Bachelor of Arts courses

Applicants for Bachelor of Arts courses must have a maturité gymnasiale, maturité professionnelle or maturité spécialisée secondary-school qualification or one deemed equivalent (baccalauréat, etc.). In exceptional cases, the HEM may waive this condition for students displaying outstanding musical talent.
 ►see details

Admission to the Bachelor of Arts programme at the Haute école de musique de Genève (HEM) is by competitive examination. In the first stage, candidates must submit an application form. If the application is complete and admissible, candidates are invited to send a video recording (instrumental or vocal performance) or are invited to attend the test in person. This phase is followed by an admission interview and a general musical training test (conducted online).

Applications to more than one school in French-speaking Switzerland: successful applicants to more than one school in French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Neuchâtel, Lausanne, Fribourg or Sion) will have until 31 May to choose where they wish to study.
 

CONDITIONS FOR THE 2023-2024 ADMISSIONS

Admission examinations will be based on a video recording sent by applicants, except for the following main subjects : 

-    Orchestral conducting
-    Choir conducting
-    Music and movement / Eurythmics
The application form must be sent before March 1st 2023.
All video recordings must be submitted before April 4th 2023 at Midday (12:00 noon).

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

The admission file consists of the following documents which must be attached to the online form :

  • ►Application form for the 2023-2024 academic year
  • a motivation letter
  • a curriculum vitae (resume) specifying at least the applicant’s general studies (secondary school, university etc.), musical studies and work experience
  • a passport photograph, pasted to the form
  • copies of the applicant’s identity document and (if already issued) Swiss residence permit
  • details of the repertoire studied
  • a copy of the applicant’s certificate of access to higher education (maturité, baccalauréat, Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife, General Certificate of Education, Kotogakko sotsugyo shomeisho, etc.)
  • copies of musical diplomas, indicating marks obtained
  • a list of the works to be performed during the instrumental or vocal test, including the required repertoires
  • evidence that the admission fee has been paid

Incomplete application documents will not be accepted.

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Recommendation for completing the online form
1) By mid-February at the latest: fill in all the required information and collect all the documents to be attached to the application at the end of registration, scan the documents in a correct format.
2) Step 2 By the end of February: Attach all mandatory and additional documents at once and pay the admission tax.
3) Step 3 Complete the process by clicking on "submit". The form will not be transmitted until this operation is completed.

PRACTICAL EXAMINATION

A list of required repertoires for the practical examination (according to the discipline chosen) is available at ►Test repertoire. Applicants must also submit a list of the works to be performed during the instrumental or vocal test, including the required repertoires.

REGULATIONS

Rules and regulations are available in french only

Règlement d’admission en Bachelor  HES-SO
Règlement d’admission en Bachelor Musique et art de la scène

STUDY PLANS

See the student's guide 2022-2023