1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Studies
  4. Master's degree programmes
  5. Music Composition – Creative Practice
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Music Composition – Creative Practice

In the Master Music Composition – Creative Practice programme, you will deepen your artistic expression within a broad and diverse aesthetic environment.

Here you will expand your skills as a composer / performer-composer and develop your own artistic identity. You will benefit from practice-oriented learning, supported by interdisciplinary teaching staff, an experienced technical team and an open, collaborative atmosphere. You will study full-time in Bern.

Students report: Doing a Master of Arts in Music Composition – Creative Practice in Bern.

Begin your studies in autumn 2026.

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master of Music Composition – Creative Practice
  • Mode of study Full-time (4 semesters)
  • Start date 14 September 2026
  • Application deadline 16 Mars 2026
  • ECTS credits 120 ECTS
  • Teaching language German / French / English
  • Location Bern
  • School Bern Academy of the Arts

Contact

Focus Areas

In the Master Composition – Creative Practice programme, you will benefit from individiual tuition with renowned lecturers. You may choose from courses in electronic music, composition, music theatre, sounds arts and curatorial practice.

What You Will Gain With Your Degree

With the Master’s degree, you will gain a wide range of perspectives for your professional practice in the field of composition, music theatre, sound art, multimedia or installation projects. The programme covers everything from purely musical work to projects that combine music with stage and visual arts.

The programme is aimed at:

  • Composers
  • Sound Artists
  • Performer-Composers
  • Performers
  • Improvisers

Partners + Exchanges

The HKB fosters a network of relationships with other universities, both in Switzerland and abroad. It collaborates with domestic and international partners on various projects. The HKB is also a member of several national and international organisations and networks.

Our partners include the following organisations:

Ensembles / Interprets

Festivals

Institutions

Publishers / Labels

HKB students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies or work experience abroad. In turn, interested persons from abroad can apply to study at HKB or spend part of their studies here.

Combining Theory and Practice in Research Projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely linked at our institution. The practical research conducted at the HKB explores important cultural, technological and social issues. Research takes place in four institutes:

Career Prospects

As a graduate of the Master’s degree programme in Music Composition – Creative Practice, you are ideally prepared for a career in the music industry.

You may work as a freelance composer, a specialised performer, a festival curator or an artistic director of ensembles. Your broad knowledge and practical skills will enable you to take on a variety of creative and professional roles and to shape your career in the field of music proactively. 

Ready for a challenge?

With your degree, you will be excellently equipped for exciting roles within the music scene. It is common to gain employment at renowned festivals, music theatres, and arts institutions or work as a freelance artist. 

Our graduates work in the following fields as:

  • Freelance composers
  • Performer-Composers
  • Sound Artists
  • Artistic Directors of ensembles/festivals

Do you want to prepare for the transition into your career in the best possible way? Take a look at the Career Skills programme offered by HKB Music.

A Doctorate – Your Career in Teaching and Research

The HKB offers various opportunities to undertake doctoral studies, either scientific or artistic, in collaboration with both domestic and international universities. 

Check out: Doctoral Programmes

Duration + Content

The Master of Arts in Music Composition – Creative Practice takes two years (four semesters) in full-time study.

Full-time or part-time studies

Full-time studies

The study course comprises 120 ECTS-Credits. You study full-time and complete your studies after four semesters with your Master’s thesis. 

Part-time studies

The option to complete this course on a part-time basis is currently not available. 

Programme Schedule

The Master’s programme offers you numerous opportunities for personal development, tailored to your interests. The course comprises 120 ECTS credits. 

Programme Modules

In addition to your core subject, the elective courses and minor subjects in particular offer you numerous opportunities for personal development according to your interests. 

An overview of all study modules can be found in the module plan: 

Module plan MA Music Composition – Creative Practice (PDF, 1 MB)

Your own compositional work forms the core of the programme. You will receive eighty minutes of one-to-one tuition each week and may choose up to three mentors per semester. Mentors on the programme include Franziska Baumann, Angela Bürger, Teresa Carrasco, Leo Dick, Irene Galindo Quero, Simon Steen-Andersen, and Cathy van Eck.

