Church Music, admissions guide to the 2.5-year education (master)
First joint application to higher education, spring 2027. Admissions schedule, required certificates and advance assignments as well as information about participating in the entrance examinations.
Degree programme information
- Name of the programme in the Studyinfo portal: Master’s Admission: Church Music, Master of Music (2.5 yr)
- Target degree and duration of studies: Master of Music (MMus), 2.5 years
- Languages of instruction and degree: Finnish, Swedish, English
- Note, the eligibility studies qualifying students for church musician positions in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland can only be completed in Finnish or Swedish
- Tuition fees: €28,000 per academic year for non-EU and non-EEA students who study in English
- Academy unit: Sibelius Academy
Church music degrees involve a wide range of musical competence, including the possible qualification for church musician positions in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland.
You can apply to study either in Helsinki or in Kuopio (please note that in Kuopio, studies are offered only in Finnish). On the application form, you can also indicate you are willing to accept a study place in either of the cities. This means that the university will place you in Helsinki or in Kuopio (to ensure an equal number of students in the two cities). Successful applicants will be located for study based on their final scores in the entrance examination. You may be denied admission if you have not applied for the programme for which your entrance examination score qualifies you.
On the Studyinfo application form, you must indicate your preferred area of specialisation for your master’s programme. You have six options:
- Church music artistic sub-module
- Church music project
- Choral conducting, minimum level B
- Voice studies, minimum level B
- Master’s thesis
- Organ performance, minimum level B
Admissions schedule 2027
Submitting your application and required attachments
- Application period starts on 7 January 2027 at 8:00 and ends on 21 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- Fill in and send your application in Studyinfo portal
- Submit the required supporting documents in the Studyinfo portal no later than on 28 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- Deliver the required certificates of your prior education
- Deliver the certificate demonstrating your language skills
- Deliver any required advance assignments
- Deliver your proof of identity
- You will be notified of your eligibility to apply by email no later than 5 March 2027
Entrance examinations
- Submit the first-stage entrance examination assignments via Studyinfo portal no later than 17 March 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time)
- The writing skills test will be held via a remote connection on 26 April 2027
- The second stage will be held on site at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki between 11 and 13 May 2027
Admissions results and accepting the offered study place
- Admissions results are published 31 May 2027
- Confirm your study place no later than on 13 July 2027 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time)
- Officially accept your study place
- Register for the academic year
- If you’re admitted conditionally, deliver 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 2027
Who can apply?
The right to complete a degree at Uniarts Helsinki can be obtained only by participating in an entrance examination process. 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.
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.
Required educational background
You are eligible to apply for education leading to the Master of Music degree (2.5 years) if you have completed at least one of the following:
- A lower university degree in music (Bachelor)
- A university of applied sciences degree in music
- A foreign degree or qualification in music that gives 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 a student admitted to a master’s degree programme to complete complementary studies — up to the equivalent of one year of study — in addition to the minimum number of ECTS credits required by the programme, in order for them to attain the skills required in the programme. In principle, complementary studies must be completed in the first year of study and included in the student’s personal study plan. If you are required to complete complementary studies, you will be notified in connection with the admission decision.
Your educability is also taken into consideration in the admissions process and assessment. The new degree must provide you with sufficient new competence. Master’s programmes are intended for applicants who do not already hold a master’s degree in the field in question. If you already have a degree of the equivalent level, we primarily encourage you to pursue study opportunities in continuous learning, continuing education, or doctoral education.
Your eligibility if you graduate after the application deadline
Applicants who receive their degree certificate in the spring after the application deadline are deemed conditionally eligible to apply. 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 13 July 2027 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 official degree certificate later.
Language requirements
The language of instruction and degree in the programme is Finnish, Swedish, and English. You must demonstrate your language proficiency in one of the above-mentioned languages by the given deadline. The eligibility studies qualifying students for church musician positions in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland can only be completed in Finnish or Swedish.
You must demonstrate your language skills in accordance with Language skills requirement A. Uniarts Helsinki’s language requirements and accepted methods of demonstrating your language skills can be found here:
- Note! You may demonstrate your skills in Swedish by providing proof of having completed your qualification that gives eligibility for higher education in any of the Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, or Faroese).
Submit a certificate demonstrating your language skills to the Sibelius Academy no later than 28 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time). For more information, please see the section “Required attachments” in this admissions guide.
If you do not demonstrate your language skills by the given deadline, you will not be granted the right to study at the Sibelius Academy.
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 on applying for a change of study right can be found here.
Submitting your application and required attachments
Electronic application form in the Studyinfo portal
Complete the electronic application form during the spring’s 2027 first joint application period, between 7 and 21 January 2027 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.
Application fee
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.
Required attachments
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 applicant or in a position comparable to a refugee 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.
Submit the following supporting documents to the Sibelius Academy via the Studyinfo portal as PDF files no later than 28 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time):
1) Degree certificate
Attach a copy of your degree certificate to your application. 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 as soon as possible, but no later than 13 July 2027 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time).
