• The ability to play an instrument (from the bachelor’s program)
• Sound knowledge of music theory (from the bachelor’s program)

Please note: Prior to the start of the master’s program, you should consult the academic advisory office in the department of musicology.

First university degree: A degree certificate from a previous study program.

A bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution or an equivalent degree with a musicology component that makes up at least 60 credit points of the degree. At least 36 credit points must have been obtained in the area of historical musicology.

If more than 36 credit points but less than 49 credit points were earned in the area of historical musicology in your first university degree, additional modules may need to be taken in certain cases.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

Information on examination regulations.

Course sequence

• Advanced module in the musicology master’s degree
• Understanding music from a historical context
• Music historiography
• Musicology through practical application
• Master’s thesis

Throughout the course of your studies, you will select two specialization modules from the areas of musicology, theater studies, book studies, music theory, music informatics, art history, and cultural anthropology:

• Musicology in the form of historic cultural studies
• Theater studies and musicology
• Book studies and musicology
• Music theory
• Music informatics
• Art history and musicology
• Music theory and musicology

Stay abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

It is particularly recommended to take part in a stay abroad before beginning your preparation for your master’s thesis.

Internships

As a part of the program of study, you will take part in an internship in a relevant musicological professional field. The optimal time to complete your internship would be during the semester break and after the second or third academic semester. Alternatively, you have the option to get involved in musicological research projects.

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of musicology, you will have acquired the following competencies that are relevant for your future career:

• Methods of (musical) academic work (research, analysis, processing)
• Critical and academic approaches to working with musical resources (sheet music, sound recording media, performances, and written, visual, and online sources, etc.)
• A solid understanding of European musical history from Ancient Greece to the present day
• The ability to understand any type of musical phenomenon and to be able to contextualize it historically and culturally
• A critical awareness of the characteristics of music in different forms of media such as sheet music, recorded music, performances, etc.

In the master’s degree program, you will acquire a deepened knowledge as well as skills that will qualify you for demanding tasks and leadership positions. Typical employers that are relevant to you are:

• Universities (academic work)
• Publishing houses for music
• Music editorial departments in radio, television, and online media
• Music journalism and critique
• Culture and concert management
• Dramaturgy and/or public relations at concert halls or theaters
• Music libraries and archives

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.