Master of Arts courses

Applicants for Master of Arts course must have a Bachelor’s degree or a qualification in higher education that is deemed equivalent (licence or diploma from a Swiss university of music or from a recognised conservatory or university).

Admission to Master of Arts courses at the "Haute école de musique de Genève " is by competitive examination. Applicants must first submit application documents. If the application is complete and admissible, they are then invited to send a video recording (instrumental or vocal performance) or invited to the test if it takes place in person. This stage is followed by an admission interview. Some Master of Arts programmes are also subject to a second test. The results of the admission tests are forwarded to the admissions committee, which takes a final decision.

In the case of an in-person examination, candidates will receive a written invitation with details of the venue and time, as well as the contact details of the appointed accompanist. Applicants have to get in touch with the accompanist to provide details of their chosen repertoire. Only the designated accompanist may accompany applicants during the test.

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
-    Eurythmics
-    Music at school
-    Maestro al cembalo
-    Piano accompaniment
-    Performer-composer minor of the Master in performance - concert
-    Chamber music minor of the Master in performance - concert  
-    Certificate of Advanced Studies in Instrumental/vocal performance
-    Diploma of Advanced Studies in Orchestral practice

For these main subjects, an in-person audition will take place ►at the following dates. 

  • The second examinations for the following majors and minors will also be held in person, according to the audition timetable :

-    Major in Orchestra
-    Minor in Contemporary music
-    Soloist major
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 documents to be submitted will differ according to whether the applicant is already enrolled at the Haute école de musique de Genève or is a new applicant who is not yet enrolled. The final date for submitting the documents is the same in both cases.

New applicants for admission to the Geneva HEM

Deadline for all disciplines - 1 March 2023

  • ►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.
 

Master in ethnomusicology

The ►Application form for the Master in ethnomusicology 2023-2024 must be sent duly completed, dated and signed.

 

Applicants already enrolled at the Geneva HEM

The ►2023-2024 Master's application form for internal students, as well as the documents to be provided, are available on the Intranet site of the school.

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

STUDY PLANS

See the student's guide 2022-2023