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The Grieg Academy – Department of Music
Admission - Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design

Master in Music Performance or Composition

Application deadline for entry in August 2025 is 15 December 2024. The application portal opens 1 November.

Piano
Photo:
KMD

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Important dates - admission 2025

The dates will be updated fall 2024. 

  • November 1 2024: The application portal - Søknadsweb - and the additional application form is open for new registrations.
  • December 15 2024: Application deadline and deadline for additional application form. All required documentation must be submitted before midnight UTC+1.
  • January 15 2024, Round 1: Deadline for submitting your audition video/composition portfolio.
  • February 1 2024: Feedback on submitted audition/composition portfolio and invitation to entrance exams at The Grieg Academy.
  • March 4-8 2024, Round 2: Entrance exams at The Grieg Academy.
  • March 13 2024: Offer of admission published in Søknadsweb.
  • March 20 2024: Deadline for responding to offers in Søknadsweb.

For composition applicants, see below for detailed information.

The entrance exams - 2 rounds

Round 1:

  • Music performance - jury assessment of submitted audition video.
  • Composition - jury assessment of composition portfolio.

Round 2:

  • Music performance - entrance exams and interview at The Grieg Academy.
  • Composition - interview at The Grieg Academy.

You register your application via the application portal/Søknadsweb.

 

Admission requirements

Before you start your application for admission, please check that you have the required academic background. Only applicants who meet the admission requirements can be qualified. If you are not qualified your application will be rejected. 

Entrance to the Master's Programme in Music Performance or Composistion requires a completed Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance or Composition or other relevant field of study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS credits, but normally of 4 years duration.
In the first round of the application process, the applicants' qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their application, including the additional application form, and their audition video.
Applicants who advance to the second round will be interviewed.

Admission to The Grieg Academy and the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design is highly competitive.

Academic requirements

  1. You must have obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance or Composition, normally of minimum 4 years' duration.
    Your degree must be issued by a recognized university or university college.
    You can find the specific requirements for your home country in the country list.
  2. You must document your English language proficiency, see below for details.

Language requirement

Applicants who are not native English speakers must document their proficiency in English by taking an internationally recognised English test.

Schedule your test early enough for the results to reach us within the application deadline 15 December.

How to document English Language proficiency

Applicants from some English-speaking African countries, and applicants with a degree taught in English from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Middle East are not exempt from submitting an English language test.

Information about exemptions.

Application requirements

Deadline for registering your application for entry to the programme in August 2024 is 15 December 2023. The application form will be open from 1 November.

Complete application

In the online application form you fill in all the necessary information, as well as upload all the required documentation.

Checklist

  1. Register your application in Søknadsweb
  2. Fill in the additional application form
    (You find the link in the receipt from your application registration)
  3. CV showing former education and artistic experience and activities.
  4. Secondary School certificate / High School Diploma
  5. University degree certificate(s)/diploma(s)
  6. Transcript of records (an official statement listing courses/subjects you have completed at your university) including a description of the grading scale used.
  7. Documentation of English language proficiency
  8. Copy of your passport or picture ID including full name and date of birth.

If you complete your bachelor's degree in the spring 2024 you must also upload

  • Documentation of higher education completed to date.
  • A list of courses you are registered for and the expected date for completion.

Document requirements

  • We require all uploaded documentation to be scanned from original documents.
  • If the original language of your documents is not English or a Scandinavian language, officially certified copies of a translation to one of these languages must accompany certified copies of your documents in the original language.
  • All documents must be uploaded as good quality PDF-files.

Tuition fees - non-EU/EEA/EFTA applicants

Beginning August 2023 the Norwegian government introduced tuition fees for all students coming from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA area.

The tuition fee for the Master's Programme in Music Performance or Composition is currently NOK 373 550. The tuition fee is subject to change prior to the start of the academic year. 

  1. When applying for admission:
    Documentation of sufficient funding to cover the tuition fee.
    Valid forms of documentation of funds:
    • Self-financing: Bank statement/transcript (dated after 1 October 2023) in your name detailing the required amount (NOK 373 550 or the equivalent in any currency).
    • Financing provided by sponsor: Guarantee letter and official bank statement/transcript (dated after 1 October 2023) showing possession of the required amount (NOK 373 550 or the equivalent in any currency).
    • A letter confirming that you are eligible for a scholarship/student loan from your home country.
  2. After admission:
    • Shortly after accepting an offered place, you will receive the necessary payment information.
    • After making the payment, you will receive documentation from UiB to use with your application for a residence permit for studies.
  3. Due date:
    • If the tuition fee has not been paid before the due date, the offer of admission will be revoked.

