University of Music and Dance Cologne

Cologne, Germany

The Cologne University of Music and Dance was originally founded in 1850 as the Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln. Today it stands among the largest music academies in Europe, operating three campuses in Cologne, Aachen, and Wuppertal, and serving around 1,400 students with over 100 professors .
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Tuition Fees, Cost of Living & Accommodation at University of Music and Dance Cologne

University of Music and Dance Cologne Departments

  • Department 1 Composition, Keyboard Instruments, Music Theory & Ear Training, Plucked Instruments, Electronic Composition & Institute for New Music
  • Department 2 String Instruments, Orchestral Conducting, Institute for Early Music
  • Department 3 Wind Instruments, Percussion, Harp
  • Department 4 Vocal Performance, Music Theatre (Musical & Opera)
  • Department 5 Musicology, Music Education (including Teacher Training), Church Music & Choral Conducting
  • Department 6 Jazz & Pop Music
  • Department 7 Center for Contemporary Dance (Zeitgenössischer Tanz)

Distinguished Alumni of University of Music and Dance Cologne

Karlheinz Stockhausen

German composer (1928–2007), widely regarded as a pioneer of electronic music, spatial sound composition, and aleatory... View More

Engelbert Humperdinck

Composer of the beloved opera Hänsel und Gretel (1893), a key figure in late Romantic German music .

Christoph Eschenbach

Internationally acclaimed pianist and conductor, known for his leadership of renowned orchestras and solo performances .

Sayaka Shoji

Japanese violinist—first Japanese and youngest laureate of the Paganini Violin Competition (1999), celebrated for her ... View More

Olga Scheps

German-Russian pianist recognized for both solo performances and recordings, particularly of Romantic repertoire.

Péter Eötvös

Hungarian composer, conductor, and professor; esteemed for his substantial contributions to contemporary music .

Hans Knappertsbusch

Renowned German conductor (1888–1965), noted for his interpretations of Wagner, Bruckner, and Brahms .

Reinhard Goebel

Violinist and conductor, founder of Musica Antiqua Köln, instrumental in the early music revival and historically infor... View More

Step-by-Step Guide to Admission Requirements at University of Music and Dance Cologne

The below information is required while
completing the university application :

Entry Requirements:

General University Entrance Qualification (Abitur) or an equivalent recognized certificate. For applicants demonstrating exceptional artistic talent, university admission may be granted even without a formal high?school diploma (upon special aptitude test)  .

All applicants must pass an artistic aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung), including performance audition and often music?theory/aural tests such as ear training and musical literacy—details vary by major (e.g. instrumental exam; theoretical exam for Lehramt)  .

German language proficiency is mandatory for non?native applicants: at least TestDaF level 3 or CEFR B? must be provided by the end of the second semester, otherwise deregistration may follow  .

Application process:

Submit online via the MUVAC portal, including personal details, CV, list of repertoire, and media files (audio/video) as required  .

Pay a €50 participation fee (one-time, even if applying to multiple programs)  .

After application review, eligible candidates receive scheduling details for live aptitude tests.

Deadlines:

Winter Semester (starting October): Application closes March 1, 2025

Summer Semester (if available): Closes October 1, 2025—only specific programs such as Lehramt, Church Music, or Pre?College.

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University of Music and Dance Cologne Corporate Partnership

  • Ensemble Musikfabrik (“Adventure” Project) : An ongoing long-term collaboration with the Hochschule’s Institut für Neue Musik. Composition students and Ensemble Musikfabrik artists co-create world premiere performances, frequently incorporating electronics, spatial design, and multimedia elements. Partnership Type: Artistic collaboration & performance innovation.
  • RAPP Lab — Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership : An EU-funded research network led by HfMT Köln along with other European conservatories and the AEC. Focused on “Reflection-based Artistic Professional Practice” through cross-border artistic labs.
  • AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires : Active membership allows participation in European-level curriculum development, project collaboration, and quality dialogues.
  • Cologne Cultural Institutions : Collaborative projects and performance placements with leading local institutions such as Kölner Philharmonie, Gürzenich Orchestra, Cologne Opera, WDR Big Band, and Museum Ludwig. Students gain professional exposure and networking opportunities.
  • Zamus – Early Music Festival & Management : A partnership with the RheinEnergie Stiftung Kultur to promote early music ensembles, science projects, Artist in Residence programs, and the annual “Kölner Fest für Alte Musik.”
  • Relay – Erasmus+ Arts Education Project : Collaboration with institutions in Bucharest, Copenhagen, Heraklion, focusing on sustainable international exchange in dance and music education. Supported through the Erasmus+ framework.
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Notable Achievements of University of Music and Dance Cologne

Achievements

01.
Centenary Celebration as University Institution

Celebrated its 100th anniversary as a Hochschule, marked with international symposia and recognition of its transformation into a global cultural and educational force.

Year
2025
02.
DAAD Prize & Deutschlandstipendium Recipients

Students awarded the prestigious DAAD Prize (e.g. Sebastian Varra) and numerous Deutschlandstipendium merit-based scholarships for artistic and social excellence.

Year
2021
03.
Redesign of Campus via BIM

Secured the winning design by HPP Architects using Building Information Modelling to unify multiple campuses into a modern, architecturally acclaimed performance and teaching complex.

Year
2018

Notable Innovation, Research & Development University of Music and Dance Cologne

Notable Innovation

01.
Centre for Artistic Research & Digital Innovation (ZKD)

An interdisciplinary hub integrating artistic research into teaching and creative practice, led by a dedicated professorship. It fosters critical self-reflection, artistic identity formation, and digital innovation across music and dance curricula.

Year
2022

Explore Programs & Courses at University of Music and Dance Cologne

Program name
Tuition Fees
Deadlines
Bachelor of Music Brass 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
NA
1st Mar
Bachelor of Music Choral Conducting 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
NA
1st Mar
Bachelor of Music Electronic Composition 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
NA
1st Mar
Bachelor of Music Elementary Music Pedagogy 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
NA
1st Mar
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Connect With University of Music and Dance Cologne

  • Unter Krahnenbäume 87, 50668 Cologne, Germany
  • +49 (0) 221 28380-0

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