NL
Master of MusicThe study

Master of Music

About the study

Study
Master of Music Performance
Mode of study
Full-time
School
Utrechts Conservatorium
Grade
Master of Music
Duration
2 years
ECTS
120
Type
Master
Language
English|Dutch
CROHO-code
44739
Location(s)
Mariaplaats
Email
sz@hku.nl
Phone
+31 (0)30-2091540

Master of Music in brief

  • A professional master’s-level music programme
  • A personal plan of study that fits your ambitions
  • Teachers who care about your personal development
  • Intensive coaching from specialised teachers and a study coach
  • You can take classes at the other HKU schools, and at other educational institutions

How do you know if the Master of Music is right for you?

Performing musician, cultural entrepreneur, producer, conceptual designer – if one or more of these roles appeal to you, and if you’d like to grow into a music professional with a strong identity, then we’d like to get to know you.

Why the Master of Music at HKU?

You can expect us to take a strong interest in your personal development. You’ll draw up your own plan of study, and you’ll have the room to experiment and explore. You’ll get personal coaching from instructors who are specialised experts and from a study coach. You’ll also do artistic research, and plan and carry out a practical project. What’s special about this master’s programme is that you can choose from elective subjects, projects, workshops, clinics and masterclasses so that you can prepare yourself in the best possible way for the professional world.

Excited? Apply now!

Course in figures

Want to know how this Bachelor of Music in Education scores compared to other courses?

Go to Course in figures

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Master of MusicWhat will you learn
Master of Music

What will you learn

While doing this master’s programme, you’ll grow into a professional musician with a strong identity. You’ll examine what that means for you, and what appropriate competences you want to develop. You’ll be the ‘master’ of your own learning path, during and even after the master’s programme, in your development as a professional musician.

Study plan

You’ll take main-subject courses and do research, and you’ll work on a practical assignment. With coaching from your study coach and main-subject teacher, you’ll write an overarching study plan that fits with your own ambitions. This plan will result in a package of courses, research proposal and a plan for a practical project. In addition to your study plan, you’ll write a job-application cover letter and get feedback from your study coach. At a point further along in your studies, you’ll add a reflection and some concrete goals that make it clear what you’re going to do to prepare yourself for the professional field.

Courses

You can take courses within all of HKU Utrechts Conservatorium, like ensemble playing, stage presentation, Music, Art & Culture and Learning Strategies. You can also take courses at other HKU schools (such as HKU Art and Economics, and HKU Music and Technology) or even at another educational institution.

Lecturers

Take a look at the complete list of lecturers

Study Costs

HKU has different rates for tuition fees. Depending on your situation, you pay either statutory or institutional tuition fees.

Calculate your tuition fee

  • The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science anually sets the statutory tuition fees. The statutory rate applies only to students from the Netherlands, another country in the European Economic Area (EEA*), Switzerland or Suriname, and students who meet the nationality criteria of the Dutch Student Finance Act (WSF 2000).

    (* EEA countries comprise the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein).

  • HKU sets the institutional tuition fees on the basis of the statutory rate. Students who have already completed a course in higher education and students from outside the EEA usually pay a higher rate.

    Partly as a result of legal changes, the rate for institutional tuition fees for non-EEA students may rise considerably in the coming years.

  • Read the information on the study costs page.

Study plan and Midterm

During the first few weeks, you’ll write up a study plan that fits with what you want to achieve, with help from a study coach and your main-subject teacher. You’ll also take group classes to learn from your fellow students.

Artistic Development
Every week you'll have a 75-minute lesson. Depending on your profile, you'll develop enhanced (instumental, vocal, creative) competences or a combination with expanded (technological, entrepreneurial, productional, educational) competences. You'll discuss the realization of your artistic plan and what your final performance will look like with your main-subject teacher. Additionally you can choose a accompaniment, correppetition, or a secondary subject that helps your with your artistic development.

Artistic Research
You’ll also choose an area of research that interests you. After some classes in research skills, you’ll draw up a research pan, and then you’ll carry out the research.

Practical Project

An internship at a production company, educational institution, booking agency or a (learning or playing) orchestra such as Phion, Orchestra of Gelderland and Overijssel – during your practical training you can do any of these. Internships are the way to find out whether these jobs and skills are a good fit with you. You’ll write up a project plan, and after the project you’ll round it off by writing an evaluation and reflecting on what you’ve learned.

Elective courses, ensemble playing and projects
You'll decide a part of your study programma yourself. You can take elective courses and play in ensembles and/or projects like larger orchestral or Big Band projects, or individual band projects. You'll decide how to give these elements a place in your study programme.

