Program Overview

Master's in Musicology

The Master's program in Musicology expands the knowledge and abilities gained in the Bachelor program, focusing on the application of music-history methods in clearly defined subject areas. The program prepares students for careers in music journalism, music publishing, concert and opera dramaturgy, concert management, and music research and instruction.

Details of Program

The goal of the study of Musicology is to:

1. Enable students to engage independently and intellectually with music.
2. Provide students with a deeper analytical understanding and advanced methods to systematically analyze musical or music-cultural phenomena from both the past and the present.
3. Impart comprehensive, music-relevant knowledge, techniques, and methods, and to foster an understanding of historical, sociological, performative, aesthetic, cultural, and political contexts.

Scheme of Program

The Master program is designed to offer students the opportunity to develop their own scholarly skills. Depending on the subject area, most lectures and seminars can be freely chosen by the student. Emphasis is placed on written work, including preparation for the master thesis, supplemented by a practical component.

Combination Possibilities

The Master's degree program consists of a major with 90 ECTS credits and a minor with 30 ECTS credits. Any subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern can be chosen as a minor, except for the same branch of study as the major.

Requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the Master's degree program in Musicology (major):

• Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern with a major in Musicology.
• Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university with a major in Musicology.
• Bachelor of Arts in Musicology (major) or a similar degree from a recognized foreign university.
• Bachelor's degree from a recognized foreign university with a major in a different branch of studies, provided that the Master's degree can be successfully completed with an additional maximum 60 ECTS credits.
• Bachelor's degree from the University of Bern with a minor in Musicology, with additional attainments and a scholarly Type B paper.

Language Requirements

No language diploma is required to start a degree program in Bern. The language of instruction is generally German, and some seminars or lectures are conducted in English. Proficiency in German at the C1 level and knowledge of English are required.

Application and Admission

Admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree in Musicology or a related field, with specific requirements for Swiss and international degrees. Applications are submitted online, and admission is assessed based on the provided documents.

Academic Structure

• Degree: Master of Arts in Musicology, Universität Bern
• Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
• Degree programs: Major (90 ECTS credits), Minor (30 ECTS credits)
• Combination possibilities: Several
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language: German
• Beginning studies: Fall or spring semester

Research Areas

The Master seminars and lectures are assigned to three main areas of study:

• Historical Musicology
• Cultural Anthropology of Music
• Music Theater Studies

Study Content

Study content includes:

• Master seminars and lectures in the chosen area of study
• Written work, including preparation for the master thesis
• Practical component
• Electives and freely chosen lectures and seminars

Legal Basis

The legal basis for the program includes:

• Studienplan für die Studienprogramme des Instituts für Musikwissenschaft vom 24.10.2022 (PDF, 291KB)
• Studienplananhang für die Bachelor- und Masterstudienprogramme des Instituts für Musikwissenschaft der Universität Bern (Document in German) (PDF, 128KB)
• Anhang 2 zum Studienplan für die Studienprogramme des Instituts für Musikwissenschaft (PDF, 149KB)
• Reglement über das Studium und die Leistungskontrollen an der Philosophisch-historischen Fakultät (RSL Phil.-hist. 21) vom 15.03.2021 (PDF, 284KB)
• Regulations on Studies and Performance Assessments at the Faculty of Humanities (RSL Phil.-hist. 21) as of 15 March 2021 (the German original is the legally binding version) (PDF, 470KB)