- String instruments
- viola, violoncello, double bass, guitar, harp
- Wind and other orchestral instruments
- oboe, bassoon, saxophone, horn/whale horn, trombone, tuba, percussion instruments
- Historical instruments
- Historical cello, historical bassoon, historical oboe, historical viola, historical violin, recorder, lute/theorbo, transverse flute, viola da gamba, historical double bass/violone
Orchestral Musician Master (incl. Early Music and Contemporary Music)
General information
Application deadline
20 September till 20 October for the summer semester
15 March till 15 April for the winter semester
Please note: Applications for flute, clarinet, trumpet and violin are not possible for the 2026 summer semester!
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- Bachelor or comparable degree in orchestral instruments
- Applicants who have completed a six (180 LP according to ECTS) or seven (210 LP according to ECTS) semester Bachelor's program must complete an appropriate adaptation program after passing the exam.
- special musical talent
- german language skills B2 according to CEFR
- Proof can be submitted until matriculation
- Bachelor or comparable degree in orchestral instruments
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- Standard period of study: 4 semesters, 120 credit points
- Degree: Masterof Music (M Mus)
Your application – step by step
All of the steps listed below must be completed within the application period for the respective study programme. We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible within the application period so that you can clarify any questions that may arise with our StudyGuide in good time.
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Register and verify your identity (if you have not already done so) on the UdK Berlin application portal: https://my.udk-berlin.de
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Fee per application: EUR 50.00 (plus fees for international transfers)
Proof of payment: bank statement or transfer confirmation with value date
Universität der Künste Berlin
IBAN: DE 72 1009 0000 8841 0150 46
BIC: BEVO DE BB XXX
Payment reference: 35/01036, study programme, name, application number
Berliner Volksbank eG
Budapester Straße 35
10787 Berlin
Germany
For international transfers:
Please ensure that you cover all transfer fees incurred (OUR – sender pays costs) when making the transfer. -
During the application process, you will be asked to submit formal documents. Please prepare these as individual PDF files (max. 5 MB each).
Formal documents:
- Curriculum vitae with details of musical training
- University degree certificate
- Transcript of records for the BA degree
- Preliminary examination document (VPD) from uni-assist, if applicable (see FAQs)
- Proof of German language proficiency at B2 level according to CEFR for international applicants (see FAQs)
- Proof can be submitted until matriculation
- Proof of payment of application fees
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Log in to the application portal (https://my.udk-berlin.de) and submit an application for admission to your desired study programme within the application period and upload the formal documents.
FAQs and Tutorials
Submitting application documents at a later date
Changing universities / Applying for a higher semester
Recognition of international educational qualifications (VPD and APS)
Language certificates (requirements and accepted certificates)
Help and tutorials for the my.udk application portal
Help and tutorials for the Bemus upload portal
Admission procedure
What happens after I apply?
Admission exams are usually held in January /February for the summer semester and June/ July for the winter semester. You can find the scheduled dates shortly before the examination period on the website of the College of Music here (only available in German).
This information is without guarantee!
All applicants who have applied on time with the complete documents will receive an invitation to the entrance examination, along with the mandatory dates and further information, by email.
The admission procedure consists of a pre-selection and an entrance examination.
A. Pre-selection - audition or upload of a digital portfolio via the UdK portal Bemus (depending on the selected instrument)
The pre-selection will be based on the repertoire required for the entrance examination. The admissions committee will listen to an excerpt of approximately five minutes from the prepared programme. Please prepare three complete works of different styles for the pre-selection.
Pre-selection in person for the following instruments:
- flute, horn, trumpet, and tuba,
- "historical instruments" (e.g., recorder, historical cello, historical bassoon, historical oboe, historical viola, historical violin, lute/theorbo, historical double bass/violone)
Digital pre-selection for the following instruments:
- bassoon, guitar, harp, clarinet, double bass, oboe, saxophone, trombone, viola, violin, violoncello, and percussion instruments
Detailed information on the entrance procedure as well as the expected reperoire can be found in the implementation regulations [German].
After the formal examination conducted by the Registration and Examinations Office (IPA), you will receive an e-mail with the exact information on the date, time and location of the pre-selection examination in presence. You will also be informed of the date of the entrance examination (usually on the same day or very soon afterwards). During pre-selection stage it will be decided who will be admitted to the entrance examination.
Repertoire requirements
For the instruments guitar, harp, clarinet, double bass, saxophone, viola, violin, violoncello and percussion instruments, work samples (digital portfolio) must be submitted for the pre-selection during the application period.
1. Applicants for guitar, harp, clarinet, double bass, saxophone and violoncello should submit videos of three works in different styles.
2. Applicants for viola should submit audio samples or videos (videos preferred) with the following parameters:
- movement including cadenza (if available) from a viola concerto
- one etude or caprice
- a solo suite or comparable work
- total duration: at least 20 minutes, maximum 30 minutes.
3. Applicants for violin should submit videos with the following parameters:
- the 1st movement from a violin concerto, including cadenza (if available)
- one etude or caprice
- a solo sonata (or partita) or one or more movements from it
- with or without piano accompaniment.
- should be recorded unedited in one take, but can be separated per movement/work.
- total duration: at least 20 minutes, maximum 30 minutes.
Information on how to submit the digital portfolio
Upload portal Bemus https://bemus.udk-berlin.de/
Login Please use the login name and password that you use when registering and applying in the campus management portal my.udk-berlin.de.
permitted file formats: | PDF (max. 50 MB), MP4, MOV, M4V (Video formats each 2 GB) |
Max. Menge an Dateien: | 4 |
Max. Dateivolumen | 6,05 GB |
B. Entrance examination
Those who have passed the pre-selection will be admitted to the entrance examination.The entrance examination usually takes place at the end of the lecture period for the following semester in presence.
Content of the entrance examination:
a.performance of three works:
- one explicitely virtuoso work
- one work from the field of contemporary music
- the choice of a focus area (early music or new music) should be included in the selection of the prepared works.
Specific requirements for violin :
- a violin concerto
- a solo sonata (or partita by J. S. Bach)
- a caprice (e.g. Paganini, Wieniawski, Rode)
- all movements must be prepared.
b. sight-reading (work sample)
c. short interview
The entrance examination takes approx. 15 minutes. If necessary, only excerpts of the prepared programme will be presented.
Invitations to the entrance examination are expected to be sent out in the first week of December.