As a country with relatively high recognition, music majors in Germany have always been an ideal place for many students. After all, it has rigorous scholarship, numerous celebrities, and unparalleled cost performance. Let’s take a look at the admission requirements for music study abroad in Germany.
Materials required for application
First of all, the most practical issue is language, and the requirements are not low. The A2 that some students found on the school's official website is only the admission score that can receive the school's "interview invitation letter". To truly meet the admission standards, you need the B1-B2 level, which involves some majors such as music education, and there may be additional requirements.
In terms of documentary materials, they are mainly notarized copies of various documents, such as graduation certificates, transcripts, degree certificates, German language hours, award certificates, etc. The difference from English-speaking countries is that German universities use A "letter of motivation" is used instead of a personal statement, and some schools do not require letters of recommendation.
As for the video portfolio, it depends on the specific school. Different schools have different requirements for each major.
Of course, this is just the preliminary test. After successfully passing, you will be invited to a local interview by the school, involving music theory, written examinations, and live performances. Of course, different schools have different policies. Due to the epidemic, there are many schools that can conduct online re-examinations.
About schools and school selection
Students who want to apply to study in Germany tend to go to public institutions, because these institutions have no tuition fees and only need to pay a small registration fee. .
There are 27 public music conservatories in Germany. Their strongest majors are classical vocal music, instrumental music, composition, art direction, recording engineering, etc. Generally speaking, public music schools all have good capabilities. You can choose more schools to apply to to ensure that you can get admission.
In the QS performing arts school rankings, the institutions on the list include Berlin University of the Arts, Munich Academy of Music and Drama, Leipzig Academy of Music and Drama, Cologne Academy of Music and Dance, and Hamburg Academy of Music and Drama. . Other well-known ones include the Frankfurt Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Hannover Academy of Music and Drama, Folkwang University of the Arts, Dresden Music Academy, Stuttgart Academy of Music, Bremen Academy of Music, etc.
When choosing a school, you can refer to some online reviews, and you can also put professors, geographical location and other factors into the reference standards. For example, Berlin and Frankfurt are the first and second largest schools in Germany. Big cities are relatively prosperous and modern, but also relatively crowded. Munich is the third largest city, but it has a strong rural atmosphere, with many small forests and parks, and the living environment is relatively comfortable. Moreover, it is the home of the famous football team "Bayern Munich". Students who like football can consider this place.
About preparation and precautions
If you are aiming for a university in Germany, it is strongly recommended to start preparations as early as possible. No matter how early it is, it is not too early.
During the application process, language learning and portfolio (interview) preparation are two parallel priorities. There is no such thing as doing one first and the other later. Both must be taken into consideration! Some students may feel that their major is very good and they are among the top majors in domestic schools. However, if you do not prepare carefully and practice your works according to the requirements of the specific school you are applying for, you may be rejected.
In terms of repertoire selection, each school also has different standards, but there are also some unique things. Works from four different periods (classical, modern, romantic, and baroque) are usually required. For vocal music majors, it is best to have a German work (some schools will make it mandatory). In addition, when choosing repertoire, be sure not to go beyond the upper limit of your own level because of the difficulty. Skills are on the one hand, and expressive ability is also highly valued by the school. Don't think that Germans are all old-fashioned. They are full of artistry, otherwise they wouldn't have produced so many musicians.