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Find Your Program of Study
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find Your Program of Study
The Barenboim-Said Akademie offers a unique conservatory education for gifted young musicians from the Middle East, North Africa, and around the world, combining intensive music performance studies with a foundation in the humanities – all in the heart of historic Berlin.
For the 2026-27 academic year, the Akademie will be accepting applications for the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Preparatory and Artist Diploma programs. A complete overview of which studios will be open for applications will be published on our website by October 2025.
Click APPLY NOW to go to the Applications page, then select "Start your application now." You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. After registering and signing in, choose the Bachelor of Music application from the list of available options.
Who should apply
Applicants to the Akademie’s Bachelor of Music must hold a secondary school or high school diploma (or equivalent) by the time of enrollment.
In some cases, applicants from certain countries may also be required to have completed up to one year at a recognized institution of higher education.
If you are in your final year of high school, or in the first year of an undergraduate music degree, the Bachelor of Music is the appropriate program for you at the Barenboim-Said Akademie.
If you have already completed an undergraduate degree in music (for example, a Bachelor of Music), you should apply to the Master of Music program. However, applicants who completed their undergraduate degree outside a member state of the European Higher Education Area may instead apply to the Bachelor of Music program.
Scholarship, Stipends, and Housing
There are no tuition or course fees for Bachelor of Music students.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music at the Akademie receive a means-independent, non-repayable monthly stipend of €861. The stipend is automatically granted with admission; no separate application is required. For transfer students, the stipend duration is adjusted to the expected length of studies for instrumental instruction rather than the full length of the program. Transfer applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after successful submission of academic transcripts from any previous undergraduate studies.
Bachelor of Music students are also eligible for shared student housing at no additional cost during their first two academic years. Transfer students receive housing adjusted to their entry point in the program (for example, one year of housing if placed in the second year of studies).
Students who do not live in student housing receive an additional housing allowance of €200 per month, but only during the first two academic years (or the adjusted period for transfer students).
An Undergraduate degree for serious musicians and thinkers
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Bachelor of Music is a four-year, accredited undergraduate program offered in all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition.
Designed for aspiring professional musicians, the program combines rigorous performance training with a solid foundation in the humanities, fostering both artistic excellence and intellectual growth.
master of music
How do I apply?
If the Master of Music seems right for you, please review the pre-screening and audition requirements to ensure that the required repertoire matches your current skill and experience.
Click APPLY NOW to go to the Applications page, then select "Start your application now." You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. After registering and signing in, choose the Master of Music application from the list of available options.
Who should apply?
Applicants to the Akademie’s Master of Music program should have completed a degree in music at the undergraduate level by the time of enrollment.
The Master of Music is intended for musicians who are seeking to advance their education while gaining additional performing experience.
If you have already completed or are in your last year of an undergraduate music degree (e.g., Bachelor of Music degree), the Master of Music is the suitable program for you at the Akademie.
If you have completed your graduate music studies (e.g. Master of Music), the Artist Diploma is the suitable program for you at the Akademie. However, if you have completed your graduate degree outside a member state of the European Higher Education Area, then you are eligible to apply for the Master of Music program.
Scholarships, Stipends, and Housing
There are no tuition or course fees for Master of Music students.
Students enrolled in the Master of Music are not eligible for the stipend nor student housing that Preparatory Program and Bachelor of Music students receive.
Students accepted to the Master of Music are encouraged to seek outside sources of funding in the form of independent grants, sponsoring programs, and competitions. For example, prospective Master of Music students at the Akademie are eligible to apply for the Study Scholarship - Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Music by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Please see their website for more information and check our website updates/emails for any scholarship information that might fit you.
The Akademie is currently working on providing third party funding for Master students. For now, Contemporary Arts Alliance is providing two scholarships for Master students.
Master of Music students do not receive Akademie housing and are expected to find their own accommodation in Berlin.
A graduate degree to expand musical and critical thinking skills
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Master of Music is an intensive, two-year study program offered in all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition. The Akademie’s Master of Music program centers on providing excellent musicians with the necessary tools to succeed in a challenging musical environment. The Akademie considers its broad curriculum which includes studies in humanities to be an essential component to this end.