Another component of the programme is ‘Skills’. This includes courses on practical and theoretical abilities in areas such as composition, scenic music, Théâtre Musical, improvisation, performance, multimedia, sound art, electroacoustic music and live electronics, collaborative creation, and more.

List of Skills (PDF, 1 MB)

Once per semester, the Intensive Weeks take place – the highlight of the semester. During this particular intensive and creative period, the works developed in one-to-one tuition are further refined and brought to performance standard. In addition to developing your own pieces, various forms of collaboration are also a key focus. You will be supported by a dedicated team of lecturers, technical staff, assistants, and fellow students. After an intensive rehearsal period, the Intensive Weeks culminate in the public event «Trafic», where you will present your work on stage for the first time.

To deepen or broaden your skills, you choose a minor worth 30 ECTS credits. The diverse range of options allows you to shape your individual profile – from secondary or parallel instruments, music education, or improvisation, to specialised areas such as contemporary jazz, sound arts, historical performance practice, music and movement, or transdisciplinary studies. 

Every semester, the HKB research department offers themed weeks in which you can participate. You can choose which week you would like to participate in during your studies. 

You complete your studies with a Master’s thesis. This can be a concert, a performance or an installation at the end of the second year of study. This final project marks the pinnacle of your studies. The pieces you have developed in one-to-one tuition and during the Intensive Weeks will prepare you for this major finale. The Master’s thesis also includes a written paper and a colloquium. 

Admission Requirements

The number of places available on our programme is limited (‘numerus clausus’). We administer an entrance examination to review your aptitude for our programme. We look for motivation, stamina, resilience and independence in our students as well as a readiness to participate actively in university-level projects.

Your Academic Requirements

The prerequisite for the admission examination is:

  • a Bachelor’s degree in Music
  • an equivalent degree

Supplementary Information On Admission

To be admitted to the Master in Composition – Creative Practice, you should demonstrate strong creativity, motivation, responsibility, and artistic independence. You are familiar with the currents and forms of contemporary composition, and your musical work shows the development of a distinctive personal voice. You have a high degree of artistic autonomy and are ready to contribute to transdisciplinary artistic contexts and take part in collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. 

The language of instruction is German, English and French. English is increasingly becoming the lingua franca of the degree programme. Lecturers are generally proficient in several languages and have a good knowledge of the ‘partner languages’. Written work can be submitted in German, English or French.

Information Sheet – Language Competencies (PDF, 110 KB)

International applicants will require authentic and valid identification recognized by Switzerland; a visa may often be required. Successful international applicants must apply for a residence permit, and submit proof of sufficient funds. Prior to starting their studies, they will be required to obtain health insurance cover. Applicants should make sure they are fully informed about and compliant with their specific entry requirements for Switzerland.

Bern Academy of the Arts, HKB
Music
Ostermundigenstrasse 103
CH-3000 Bern 22

Application

So, you have decided to study at the Bern University of the Arts?
Then do not hesitate and apply right now!

Application Deadlines

Application deadline: 16 March 2026
Start date: 14 September 2026
Aptitude test: Spring – exact dates will follow

Begin your studies in autumn 2026.

Application Type

You can only apply for your studies online.

Application Documents

Please submit the following documents in electronic format (passport photo: JPG, other documents: PDF).

  • ID or passport
  • Passport photo according to international passport requirements (JPG)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent qualification 
  • Transcript of Records (ToR)
  • Diplomas and university entrance certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, baccalaureate, Abitur or equivalent)
  • CV in tabular form
  • Copies of the required certificates and confirmations
  • Employer references (internship certificates)
  • Language certificates (if available)

For International Students, in Addition

  • Residence permit (if available)

If You Were Already Matriculated at Another University

  • Confirmation of your exmatriculation

  • Transcript of records of current and/or terminated studies

If you do not yet have one or more of the required documents, please state why in the Comments section.

Transgender identities

Would you prefer us to address you differently to the details recorded in your official documents?

