Institut Klassik | Study Composition in the cultural city of Basel in the border triangle of Switzerland, Germany and France! As a platform for composition, contemporary performance, open creation, audio design and new music theory, sonic space basel offers an inspiring, collaborative environment with a wide range of networking opportunities and space for artistic creation.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Komposition
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Duration
- 6 semesters
- Language
- B1 level in German required
- Staying abroad
- Possible
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
At a glance
- Composing with a view to numerous performance options and the best conditions for composer-performer collaborations
- Developing and reflecting on your own language on the basis of a sound artistic education
- Closely coordinated subjects and many elective/specialisation options
Why study this?
The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Composition major is not a professional qualification. Those wishing to pursue a career as a professional composer must follow up their undergraduate studies with a Master’s degree programme in Composition or another programme that leads to the necessary professional qualification.
The FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Composition major is an undergraduate degree programme aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a professional composer.
Oleksandra Katsalap: Surface for Performer, Sound and Video (2024)
Winner Eduard Brunner Composition-Competition 2024
Structure and programme contents
Students of the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Composition major acquire experience in all important aspects of composition. The study programme encompasses analyses of contemporary music and the reflective teaching of compositional techniques, as well as practical work in a variety of projects, such as workshops and concert performances of the students’ own works.
Modules and Reglements
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.
Structure
Structure BA Klassik Composition in German
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.
- Switch the language settings to English.
- Filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
- Use the PDF button to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
- Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Study Regulations
Study Regulations BA Music in German
Lecturers
Composition
Institut Klassik
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
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 certified with the ALTE-Q-Mark seal of approval (e.g. the B1 certificate of the Goethe-Institut or the telc certificate) are accepted.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply between the 15th December and the 1st March.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
- A curriculum Vitae, a passport photo, a motivational letter/a short biography
- the school leaving qualification or proof of an equivalent general education qualification
For the entrance exam:
- At least three compositions (may be submitted optionally as MP3 and/or video* in addition to the PDF)
- A written analysis (pattern and extent of choice)
- Optional: further exercises in stylistic composition, concepts, digital music programmes, projects, essays, documentation, music-theoretical/scientific research papers, etc.
- A recording of a short, chosen work played on the piano or another instrument
*Upload your video onto YouTube and add the link in the registration tool or send it by mail to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch by 1st March.
On-Site
The entrance exam will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of the results
The results will be communicated by mail in May.
Procedure
The entrance exam is split into several parts.
Procedure of the entrance exam
Written exam by mail (duration approx. four hours)
- Short compositional exercise. The exercise is based on various materials or concepts (you may also choose from electronical materials). In case of electronic concepts, you must submit a sound file including a written documentation.
- Written analysis of a short movement from the 20th/21st century.
Online oral exam (Zoom)
- Quick oral presentation (ca. 5-6 minutes) of an example of the submitted composing works.
- You will listen to an example from the 20th/21st century and report explicitly on the techniques, pitches, rhythms, timbres, etc.
- Ear training test about the candidates´ essential perception of the pitch, rhythms and timbres of the examples necessary for composition. The test may also be linked to the hearing example and the submitted works.
- Brief music theory test
- Conversation with the Jury
Example Exam Composition
Klausur Komposition 2022 in German
Organisational matters
sonic space basel
sonic space basel is a platform of Basel Academy of Music for Audio Design (BA and MA), Composition (BA and MA and MA SP), MA SP Creative Interpretation in New Music, Music Theory (BA and MA MP), MA SP New Music Theory, MA SP Open Creation, Continuing Education and Research.
We consider ourselves a laboratory, a communication tool and an information hub for contemporary music.
Projects / Ensembles
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.
Quicklinks
Advising and information events
Contact
Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
- klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch
Prof. Roman Digion
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 57
- roman.digion@fhnw.ch
Prof. Uli Fussenegger
- Phone
- +41 61 264 56 19
- uli.fussenegger@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The next registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.