Nordic master in folk music
Embark on an artistic journey in four different Nordic countries by studying in the Nordic Master in Folk Music (NoFo) programme.
Why study here?
Do you want to develop your artistic voice through close engagement with Nordic folk music traditions and in collaboration with an international network of musicians and educators?
The Nordic Master in Folk Music is a unique two-year joint programme offered by four leading music academies in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
Here, musicians from across the Nordic region come together to deepen their personal expression, explore creative interaction in individually shaped ensemble projects, and develop their own artistic work in close relation to folk music traditions and professional contexts.
”We had the best teachers in all the schools and met fantastic people everywhere. And the best thing was that I could do both – I could be a solo musician and do my own thing – and create a successful band (Rim) and try out a lot of ideas at the same time!”
– Sunniva Abelli, alumni
About the studies
The Nordic Master in Folk Music (NoFo) invites you to explore living folk traditions across the Nordic region through study, collaboration and artistic creation. Moving between four institutions in four countries, you will develop your own artistic voice while becoming part of a vibrant network of musicians and communities. The studies connect heritage, collaboration and artistry in a truly international learning environment.
Students will be granted a €1,000 Nordplus study grant for studies abroad.
Tradition
The programme is grounded in the oral and embodied transmission methods of Nordic folk music. Through hands-on engagement with regional styles and expressions – guided by leading experts – you will connect with living traditions that continue to evolve.
Network
As a NoFo student, you will study across four countries:
- Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden (Autumn term 2026)
- Danish National Academy of Music in Esbjerg, Denmark (Spring term 2027)
- Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland (Autumn term 2027)
- Ole Bull Academy in Voss, Norway (a period during the spring term 2028, after which the students return to their home institutions)
This journey gives you access to a unique network of teachers, artists, researchers and peers – a community that often continues long after graduation.
One of the programme’s central goals is to create a smooth transition between education and professional life. Courses include knowledge about the international folk music scene and introduce you to relevant networks, organisations, and arrangers across the Nordic countries.
Collaboration
Ensemble work, arranging, improvisation and collective music-making form the core of the programme. You will strengthen your skills in listening, dialogue, and musical interaction as you encounter different traditions, personalities and perspectives — always with folk music as the shared foundation.
From 2026, the revised curriculum places greater emphasis on individual ensemble projects at each institution, giving you more space to explore your artistic voice in collaborative settings. The programme offers considerable freedom to create your own ensemble projects based on the networks you build at each study location. The framework is flexible and encourages artistic exploration, from intimate duo projects to larger ensemble works. This is your opportunity to develop your individual voice as a musician in collaboration with others.
Artistry
NoFo supports your ability to shape and lead your own artistic projects – from concept to performance. Courses in artistic research, reflective practice, and project management give you tools to develop a strong, independent artistic voice.
The final degree project runs throughout the programme and culminates in a presentation of your artistic work as a master’s concert and a written work.
Teachers
Teachers in the Nofo programme include various guests as well as the regular staff employed by the Sibelius Academy’s Degree Programme in Folk Music.
Target degree and length of study
Master of Music (MMus)
2,5 years
Application period
Next possible time to apply is in January 2026. Studies begin in August 2026.
Application languages
English
Read more about the language skill requirements
Tuition fee
From August 2026, the annual tuition fee is € 28,000 for students who are studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Supervising teacher
Pauliina Syrjälä
Nordic Master in Folk Music -program coordinator
Unit
Sibelius Academy
Ask about applying
Fill in application form at Studyinfo.fi
Why study here?
Do you want to develop your artistic voice through close engagement with Nordic folk music traditions and in collaboration with an international network of musicians and educators?
The Nordic Master in Folk Music is a unique two-year joint programme offered by four leading music academies in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
Here, musicians from across the Nordic region come together to deepen their personal expression, explore creative interaction in individually shaped ensemble projects, and develop their own artistic work in close relation to folk music traditions and professional contexts.
”We had the best teachers in all the schools and met fantastic people everywhere. And the best thing was that I could do both – I could be a solo musician and do my own thing – and create a successful band (Rim) and try out a lot of ideas at the same time!”
– Sunniva Abelli, alumni
About the studies
The Nordic Master in Folk Music (NoFo) invites you to explore living folk traditions across the Nordic region through study, collaboration and artistic creation. Moving between four institutions in four countries, you will develop your own artistic voice while becoming part of a vibrant network of musicians and communities. The studies connect heritage, collaboration and artistry in a truly international learning environment.
Students will be granted a €1,000 Nordplus study grant for studies abroad.
Tradition
The programme is grounded in the oral and embodied transmission methods of Nordic folk music. Through hands-on engagement with regional styles and expressions – guided by leading experts – you will connect with living traditions that continue to evolve.
Network
As a NoFo student, you will study across four countries:
- Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden (Autumn term 2026)
- Danish National Academy of Music in Esbjerg, Denmark (Spring term 2027)
- Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland (Autumn term 2027)
- Ole Bull Academy in Voss, Norway (a period during the spring term 2028, after which the students return to their home institutions)
This journey gives you access to a unique network of teachers, artists, researchers and peers – a community that often continues long after graduation.
One of the programme’s central goals is to create a smooth transition between education and professional life. Courses include knowledge about the international folk music scene and introduce you to relevant networks, organisations, and arrangers across the Nordic countries.
Collaboration
Ensemble work, arranging, improvisation and collective music-making form the core of the programme. You will strengthen your skills in listening, dialogue, and musical interaction as you encounter different traditions, personalities and perspectives — always with folk music as the shared foundation.
From 2026, the revised curriculum places greater emphasis on individual ensemble projects at each institution, giving you more space to explore your artistic voice in collaborative settings. The programme offers considerable freedom to create your own ensemble projects based on the networks you build at each study location. The framework is flexible and encourages artistic exploration, from intimate duo projects to larger ensemble works. This is your opportunity to develop your individual voice as a musician in collaboration with others.
Artistry
NoFo supports your ability to shape and lead your own artistic projects – from concept to performance. Courses in artistic research, reflective practice, and project management give you tools to develop a strong, independent artistic voice.
The final degree project runs throughout the programme and culminates in a presentation of your artistic work as a master’s concert and a written work.
Teachers
Teachers in the Nofo programme include various guests as well as the regular staff employed by the Sibelius Academy’s Degree Programme in Folk Music.