BA Music | Music Theory

Basel Academy of Music

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Institut Klassik | Study Music Theory in the cultural city of Basel in the border triangle of Switzerland, Germany and France! The Basel Academy of Music offers an inspiring, collaborative environment with a wide range of networking opportunities. Based on classical music theory, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and sonic space basel offer excellent specialisation options in the areas of early and new music.

Factsheet

Degree: Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Musiktheorie
Study mode: Full-time
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 180
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 6 semesters
Teaching language: German: B1 level required
Stay abroad: Possible
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)

At a glance

Classical music theory, broad literary and repertoire knowledge, learning and reflecting on various composition techniques
Specialisation by choosing between two focus areas: Contemporary Music/Composition or Early Music/Historical Composition Techniques
Closely coordinated subjects and many elective/specialisation options

Why study this?

The FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major lays the educational foundations for a career as a professional music theorist.
In addition to solid general music education knowledge and skills, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, as well as write and speak competently about the practice of music in general. They will also acquire a range of other skills that will qualify them to pursue a career in music. A FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music constitutes a pathway to postgraduate study, e.g. a Master’s degree programme

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major is not a professional qualification. Students must follow up their undergraduate studies with a Master’s degree programme in Music Pedagogy with a Music Theory major, Specialized Master in New Music Theory or another programme that leads to the necessary professional qualification.

The FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Composition major is a degree programme aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a professional music theorist.

Structure and programme contents

The core aim of the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major is to provide students with broad-based skills in music theory, a comprehensive knowledge of the literature and repertoire, the capacity to engage reflectively with different compositional techniques and musical styles, and above all the ability to present artistic content in a practical, musical form and to competently express this in words.

The Music Theory major students can choose to specialise in one of two fields:

Contemporary Music/Composition is offered in conjunction with the Musicology Department of Basel University. Although the main focus is on 20th and 21th century music, the course also explores the historical and compositional fundamentals of earlier centuries.

Early Music/Historical Composition Techniques is offered in conjunction with the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Musicology Department of Basel University. The course allows for a more in-depth engagement with the theory of early music. Students will take classes on one of the two courses of their major at the Schola Cantorum, as well as a number of additional courses, such as notation and partimento playing.

Modules and regulations

The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.

The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.

Structures

Module descriptions

Study Regulations

Lecturers

Music Theory

More details

Institut Klassik

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All teaching staff

Requirements, admission, entrance exam

In order to enter the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music programme with a Music theory major, specialized in contemporary music/composition, applicants must hold a school-leaving qualification (Baccalaureate, Professional Baccalaureate or equivalent) as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places).Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the written exam by mail and the video meeting.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study regulations of the Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Music in German.

We expect students to have very good German language skills at the beginning of the studies.
Students who are not German native speakers must present at least a B1 German language certificate according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the beginning of the studies. This certificate must be complete, i.e. all modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking) have been tested separately and passed at least at level B1 overall. Only certificates that have been certified with the ALTE-Q-Mark seal of approval (e.g. the B1 certificate of the Goethe-Institut or the telc certificate) are accepted.

General Registration Procedure All about Studying in Basel