Please register the first name you go by and your gender (if binary) at the application stage, to ensure that we address you correctly during the application process. The relevant form is available on the BFH website. Please upload the completed form together with your application.

The costs for the programme comprise application, tuition and examination fees plus the cost of course materials and excursions.

  until SS 2026 per AS 2026/27

Application (per application) and aptitude assessment*  

 CHF 250

CHF 250

Matriculation**  

 CHF 100

CHF 100

Tuition fees (per semester) 

 CHF 750

CHF 850

Tuition fees for international students*** (per semester)

 CHF 950

CHF 2,550

Examination fee (per semester)  

 CHF 80

CHF 80

Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester)  

 CHF 24

CHF 24

Membership fee for the Bern University of Applied Sciences Student Association (VSBFH) (per semester)

 CHF 15

CHF 15

Leave of absence fee (per semester) 

 CHF 100

CHF 100

* The application fee can be paid by credit card or by deposit slip / paper invoice (+ CHF 10 processing fee). There are no waivers or refunds for withdrawn or abandoned applications. The application is processed after payment has been received.
** If the application leads to matriculation, the matriculation fee is covered by the application fee.
*** International students are defined as persons of foreign citizenship who at the time of obtaining their university entrance qualification were domiciled under civil law neither in Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein.

There is also a fixed fee for materials whose amount depends on the degree programme as well as additional costs for teaching materials, specialist literature, supplies, etc.

Fees factsheet valid until SS 2026 (PDF, 63 KB)
Fees factsheet valid per AS 2026/27 (PDF, 122 KB)
General information regarding scholarships


If you have any questions regarding scholarships and loans please contact Hannes Liechti.

Advice + Information

Choosing a degree programme is an important decision. We will be happy to arrange a face-to-face chat to answer your questions and advise you on the requirements for your chosen programme.

Advice

Choosing a degree programme is an important decision. We will be happy to arrange a face-to-face chat to answer your questions and advise you on the requirements for your chosen programme.

Irene Galindo Quero

  • Studiengangsleiterin MA Comp
  • +41 31 848 30 34
  • Show e-mail

Luz Gonzalez

  • Junior-Assistentin MA Composition
  • +41 31 848 61 26
  • Show e-mail

Some of the visiting professors in recent years:

  • Chaya Czernowin
  • Heather Frash
  • Rama Gottfried
  • JACK Quartet
  • Catherine Lamb
  • Stefan Prins
  • Matthew Shlomowitz
  • Jennifer Walshe

The Bern University of Applied Sciences offers students a wide range of opportunities at its locations in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf and Basel to make life attractive and enjoyable during their studies.

Take a look at ‘Studies + Life’

Hear from our Students and Alumni

  • Story

HKB-Studentin Ilona Perger befragt

17.04.2025 Ilona Perger studiert an der HKB im Master Composition – Creative Practice. Davor war sie an der Universität der Künste UdK Berlin. Sie spricht unter anderem über ihre Beweggründe für den Wechsel an die HKB.

  • Story

Ein Master in Komposition, und dann?

12.09.2022 Was macht man eigentlich nach einem künstlerischen Studium? Charlotte Torres, Alumna Master Composition – Creative Practice, beantwortet Fragen, welche Schüler*innen so oder ähnlich gestellt haben.

Information Event

At our information events, you can find out everything you need to know about the degree programme, admission requirements and your career prospects. Our students talk about their experiences on the programme and give you a personal insight into their everyday life at the Academy of the Arts HKB.

  • Information Event

Master Music Composition – Creative Practice

This master's programme will open up a wide range of opportunities for your professional practice in the fields of composition, music theatre, sound art, multimedia or installation projects.

13.01.2026, 4.30pm–5.30pm – online

Location + Facilities

Locations

Bern Ostermundigenstrasse 103

Bern Papiermühlestrasse 13

Infrastructure

At the HKB you will study in a stimulating environment.

Our music infrastructure includes modern practice and teaching rooms, halls, an extensive library, a recording studio, research infrastructure and rental instruments. Many rooms can be reserved online, and we encourage an open house.

Explore our infrastructure: