Do you want to combine music, performance and theatre? Do you want to implement your own artistic and scenic projects? Are you curious about collaborative ways of working? Then our unique transdisciplinary degree programme will open up exciting prospects.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Musik und Szene in Transformation
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Next start
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- 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
- Musicians, composers, performers, designers, visual artists, choreographers, dancers, directors, scenographers, set designers: different disciplines come together
- Music as an experimental practice: anchored across genres in early music, jazz and contemporary music
- Creation and collaboration in the development of unconventional, scenic-performative projects
Why study this?
Graduates of the MA MuST have the necessary knowledge and skills in musical and performative creation, as well as practical experience of fulfilling a wide range of artistic roles (member of an artistic collective, artistic director, performer in contexts with divided responsibilities). MuST graduates are highly flexible and can be employed in a variety of positions within their chosen area of expertise. Potential employment opportunities include theaters, opera houses, concert halls, orchestras, festivals, theater companies, ensembles and the independent arts scene.
Do you move between different artistic disciplines? Do you want to combine music, performance and theater? Are you curious about collaborative forms of work and want to realise your own artistic projects?
As an inter-institutional programme (Institut Klassik, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Institut Jazz), the MA Music and Scene in Transformation is aimed at outstanding musicians (instrumental/vocal) and composers of all relevant genres who wish to further develop their performative and scenic-conceptual skills based on their musical discipline. In addition, the programme is aimed at students who have equivalent qualifications in scenic and performative fields of study, are interested in transformation processes and have a compelling portfolio. These include, for example: dance, directing, choreography, acting, applied theatre studies, music curation, mediation/education, architecture, philosophy, visual arts, experimental design (process design), urbanism or sound design, arrangement, improvisation, electroacoustics, popular music and experimental pop. This makes the programme ideal for creative musicians and composers who are interested in interdisciplinary work and whose professional goals are primarily focused on realising their own musical and theatrical projects. It is also suitable for designers, artists, theatre professionals, urbanists, sound artists, dancers or directors who see their work focusing on scenic and performative projects. Students in the MA MuST programme are expected to demonstrate a high degree of independence.
Impressions of the study places Interweaving bodies – an artistic-scenic Project
Structure and programme contents
Transdisciplinary Master's programme
In our master's programme, students from different artistic disciplines work together. With its unique anchoring in early music performance practice (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis), jazz and contemporary music (sonic space basel), the master's programme breaks down disciplinary and genre boundaries. Studio spaces and a rehearsal stage are available for the development and performance of new formats.
Creation and Collaboration
Creation and collaboration are at the heart of this degree programme: you will learn to develop, rehearse and perform in trans- and interdisciplinary formats. Here, music is understood as an experimental practice that transcends epochal boundaries, and scenic work and performances as an overarching art form. You will actively shape your studies and receive individual support from renowned mentors from the worlds of jazz, early music and contemporary music. You can expect this and more.
- You work on transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects in music, performance and theatre
- You get contacts with local and international institutions, festivals and venues.
- You reflect on unconventional concert formats and venues and implement corresponding projects
- You will benefit from networking with the Basel School of Design and Art and other FHNW degree programmes
- You benefit from a rehearsal stage and a studio room
- You will get to know Basel's international yet intimate art, music and theatre scene
- You will receive support in realising your individual artistic vision
- You can start your own transdisciplinary ensemble
- You will receive support in starting your own business in the contemporary music, theatre and art scene
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
The MuST curriculum focuses on the students' individual and practical development: In addition to the study mentor (main mentor), who accompanies the students for the entire duration of their studies, they receive specific content-related input from project mentors who change every semester. The 4-6 projects taking place in semesters II and III are carried out by choreographers, directors, theater companies and performers with a wide variety of artistic styles and thus give the students an insight into different aesthetic practices. In addition, projects conceived by students on their own initiative are supported. Together with a diverse range of courses in the areas of performance/movement, sound and stage/technology as well as discursive and reflective courses, this results in a curriculum that offers comprehensive preparation and support for students' own musical and scenic creations.
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW schools.
