• An interest in becoming a professional musician, particularly in an orchestra.
• We recommend solid German language skills, enough to understand announcements in orchestra rehearsals.

The entrance requirements include proof of a completed bachelor’s degree in music or in a comparable area of study at a higher education institution.

An aptitude test will determine whether you possess the necessary subject-specific skills for the master’s degree program, particularly the required musical aptitude in the selected vocal or instrumental major, as well as sufficient motivation for the program of study. At the time of enrollment, no more than one year may have passed since you took the aptitude test. The same applies for enrollment in advanced semesters.

More information on the aptitude test can be found in the School of Music’s aptitude test regulations.

If you did not earn your university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) at a German institution and do not hold a degree in which German was the language of instruction, you must provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency (A1 level, CEFR). You can provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency either by submitting corresponding certificates or by participating in a conversation with the examination committee as part of the aptitude test.

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 (issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

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.

You can find more information in the master’s degree program’s examination regulations.

In addition to continuous classes in your main subject, orchestra studies and playing in the university orchestra are central to this degree program. There are also several obligatory chamber music projects.

Stays 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.

Internships

This program of study does not require you to take part in an internship. However, voluntary internships offer a good opportunity to get an in-depth insight into a professional field.

During an internship, you will discover whether everyday life in a particular profession 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. Internships help you shape your career path as well as the remainder of your course sequence by letting you choose specializations that match your practical experience.

The academic advisory office is happy to help.

The Master of Music degree program prepares you for a career as an orchestral musician. It qualifies and prepares you for the work as a professional musician in orchestras (tutti or leading positions) or as a freelance musician in chamber music ensembles. In this degree program, you will acquire the necessary professional skills:

• artistic excellence on your instrument of choice
• orchestral performance
• stage presence
• the ability to cope with (stressful) situations like an audition and gain mastery of them
• broad repertoire

Another option is finding work as an instrumental music teacher as a teacher at a music school or as a private tutor.

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.