Exemptions from paying the tuition fee.
See here for more information regarding exemptions from the tuition fee.

NOTE: The University of Bergen does not offer any scholarships.

Residence permit for studies - non-EU/EEA/EFTA applicants

As a non-EU/EEA/EFTA student, you are required to apply for a residence permit for studies from The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, UDI. When applying for a residence permit, you will need to document that you have sufficient means to cover living expenses during your studies. The same documentation is required as part of your application for admission to the Master's Programme in Music Performance or Composition.

  1. When applying for admission:
    Documentation of sufficient funding to obtain a residence permit for studies.
    Required amount for the 2024/2025 academic year is NOK 137 907.
    Valid forms of documentation of funds:
    • Self-financing: Bank statement/transcript (dated after 1 October 2023) in your name detailing the required amount (NOK 137 907 or the equivalent in any currency).
    • Financing provided by sponsor: Guarantee letter and official bank statement/transcript (dated after 1 October 2023) showing possession of the required amount (NOK 137 907 or the equivalent in any currency).
    • A letter confirming that you are eligible for a scholarship/student loan from your home country.
    • For more information regarding valid forms of documentation, see The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
  2. After admission:
    • We recommend that the entire amount for applying for a residence permit is tranferred to the student welfare association Sammen's deposit account.
      You will then receive a confirmation receipt from UiB as documentation of the deposited amount to use with your application for a residence permit for studies.
      • Transfer the required amount to Sammen's deposit account.
      • UiB will send you a confirmation receipt by email as soon as possible after your transfer.
      • Submit the receipt with your application for a residence permit for studies.
    • Only transfer money after you have received your Letter of Acceptance.

    Audition video requirements

    You register the links to your audition videos in a separate form. Deadline 15 January.
    A link to the form will be sent all applicants the beginning of January.

    • The complete audition repertoire must be uploaded as either one continuous video, or one video per piece played.
    • The video(s) must be unedited and not older than 6 months.
    • You upload the video(s) to YouTube or similar service.
      • It is up to you to decide the privacy settings for the video(s), but must make sure that the jury is able to view them.
    • The video must show the applicant in full figure.
    • There are no specific requirements for recording equipment, but we urge all applicants to use the best equipment available to them.

    NOTE: It is the applicants responsibility to make sure that all links to the audition videos are working.

    Classical performance

    All applicants are welcome to meet in person at The Grieg Academy for Round 2 of the entrance exams.

    We urge all applicants residing within the EU/EEA to meet in person for Round 2.
    International applicants from outside the EU/EEA can submit a fully digital application.
    Please state your preference in the additional application form. 

    Repertoire requirements:

    • 45 minutes self-chosen audition repertoire showing breadth and diversity within the standrad repertoire for the instrument.
    • Repertoire list showing at least 180 minutes that has been studied and for the most part performed, including at least 30 minutes chamber music. You enter your repertoire list in the additional application form.

    Meeting in person for the audition:

    • Round 1: Video recording showing 15 minutes of your audition repertoire.
    • Round 2: Audition at the Grieg Academy and interview. You must be prepared to perform the entire 45 minutes at the audition.

    Fully digital application:

    • Round 1: Video recording showing the entire 45 minutes of your audition repertoire.
    • Round 2: Interview conducted via zoom.

    Jazz performance

    All applicants are welcome to meet in person at The Grieg Academy for Round 2 of the entrance exams.

    We urge all applicants residing within the EU/EEA to meet in person for Round 2.
    International applicants from outside the EU/EEA can submit a fully digital application.
    You inform us of your intentions in the additional application form.

    Repertoire requirements:

    • 30 minutes self-chosen audition repertoire showing breadth within the genre.
    • CV showing performing activities up to date; what bands you have played with, what recordings you have participated on, and concert activities. You enter your CV in the additional application form.

    Meeting in person for the audition:

    • Round 1: Video recording showing 15 minutes of your audition repertoire.
    • Round 2: Audition at the Grieg Academy and interview. You must be prepared to perform the entire 30 minutes at the audition.

    Fully digital application:

    • Round 1: Video recording showing the entire 30 minutes of your audition repertoire.
    • Round 2: Interview conducted via zoom.

    Composition

    All applicants are welcome to meet in person at The Grieg Academy for Round 2 of the entrance exams.