Midterm Presentations

The midterm presentations in both study years take place in January. You’ll talk to a team of instructors how you’re shaping your course of study and how your main subject studies are progressing in the context of your other academic work. You can talk with them about whether you’re on the right path.

Artistic research

An integral part of your Masters trajectory is the artistic research where you dive deeply into a question related to your Artistic Vision. By putting together all the facets of practice-based research you will learn to make meaningful development in your craft. This process involves a blend of learning, reflective practice, critical inquiry, and experimentation, allowing you to expand your creative and intellectual boundaries. By documenting your work through reference recordings, you gain valuable insights into your artistic evolution that can be demonstrated for others. You will work under the guidance of experienced mentors, participate in collaborative discussions, and share your findings, ultimately refining your unique artistic voice.

Graduating

You’ll end the second year of your master’s programme with a final performance, which will show that you’ve gained the required competences of the Master of Music Performance. This final performance highlights the entire context in which you’ve completed your own path of study.
Master of MusicWhat will you make
Master of Music

What will you make on the course

Wat will you make?

Have a look at our students' work
DrummerMartijn ProjectMartijn Soeterbroek

Off to work!

After completing the degree programme, you’ll be a professional musician with your own identity. You’ll have a Master of Music degree, and can put the letters MMus after your name. With this degree you can do all sorts of things: as a vocalist, instrumentalist, composer, producer, sound designer or music technology expert. It’s up to you!

Workspaces

HKU provides great facilities for the music courses. Find out which facilities you can use.
WorkspacePerformance & TechnologyWorkspaceLending desksWorkspaceLibraries and Multimedia Libraries
Master of MusicApplication and Admission
Master of Music

Application and Admission

The course is something for you if:

- You’d like to develop or broaden yourself as a professional music performer. Think of excellence within your specialization, or broad functionality within your profile.
- You have completed or will soon complete a professional musical study course in the Netherlands, or a comparable programme elsewhere

During the selection procedure, we decide whether the course suits you.

Apply now!

Important Dates

All the practical entrance exmination will be scheduled from 31 March to 11 April 2025 and will take place live at the conservatory.

Can you still apply?

You can apply for the academic year 2025-2026 from 1 October 2024 to 1 February 2025.

Prior Education

You are eligible for this master’s programme if you have completed or will soon complete a professional musical study course in the Netherlands, or a comparable programme elsewhere.

Entrance Examination

The entrance exam consist of two parts:
  • After you apply via Studielink, you will receive the home assignment.

  • The practice admissions will take place between 31 March and 11 April 2025.

    Exception Carillon
    The practical entrance exam for the Carillon will take place in June 2025. The candidates who have apply for this instrument will receive a separate invitation for the practical entrance exam.

    For this exam we ask you to prepare a few entrance assignments. Please note: different admission requirements apply to the Master of Music Composition. You will receive these requirements after your application.

    Below the Master assignments.
    Requirements Master of Music (pdf)

Apply for the Master of Music via Studielink. During your application you choose the specific main subject.

Entrance Exam

During the entrance exam, you will demonstrate your work, experience and talent. The practical entrance exam will be live at the conservatory, between 31 March and 11 April 2025. Make sure you're available during this period.

Please note: this also applies to students who want to progress from the bachelor's program of the HKU Utrecht Conservatory to the master program.

After the practical admission you will receive a result/advice from the admission committee. You will receive the official, final result of your entrance exam by e-mail no later than 1 May.

Please note: there can be a difference between the advice and the final result. This is because sometimes more candidates are admissible than can be admitted.

There are three options:

  • You have been admitted to the master's program
  • You have been admitted to the pre-master
  • You have been rejected

Study Costs

HKU has different rates for tuition fees. Depending on your situation, you pay either statutory or institutional tuition fees.

Calculate your tuition fee
  • The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science anually sets the statutory tuition fees. The statutory rate applies only to students from the Netherlands, another country in the European Economic Area (EEA*), Switzerland or Suriname, and students who meet the nationality criteria of the Dutch Student Finance Act (WSF 2000).

    (* EEA countries comprise the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein).

  • HKU sets the institutional tuition fees on the basis of the statutory rate. Students who have already completed a course in higher education and students from outside the EEA usually pay a higher rate.

    Partly as a result of legal changes, the rate for institutional tuition fees for non-EEA students may rise considerably in the coming years.

  • Read the information on the study costs page.

Find out more?

First, read the frequently asked questions. Haven't found your answer yet? Get in contact with the Student Affairs Service Desk. They will help you with questions about (almost) everything that has to do with studying at HKU.

Contact