The degree certificate must be officially signed and/or stamped by the educational institution. Electronic signatures must be verifiable beyond doubt.
Note! You do not need to submit a copy of your degree certificate 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; or
- You are a candidate for the Finnish Matriculation Examination in spring 2027.
In the above cases, your information will be retrieved from the electronic qualification 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) Transcript of records from your prior education
If you are applying to a 2.5-year or a 2-year master’s programme at the Sibelius Academy, attach a copy of your transcript of records or another official list of the courses included in your degree to your application.
The transcript of records must be officially signed and/or stamped by the educational institution. Electronic signatures must be verifiable beyond doubt.
3) Certificate demonstrating language skills
Attach a certificate of your language skills in the language in which you are applying to study to your application.
- If you demonstrate your language skills with your prior studies, submit a copy of your degree certificate and its attachments (e.g. Diploma Supplement), or another official document accepted under the language requirements that proves your language proficiency. The degree certificate or its attachments must clearly indicate the language in which the degree was completed.
If you have not yet completed the degree and you cannot demonstrate your language skills with another prior degree, you will be considered conditionally eligible. In this case, you must submit to the Sibelius Academy, by the given deadline, a certificate of enrolment/studies for the degree in question together with an estimated graduation date. The degree used to demonstrate your language skills must be completed no later than 13 July 2027 at 15:00 EEST (Finnish time) in order to be considered in the spring 2027 admissions. Please submit the final degree certificate to the Sibelius Academy as soon as possible, but no later than the above-mentioned deadline. - 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. Submit the test result that meets the language requirements to the Sibelius Academy no later than 28 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time).
4) 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.
5) 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 on our website here.
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.
Submit your application for individual arrangements to the Sibelius Academy no later than 28 January 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time). More information on individual arrangements can be found here.
Advance assignments
Applicants for this programme are not required to complete advance assignments. All applicants who have submitted their applications by the deadline and who have been found to be eligible will be invited to the entrance examination.
Invitation to the examination and 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-specific 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.
The 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-tests 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 you 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 you, the Entrance Examination Board, and designated assistants (such as an accompanist, a rehearsal choir, a board assistant, or your own 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.
Church Music entrance examination
The entrance examination consists of two stages. The first stage will be carried out as a video audition and the second on site at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
First stage
Submit the following entrance examination assignments for assessment via the Studyinfo portal no later than on 17 March 2027 at 15:00 EET (Finnish time):
1) Organ audition
- At the beginning of the video, state which compositions you will play
- Record a video in which you perform two freely selected compositions with a pedal part that illustrate your instrument skills. The total duration of the compositions must not exceed 10 minutes.
- If you do not aspire for a church musician’s eligibility in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, you can demonstrate your skills on the piano
- Name your video recording as follows: lastname_firstname_organaudition1 and lastname_firstname_organaudition2
If you have indicated organ performance as your preferred area of specialisation for your master’s programme on the application form, the repertoire to be performed must be at least at level C in organ performance.
2) Voice audition
- At the beginning of the video, state which songs you will sing
- Record a video in which you sing the following two (2) songs that illustrate your vocal skills:
- One hymn (at least two verses) without accompaniment; and
- One classical solo song with or without accompaniment.
- The total duration of the songs must not exceed 10 minutes.
- Name your video recording as follows: lastname_firstname_voiceaudition1 and lastname_firstname_voiceaudition2
If you have indicated voice studies as your preferred area of specialisation for your master’s studies on the application form, the repertoire to be performed must be at least at level C in voice performance.
Instructions for making the video recordings:
- Individual compositions must be filmed in one continuous, unedited and uncut take. However, different compositions do not have to be filmed in the same session.
- FIlm the organ audition video from the side, so that you are fully visible while playing
- Film the voice audition video facing the camera, fully visible in the frame
- The video recordings must have been filmed after 1 July 2026
If necessary, contact siba.kimuvalinnat@uniarts.fi to confirm the suitability of the repertoire.
Based on the scores given for the first stage, the Entrance Examination Board will invite selected applicants to the second stage of the entrance examination. Information on the results of the first stage will be sent by e-mail.
Second stage
The second stage will be held on site at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki between 11 and 13 May 2027, excluding the sub-test in writing skills, which will be held 26 April 2027. The second stage includes the following sub-tests:
- Liturgical music
- Choral conducting
- Interview and aural skills
- Writing skills
If possible, the sub-tests will be scheduled during the entrance examination week so that you can complete all of them in a single day. The final schedule is determined by the number of applicants.
1) Liturgical music
In the liturgical music sub-test, you must demonstrate skills corresponding to a bachelor’s degree in church music in playing the organ, improvisation on the organ, and liturgical singing. The sub-test includes assignments for which you are given time to prepare, as well as prima vista assignments given during the test.
If you do not intend to seek eligibility as a cantor for the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland, you must indicate this in the application. If so, you can take the liturgical music sub-test according to the practices of another denomination and play piano instead. In this case, you will be notified separately of the content of the sub-test for liturgical music.
