Combine artistic practice and research into a unique profile: with the support of committed mentors and peers, carry out your own artistic research project. Whether in preparation for a PhD or as a tool for your artistic work, Music and Research offers space for artistic innovation and reflection.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Music and Research
- 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
- Planning and implementing an own artistic-scientific research project
- Intensive support from two mentors: 1. artistic-scientific / scientific, 2. artistic
- Key Content: Research methods, academic writing and presenting, research management, internships, music aesthetics
- Features: peer-to-peer learning, participation in various project and ensemble offers
Why study this?
There is an array of career options available to graduates of the MA SP Music and Research programme. You can carve out a role for yourself in the international creative music industry and re-energise it by bringing fresh ideas on board. Depending on your particular area of expertise, you will have the skills to open up hybrid creative spaces for musical practice and academic research, which in turn could serve as a stepping stone to other careers. Your abilities as an artist-educator/artist-researcher also make you ideally suited to positions in conservatories of music and within key parts of the music scene (e.g. festival direction, advisory committees, ensemble direction, funding bodies, etc.).
The MA SP Music and Research is aimed at highly gifted musicians, composers and music theorists who regard research as an integral part of their artistic practice and wish to combine both activities in a more informed and scientific manner. It is equally suited to students who wish to embark on a doctoral programme (artistic-scientific or Dr. phil.) at a later stage. Independent work and self-directed study are a major component of this Master's programme.
Studying Music and Research?
Let first year student Rubén Bañuelos Preciado (Student MA SP Music and Research) and Prof. Dr. Anne-May Krüger (Head of Programme) take you on campus.
Study variant available
The combined master's programme – Music and Research and education in music pedagogy
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument/voice | Music and Research
Students who already hold a master's degree in Music Performance with an instrumental/vocal major have the possibility to combine in one Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy programme artistic specialization in Music and Research and pedagogical education in their own instrument. This dual profile considerably expands their career opportunities.
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument / voice | Music and Research
What does it mean to research about or with music, to research in music?
Students and lecturers provide some insight.
Structure and programme contents
The master programme is aimed at students who have a high level of competence as instrumentalists/vocalists or composers and music theorists for whom research is a central part of their artistic profile. The core of the program is an artistic-academic research project, which the students develop based on questions which emerge from their artistic practice. The project is supervised by two mentors from the broad spectrum of lecturers at the Academy of Music Basel including the institutes of Classical Music, Jazz and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The project is supported further with courses that impart knowledge and skills in the areas of artistic-academic research methods, musicology, academic writing, music aesthetics, and research management. The double mentorship (artistic and academic) as well as the access to artistic courses and projects enables the students to pursue both their artistic and their academic development. To this end, internships in the school’s research departments or partner institutions (such as the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel or the Paul Sacher Foundation) give students an in-depth insight into research practice. The curriculum is compiled according to the requirements and objectives of their respective projects, thus enabling targeted and individual support. Additionally, research funds can also be applied for via a project fund.
Student projects in Music and Research
Prospects for doctoral studies
The MA SP Music and Research is conducted inter-institutionally (HSM in collaboration with the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel among others) and is suitable for students interested in pursuing a doctorate (artistic-scientific doctorate or Dr. phil.). For graduates of the MA SP MaR, a direct transition to the doctoral project Musikwissen (carried out in collaboration with the Department of Musicology of the University of Basel; degree: PhD) is possible: Of the 35 ECTS credits in academic qualification at Master's level required for admission, up to the total can be covered by the coursework completed in Music and Research.
Informationen für Studierende/PhD
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 MA SP Klassik Music and Research 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
Lecturers
Music and Research
Basel Academy of Music
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
The Master's programme in Specialised Music Performance Music and Research is open to students who have successfully completed a Bachelor's programme, have passed the entrance exam and have been offered a place (numbers are limited). Candidates who have submitted the necessary application documents in full and on time will be invited to take the entrance exam.
For further admission criteria, please consult the Study regulations of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialised Music Performance (in German).
Admission to this programme is highly competitive. Applicants therefore must demonstrate outstanding artistic and research skills and, ideally, have completed an MA in Musical Performances or in Composition/Music Theory. In exceptional cases, a Bachelor's degree or similar undergraduate qualification may suffice. It is recommended to contact potential mentors in the field of study or the head of the degree programme before registering for the entrance exam.
Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in the German language prior to admission.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
Applications may be submitted from 15th December to 1st March. The registration must include the following documents:
- a brief curriculum vitae
- an official transcript of the BA degree or most recent degree, incl. a copy of the final thesis
- a personal statement (letter of motivation)
For the Entrance Exam First Round:
- the documents required written in Procedure
- research paper outline (2-3 A4 pages)
On-Site
The second round of the entrance exam will take place in April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of results
The results of the first round will be communicated by email at the end of March.
If a second round is held, the results will be communicated by email in May.
Procedure
The entrance exam is split into several parts
Procedure
First Round
Applicants with a BA-/MA-Diploma Music Performance major (instrumental/vocal)
In addition to the registration documents, please submit an audio-visual recording of an instrumental/vocal performance. It should be 8-10 minutes long and clearly reference the chosen research project.
The video must be uploaded onto YouTube and the relevant link/documents provided in the registration.
Applicants with a BA-/MA-Diploma Composition
In addition to the required registration documentation, please submit:
- a list of works
- a minimum of three compositions as PDF files (submission in MP3 and/or video format is optional)
Applicants with a BA-/MA-Diploma Music Theory
Submission of 1-3 written works, compositions/exercises in stylistic composition (where appropriate) and a list of further works/analyses/presentations, together with the required registration documentation.
Second round: interview and audition
Applicants with a BA-/MA-Diploma Music Performance (instrumental/vocal)
Following a review of the registration documents, the admissions committee will invite the applicant for an interview (20 min.) and audition (20 min.). The audition repertoire should consist of 3-4 different compositions, 2 of which should be clearly related to the chosen research project.
Applicants with a BA-/MA-Diploma Composition/Music Theory
Following a review of the registration documents, the admissions committee will invite the applicant for an interview (20 min.) and an oral examination of their portfolio (20 min.).
Organisational matters
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. Dr. Anne-May Krüger
- annemay.krueger@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.
Registration window extended until 18.3.26
MA Specialised Performance | Music and Research
- Date
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Place
- Basel, Campus Musik-Akademie