BA Music | Music Secondary Education I

Basel Academy of Music

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The cultural city of Basel is the ideal place to study music: an outstanding cultural offer, a campus in the heart of the city. Renowned lecturers support students from all over the world to enhance their musical expertise and develop their artistic and/or teaching skills. Please remark: German Level C1 is required, the teaching language is German.

Factsheet

Degree: Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Schulmusik I
Study mode: Full-time
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 180
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 6 semesters
Teaching language: German: Level C1 is required
Stay abroad: Not applicable
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)

At a glance

Music Secondary Education in conjunction with another subject at the University of Basel
Numerous practical professional modules
Preparation for a master’s degree at the School of Education
Highly advanced German language skills, at least Level C1

Why study this?

Combining a teaching degree with artistic and musical training? What is the aim of studying school music? Is school music right for me?

Graduates provide information in the video.

The FHNW Bachelor of Arts degree programme in music with a specialisation in music secondary education I promotes the development of a versatile musical personality.

In the field of artistic education, this means acquiring solid skills in singing and chordal accompaniment instruments, as well as sound knowledge and abilities in the area of general music education. Additional skills in communication and reflection on music, as well as basic knowledge in the areas of professional practice, complete the overall picture. This creates the prerequisites for the consecutive «Master of Arts in Secondary Education» programme at the FHNW School of Education.

The BA in Music, Music Secondary Education I is run in cooperation with the University of Basel and the FHNW School of Education.

Music is present in everyone's everyday life. Music teachers have a high level of musical competence and the ability to actively participate in musical life. They are open and curious about a wide variety of musical styles and forms of expression and incorporate this into their teaching.
Active music-making together is an important part of teaching. As a music teacher, you shape musical processes with your students and can analyse them. You help them gain fundamental musical experiences and recognise and encourage musical talent. You have the ability to recognise music in a broader context and thus teach your students to approach music in a differentiated way.
Recognising similarities and points of contact between music and other areas of life enables you to design diverse and interdisciplinary lessons.
You are familiar with new music technologies and their application in the classroom.
You have mastered the basics of studio technology, are familiar with common music software and are therefore able to support pupils in using it.
You actively participate in shaping the cultural life of a school (performances, musical accompaniment for events). As a music teacher, you are the point of contact for musical matters at the school.

This course is aimed at prospective teachers for secondary level I who wish to study music in depth at a music university.

Please remark: German Level C1 is required, the teaching language is German.

Visualisation of secondary level I study path with Music Secondary Education I

Leading to Master of Arts in Secondary Education

What motivates you to study this programme? Why at Basel?

Get to know Anna Alexay in the video portrait

Anna Alexay, Music Secondary Education I

Structure and programme contents

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a major in Music Secondary Education I combines the study of school music at the Basel Academy of Music with the study of another school subject at the University of Basel.
Students can take complementary modules at the Basel Academy of Music, the University of Basel or the FHNW School of Education. The first practical modules will be token at the Basel Academy of Music.

The following subjects can currently be taken in combination with Music Secondary Music I: German, English, French, Mathematics.
Also permitted, but less recommended due to limited opportunities for employment in secondary schools: Geography, History, Italian, Latin, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

Modules and Regulations

The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
Students can take complementary modules at the Basel Academy of Music, the University of Basel or the FHNW School of Education. The first practical modules will you take at the Basel Academy of Music.

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

Module descriptions

Study course regulations

Lecturers

Music Secondary Education

More details (in German)

Institut Klassik

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All Lecturers

Requirements, admission, entrance exam

In order to enter the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music programme with a music secondary education I major, applicants must hold the following educational background 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 entrance exam on site.
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 C1 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 C1 overall. Only certificates that have been certified with the ALTE-Q-Mark seal of approval (e.g. the C1 certificate of the Goethe-Institut or the telc certificate) are accepted. The required certificate C1 must be submitted with the confirmation of admission but not later than 31 Mai. Exceptions will be decided upon by the head of degree programme.

Music Secondary Education I with University

Music Secondary Education I without University

Admission process «sur dossier»

General Registration Procedure All about Studying in Basel

Entrance exam

The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.

Dates

Procedure

Organisational matters

Projects / Ensembles

Quicklinks

Files and Regulations

Advising and information events

Contact

Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik

Contact for all administrative matters.

Phone: +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
E-Mail: klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch

Prof. Beat Hofstetter

Head of BA and MA Music in schools I and II, Head of MA Specialised Performance Choral conducting and Wind orchestra conducting

Phone: +41 61 264 57 36
E-Mail: beat.hofstetter@fhnw.ch

Information events

Registration

The registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.

Please respect the entrance exam at the German programme page.

BA Music | Music Secondary Education I
WITH universitary major

Date: 14.9.2026
Duration: 6 semesters
Notes: Mandatory events take place before the start of the semester. Details will be sent out by the student administration.

BA Music | Music Secondary Education I
WITHOUT universitary major

Date: 14.9.2026
Duration: 6 semesters
Notes: Mandatory events take place before the start of the semester. Details will be sent out by the student administration.

BA Music | Music Secondary Education I, Basel Academy of Music