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Master of Music is authorized by the Berlin Senate Department for Science, Health, Care, and Equal Opportunity (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit, Pflege und Gleichstellung) in accordance with sec. 123, para. 5 of the Higher Education Act of the Federal State of Berlin (Berliner Hochschulgesetz – BerlHG) in 2023. The first study cohort started in Summer Semester 2024. The program will undergo a program accreditation review after its second year of operation.
Since the Barenboim-Said Akademie is institutionally accredited, all Master of Music students will receive a Master’s degree after successfully passing all their exams, granting access to further studies such as “Diplom” and “Konzertexamen”.
Click APPLY NOW to go to the Applications page, then select "Start your application now." You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. After registering and signing in, choose the Preparatory Program application from the list of available options.
Who should apply
Successful applicants to the Akademie’s Preparatory Program are talented, young musicians who are in need of the support and musical foundation this program provides.
Applicants to the Akademie’s Preparatory Program should already hold a diploma (or its equivalent) from a secondary school or high school at the time of enrollment.
Applicants from certain countries may need to have completed up to one year at a recognized institution of higher education.
The Preparatory Program is specifically designed for young musicians who would not otherwise receive the training or support necessary for embarking on a degree in music.
The Program is exclusive to students coming from North Africa and Middle East. Eligible applicants must come from one of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Scholarship, Stipends and Housing
There are no tuition or course fees for Preparatory Program students.
Preparatory Program students at the Akademie receive a means-independent, non-repayable monthly stipend currently amounting to 861€/month. There is no need to apply for the stipend separately.
Additionally, all Preparatory Program students enrolled at the Barenboim-Said Akademie are eligible for shared student housing, at no additional cost.
A Program to help young musicians prepare and grow
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Preparatory Program is a unique, one-year study program at the Akademie that seeks to help young musicians prepare for the musical and academic demands of a Bachelor of Music degree.
The Preparatory Program is not a degree -or diploma- granting program. It is possible to study all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition in the Preparatory Program.
Students accepted to the Preparatory Program take part in intensive English courses, receive weekly lessons in their main instrument and in Music Theory and Ear Training with Akademie faculty, and may participate in chamber music with other Akademie students.
Preparatory Program students are also given guidance and support in successfully transitioning to the Bachelor of Music program at the Barenboim-Said Akademie. Please note that acceptance to the Preparatory Program only guarantees direct admission to the Bachelor of Music program at the Akademie if students pass the jury examinations and fulfil the language requirements.
Click APPLY NOW to go to the Applications page, then select "Start your application now." You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. After registering and signing in, choose the Artist Diploma application from the list of available options.
Who should apply
Applicants to the Akademie’s Artist Diploma should have completed a degree at the undergraduate and graduate level at the time of enrollment.
The Artist Diploma is intended for musicians who wish to become part of the Barenboim-Said Akademie community, who understand the demands of a high-level conservatory program, and who are willing to engage in further academic study to develop as thinkers.
If you have completed a graduate degree (e.g. Master of Music degree), then the Artist Diploma is the suitable program for you at the BSA.
If you have not yet completed your graduate music studies, but are in your last year of a Master of Music degree (or have recently graduated), you can still apply for the Artist Diploma.
Scholarship, Stipends and Housing
There are no tuition or course fees for Artist Diploma students.
However, students enrolled in the Artist Diploma are not eligible for the stipend that Preparatory Program and Bachelor of Music students receive.
Students accepted to the Artist Diploma are encouraged to seek outside sources of funding in the form of independent grant applications, sponsoring programs, and competitions. For example, prospective Artist Diploma students at the BSA are eligible to apply for the Study Scholarship - Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Music by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Please see their website for more information and check our website updates/emails for any scholarship information that might fit you.
Artist Diploma students do not receive Akademie housing and are expected to find their own accommodations in Berlin.
A Pre-Professional Diploma for the whole Artist
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Artist Diploma is an intensive, one-year diploma program. The Artist Diploma is offered in all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition.
The Akademie’s Artist Diploma program centers on rigorous music performance studies and includes a required component of academic work. As a non-degree program, the Artist Diploma is intended for musicians who have completed their graduate studies and are preparing to embark on a performing career. The academic component of the program is flexible and can be structured as independent study with a faculty advisor.
Still have questions? Check our FAQ or contact the Admissions Team.