- 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
Lecturers
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
The Master's programme Music and Scene in Transformation (MuST) is open to students who have completed a Bachelor's degree (instrumental, vocal or composition) or equivalent (relevant degrees include BA degrees in dance, performance, design and process design, directing, choreography, acting, applied theatre studies, mediation/education, architecture, philosophy, fine arts, urban studies, etc.), have passed the entrance exam and were offered a place at the Academy (limited places). Admission “sur dossier” is possible.
Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents on time and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited for a live audition/performance/workshop.
For further admission criteria, see the Study Regulations Master of Arts FHNW in Musik and Szene in Transformation (in German).
A good knowledge of English is required. Sufficient knowledge of German is recommended, but not a prerequisite.
Both individual registrations and group registrations (interdisciplinary collectives, ensembles, etc.) are possible for the Master's programme in Music and Scene in Transformation.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
- A short curriculum vitae
- Diplomas (school leaving diploma, Bachelor, Master, etc.)
- A motivation video or letter of motivation
- Performance video
- Project Proposal
- Portfolio
Mentor
First mentor can be chosen freely.
Specialisation
You may choose between
- Historical Perspectives
- Contemporary Approaches
- Freestyle
- Other art form/ artistic discipline
On-site
The entrance exam on site will take place in the middle of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of the results
The results of the first round will be announced by mail in March.
The results of the second round will be announced by mail in May.
Procedure
The entrance exam is split into the first round, which is held “by video”, and a second round, in the form of a live audition/performance/workshop.
First Round: Video Recordings
With their registration, applicants submit several video recordings:
- motivation video or letter of motivation
A short video describing your motivation for applying is requested (1-3 min.). Alternatively, you may send us a brief letter of motivation. - performance video
A performance video with musical-scenic/musical-theatrical performances (solo and/or ensemble) of approx. 20-30 minutes in length must be submitted, which is representative of your current musical and scenic-performative abilities. Your own project ideas, performances and projects that have been developed as part of an artistic collective are expressly welcome. If applicable, please explain your role in the group work.
Applicants with other artistic backgrounds should submit video documentation of projects in which they played a central artistic and creative role. - Project Proposal
Outline a project (length max. 20-25 minutes) which the applicants would like to realize as part of the MuST programme. The project description should include the artistic goals of the project, the type of realization and the resources required (performers, sound, visuals, etc.). - Portfolio
A portfolio about the individual, artistical level of the applicant´s skills:
concerts, performances, improvisations (audio/video), scores, scoring, installations, documentations of past projects, etc.
Specifications for the video recordings
Applicants must submit a performance-video when registering.
Video requirements
It is recommended to use a suitable stereo microphone and place it conveniently.
Please upload the video onto YouTube, Vimeo or similar platform and add the links to your registration. If you submit one single video of the complete programme, please set markers so that the individual performances can be selected directly.
>>>Alternatively or additionally, a portfolio can be submitted (images, projects, concert installations, concepts, digital formats, videos, homepages, political projects, educational formats, publications, posters, e-portfolios, publications of other kinds, etc.).
Only those applicants who will be considered for the second round will be invited for the on-site workshop.
Second round: on-site workshop, audition/performance, interview
At the center of the entrance exam is a workshop format in which all applicants participate. It is important to us not to create a competitive situation for a few study places, but rather to promote cooperation within the group, joint exchange, collaborative forms of work and the quality of the individual project plans that are presented in the group. In addition, there is a practical examination (audition, performance) and an interview (discussion of the submitted performance concept, theoretical knowledge, interview). In addition to the musical and scenic quality of your registration, what counts for us is your curiosity towards other artistic positions, the joint reflection on transformation processes and performance concepts and the willingness to work collaboratively.
Please reserve the entire two days for the selection process.
In justified exceptional cases, the commission may hear individual applicants online.
Organisational matters
Studio Space and Rehearsal Stage
A studio space is available for the development of new concert and performance forms and a rehearsal stage set up especially for this master programme.
Info
Are you curious? Visit our individual website too!
Quicklinks
Advising and information events
Contact
Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
- klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch
Prof. Raphael Sbrzesny
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 57 (Central office)
- raphael.sbrzesny@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.
MA Music and Scene in Transformation
- Date
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 Semester
- Place
- Provisorium Letzi & Campus Musik-Akademie Basel