Assignments with a 30-minute preparation time:
- Chorale playing, prelude included, from a four- and one-voice notation. The assignments include playing while singing, in a trio, and transposed. The basslines for the chorales will be played on the pedal. One prelude must be a fugato.
- Psalm singing of a given text from a given psalm pattern
Prima vista assignments which you will receive in the audition:
- Sight-playing of preludes and chorale scores from a four- and a one-voice notation. The basslines for the chorales will be played on the pedal.
- Sight-singing of psalms from a one-voice notation, unaccompanied
- Liturgical singing from the hymn book supplement, unaccompanied
2) Choral conducting
Option A:
In the choral conducting sub-test you will give a 10-minute rehearsing and conducting demonstration with a choir. You must select one of the works enclosed in the invitation to the entrance examination (a link to the sheet music will be provided in the invitation).
Option B:
If you have indicated choral conducting as your preferred area of specialisation for your master’s studies on the application form, you must have the prerequisites to complete level B in choir conducting during your master’s studies. In this case, you must give a 15-minute demonstration with a choir. The demonstration includes two pieces (a link to the sheet music will be provided in the entrance examination invitation):
- A piece that you conduct through; and
- A piece that you rehearse and conduct.
3) Interview and aural skills
The Entrance Examination Board will interview the applicants.
In connection with the interview, you may give a demonstration on a secondary instrument for a maximum of 5 minutes or otherwise present musical skills that are not demonstrated in other sub-tests. A piano is available in the interview room.
The aural skills test includes sight-singing and repeating intervals, harmonies, and short melodic items, for example.
4) Writing skills
In the sub-test, you will write a short essay on a given topic in Finnish, Swedish, or English. The test will be conducted by e-mail, in an online environment, and/or via a remote connection. The test will be held 26 April 2027.
If you have indicated a church music project or a master’s thesis as your preferred area of specialisation for your master’s studies on the application form, submit an essay you have written in advance in accordance with the instructions provided in the entrance examination invitation. The essay must meet the length (approximately 15,000–25,000 characters) and standard of a pro-seminar paper, and the topic must be related to church music. The essay can be, for example, a final project written at a polytechnic or a university of applied sciences. The essay must be consistent and carefully edited. The topic must be clearly defined, the sources must be documented properly, and the references must be properly formatted.
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 or higher level.
If you have not previously completed a Finnish higher education degree at the same or higher 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 or higher level does not prevent applicants from applying to the degree programme.
Assessment criteria for Church Music
During the entrance examinations for Church Music, the Entrance Examination Boards will assess your musical knowledge and skills as well as your capability for studies in church music and versatile musicianship.
In the liturgical music test the Entrance Examination Board will also assess your ability to read music and your musical comprehension.
In the choral conducting test, the Entrance Examination Board will assess your rehearsing and conducting skills.
In the aural skills test, the Entrance Examination Board will assess tonal perception of music, the ability to distinguish pitch and timbre, and tonal memory.
In the writing skills test, the Entrance Examination Board will assess your command of language and your ability to think logically.
Scoring of the entrance examination
The Entrance Examination Board will score each sub-test on a scale of 0–25 points. You must score at least six (6) points in each sub-test in order to pass them. If you do not pass all of the sub-tests, you cannot be admitted as a student.
Sub-tests will be weighted in the final score as follows:
First stage:
- Organ audition 15 %
- Voice audition 15 %
Second stage:
- Liturgical music 35 %
- Choral conducting 15 %
- Interview 15 %
- Aural skills 5 %
- Writing skills: approved or not approved
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 email on the day the admission results are published. Other applicants will not be notified of the results by email.
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 13 July 2027 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. You can accept only one offer of admission per academic term. More information on how to accept an offer of admission can be found here.
The One Study Right Rule
The One Study Right Rule refers to the legislative amendments that entered into force on 1 August 2026. Under these amendments, a student’s study rights at the same or lower level will be terminated if they accept a new study right leading to a degree. The rule applies only to study rights at Finnish higher education institutions.
This means that if you accept a new study place, you will lose your existing study rights at the same or lower level. When accepting the study place, you are shown which study rights will end as a result. The decision to accept the new study place – and thereby to terminate previous study rights – is binding. The decision cannot be reversed afterwards.
More information on the One Study Right Rule can be found here.
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 Uniarts Help form.
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 University of the Arts Helsinki, at the Sibelius Academy? What’s it like to live in Helsinki, the second northernmost capital in the world? How do you apply to the Sibelius Academy? We will answer these questions among others in our Admissions Chat broadcast on 2 December 2026 at 19:00 EET (Finnish time) on Instagram (@sibeliusacademy).
Please also remember the online webinar about studying in Finland and applying to Finnish higher education. The webinar is held on 10 December 2026 at 14:00 EET (Finnish time) and it is arranged by the Finnish National Agency for Education. For more information, please see Study in Finland website.