    We urge all applicants residing within the EU/EEA to meet in person for Round 2.
    International applicants from outside the EU/EEA can submit a fully digital application.
    You inform us of your intentions in the additional application form.

    Important dates

    • November 1 2023: The application portal - Søknadsweb - and the additional application form is open for new registrations.
    • December 15 2023: Application deadline and deadline for additional application form. All required documentation must be submitted before midnight UTC+1.
    • January 15 2024, Round 1: Deadline for submitting your composition portfolio.
    • February 1 2024: Feedback on submitted composition portfolio and invitation to Round 2.
    • March 4-8 2024, Round 2: Interview at The Grieg Academy or via Zoom.
    • March 13 2024: Offer of admission published in Søknadsweb.
    • March 20 2024: Deadline for responding to offers in Søknadsweb.

    Composition portfolio

    The applicant must submit an extensive personal and compositional portfolio. The portfolio must be submitted via a file sharing service to admission.kmd@uib.no. Deadline January 15.

    The portfolio must contain:

    • CV showing musical background, training, practice and development. 
    • Documentation showing your experience as a composer.
    • Substantial documentation of compositional works (scores, recordings, video documentation etc.) of approx. 45 minutes.
      • Upload your audio/video recordings via your unique upload link.
    • A written description of the composition contextualizing its production in terms of creation and performance.
    • Related artistic work, as relevant for your application.
    • 2 letters of recommendation.
    • Thoughts (2 pages) on your compositional practice. Please discuss your musical background and development, ambitions, musical focus and expectations, what this programme can give you, as well as your thoughts on your future carreer.

    Interview

    Your compositional portfolio will be the basis for the interview.
    You must also be prepared to answer questions ranging from composition, score analysis, orchestration, history of music and other subjects relevant to the field of composition.

    Please note: It is the applicants responsibility to make sure that all links to files sharing- , video-, audio- and other services are functioning.

    How to apply?

    Register your application through the online application service Søknadsweb/Application Web.

    1. Choose English language in the upper right corner.
    2. Choose International Applicant.
    3. Click "Register new international applicant" and follow the instructions given.
      • Make sure your personal information is correct: contact address, e-mail, mobile phone number, preferred language, etc.
      • Use your private address, not your university address. It is important that you enter a full address with street address, city code/post code and city.
    4. Click "Save" to finish the registration. You will be redirected to the login page.
      • An email confirming your registration has been sent to your registered e-mail address. This email also contains your password for logging in.
    5. Log on to Søknadsweb and start the application process.

    Application status

    The status of your application will be Under consideration on Søknadsweb until we have finished the processing.

    Applicants completing their Bachelor's Degree the Spring 2024 will, if offered a place, only receive a conditional offer until documentation of completed bachelor's degree is submitted.

    Applicants whose application is rejected will only receive information about this through Søknadsweb.

    Admission Process

    1 Nov -
    15 Dec

    Application period: You can change your application and upload new documents until the deadline 15 December.

    15 Dec -
    15 Jan

    Registration period: We check that the applications meet the formal requirements.

    15 Jan

    Deadline for submitting audition video. Upload the links in one document to your application in Søknadsweb.

    15 Jan - 1 Feb

    Processing period: Complete applications will be processed by the relevant jury. Qualified applicants will be invited to an interview as part of the admission procedures.

    1 Feb

    Invitation to interviews: All qualified applicants are invited to the interview as part of the admission procedures.

    4-8 March

    Interviews: All qualified applicants are interviewed for admission by the relevant jury. Additional online test may apply. The jury’s recommendations are then presented to the Department Head.

    13 March

    Offer of admission: Applicants who are offered admission to The Grieg Academy will have the result published in Søknadsweb. You will also be notified by e-mail

    End of March

    Rejections: Applicants who are not offered admission will be informed by e-mail by the end of March.

    By 20 March

    Offer of admission: Applicants with an offer of admission must accept or decline the offer of admission.

    By 15 May

    Student housing: Apply for student housing as soon as possible and before you apply for a residence permit.

    By 1 June

    Deposit money: In order to obtain a residence permit for studies, you have to deposit money to Sammen’s Deposit Account for International Students.

    By 1 JuneResidence permit: Apply for a residence permit for studies.
    Due date

    Tuition fee: Pay the tuition fee before the due date according to the payment information you received after accepting the offer of admission.

    Failure to pay the tuition fee before the due date will result in the offer of admission beeing revoked.