music must be submitted as PDF files of good quality, the entire song as a single file. Include your name, the study programme you are applying for as well as possible cuts, cadenza and other deviations from the sheet music. Also indicate on the sheet music who composed the work if it is not evident from the sheet music itself. In addition, bring the sheet music, printed and taped, to the entrance examination.
Once the deadline for submitting your programme list and sheet music has passed, you cannot make further changes to your programme. You may perform the songs in any order.
General music skills test
In addition to the main instrument or main subject exam, the entrance examinations for the 5.5-year degree programme include a test of general music skills. The test will be organised remotely on Wednesday, 15 April 2026 at 10:30 or 18:30 EEST (Finnish time).
You must indicate your preferred test time on the application form during the application period. The test will last a maximum of two hours. You will participate in the test only once, even if you have applied to multiple programmes. Only applicants still in the admissions process take part in the general music skills test. Details about the test’s implementation will be provided to applicants by email no later than two weeks before the test date.
The test can be used to assess, for example, sight-reading fluency, understanding of musical concepts (keys, harmony, cadences, intervals, time signatures and time values), aural perception fluency and notation by ear, and knowledge of the history of Western art music.
Below are model assignments that give you an idea of the skill level required in the test. The specific task types may vary. Click here to see the model assignments (will be published in January 2026). Please note that the purpose of the model assignments is only to illustrate the types of questions you may encounter in the actual test. The actual test will be more extensive than the model assignments.
The examiners of the general musical skills test will provide the Entrance Examination Board with a statement regarding your ability to complete the studies in accordance with the curriculum within the target time, as well as the possible need to participate in the preparatory unit in structural awareness of music. The Board will take this statement into account as part of your overall assessment in the final stage of the entrance examination, unless otherwise specified in the admissions guide of the programme in question. Only the tests of applicants who reach the final stage of the programme’s entrance examination will be assessed.
The results of the general musical skills test may be used to assess the starting level of studies for applicants who are admitted as students. If an admitted applicant does not demonstrate sufficient readiness for higher education-level studies in general music skills, they may be required to strengthen their competence by completing a preparatory unit in structural awareness of music. Further information will be provided in the letter of acceptance. The preparatory unit in structural awareness of music must be completed before the actual general musical skills courses.
The test will be held in the language in which you have applied to study.
Click here for more information on studying general musical skills.
Entrance examination assessment
Applicants’ performance in the entrance examinations is assessed by Entrance Examination Boards appointed specifically for each programme.
Based on your entrance examination performance, the Entrance Examination Board evaluates your knowledge, skills, and capabilities, as well as your ability to complete the degree studies within the programme’s normative duration. The assessment takes into account how your previous education and experience are reflected in your competence, and compares your competence to the objectives set in the curriculum.
When assessing your educability, it is also considered that the new degree must provide you with a sufficient amount of additional competence. Degree programmes at Sibelius Academy are primarily intended for applicants who have not previously completed a Finnish higher education degree of the same level.
If you have not previously completed a Finnish higher education degree at the same level as the degree programme you are applying for, you will be awarded an additional 5% of the maximum points for the programme, which will be added to final points on your entrance examination. Your right to be awarded additional points will be verified in the final admissions phase, and the points will be added to the final total score before the admissions decision. When awarding additional points, any degrees completed by or prior to the end of the application period will be taken into account.
However, a previously completed higher education degree of the same level does not prevent applicants from applying to the degree programme.
Assessment criteria for Vocal Arts
In addition, the Entrance Examination Board for vocal arts will assess your vocal material and capacity for artistic expression. The Board also assesses your abilities as a soloist, your technical and expressive capabilities, artistic development potential, and ensemble skills.
Based on your motivational letter and interview, the Board will assess your written and oral expression skills, ability to express your motivation and goals, realistic conceptions related to the profession, and general study skills.
The skills, educability, and suitability for the field demonstrated by you in the entrance examinations are assessed in all areas.
Entrance examination grading
The Board will assess both your advance assignments and your entrance examination performances on a scale of 0–25 points. The points in the entrance examination are based on an overall assessment of your advance assignments and entrance examination performances.
The score for the actual entrance examination will remain your final score.
Admissions results
For each degree programme, the Entrance Examination Boards will rank the applicants according to their performance in the entrance examination. 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.
Applicants with the highest scores who meet the admission criteria will be offered a study place. Those ranked next, based on their scores, may be placed on a waiting list should a study place become available later. The waiting lists are either programme-specific or group-specific, if the programme has several groups.
A study place may become available to an applicant on the waiting list only if a selected applicant for the programme (or group) declines the offered study place or a conditionally admitted applicant fails to submit the required certificate by the deadline. If no applicants were placed on the waiting list at the time of the admission decision, it is not possible to place anyone on the waiting list later during the same admission round, even if some admitted applicants do not accept their study place.
If no applicants meet the admission criteria, some programmes may choose not to admit new students. If a degree programme does not admit any new students, no applicants can be placed on a waiting list.
Announcement of results
Admission results will be published on the Uniarts Helsinki website and will include the names of the applicants who have given the permission in their application to have their names published online. In addition, you can view your situation in the Studyinfo portal.
Admitted applicants and those placed on the waiting list are informed of the results by e-mail. Other applicants will not be notified of the results by e-mail.
Feedback
You may request feedback on your entrance examination performance. The feedback provides you with information on how the evaluation criteria stated in the admission criteria were applied in the assessment of your 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 purpose of a written request for rectification is to give you the possibility to request for rectification if there is a reason to believe that there has been an error in the decision-making process. The admission decision can be corrected only if the Sibelius Academy has made an error in the selection procedure and the error justifies the correction of the admission decision.
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 on the rectification procedure can be found here.
Accepting the offered study place and starting your studies
You must accept your study place no later than on 9 July 2026 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time). 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. If you want to give up your study place after first accepting it, you are still considered to have accepted the study place for the semester in question (for more information, see ‘one study place per term’ provision).
Tuition fees
Uniarts Helsinki charges an annual tuition fee to students who come from countries outside of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and are studying for a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in a foreign language. At the Sibelius Academy, tuition fees apply to applicants applying to study in English.
More information on tuition fees at Uniarts Helsinki can be found here.
Starting your studies
First-year studies begin in mid-August with an orientation period that is compulsory for all new students. New students are sent more detailed information on the start of their studies attached to their letter of acceptance.
You must register as attending at the Sibelius Academy according to the instructions provided in your letter of acceptance. You can register as absent for the first year of studies only under certain statutory circumstances. Apply for the right to be absent in writing before the end of the registration period. Include documentation supporting your right to be absent with your application. More information on registering as absent for the first year of studies can be found here.
Questions or comments?
You can contact us via e-mail at siba.admissions@uniarts.fi.
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 2025. The recording of the event is available on Sibelius Academy’s Instagram account: Admissions Chat (@sibeliusacademy)