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Find your Program of Study
Find Your Program of Study
Admissions Process
Audition and Pre-Screening Repertoire
Resources
Connect
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Your Program of Study
The Barenboim-Said Akademie offers an unprecedented conservatory education for talented, young musicians from the Middle East, North Africa, and around the world, uniting intensive music performance studies with a grounding in the humanities – all within the heart of historic Berlin.
For the 2025-26 academic year, the Barenboim-Said Akademie will be accepting applications for the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Preparatory Program and Artist Diploma program in all studios. For a complete overview of which studios are open for applications for the 2025-26 academic year, please see our Process page.
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year at the Barenboim-Said Akademie will open November 2025. You are more than welcome to check our website in October 2025 to check which studios and programs will be accepting applications for the 2026-27 academic year.
Bachelor of Music
How do I apply
If the Bachelor of Music seems right for you, please view the pre-screening and audition requirements listed for your instrument – make sure the repertoire that is required for the Bachelor of Music admissions process is a good match for your current skill and experience.
Go to the Apply page and click Apply Now. You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. Once you complete the registration, profile creation and sign-in process, select the Bachelor of Music application from the list of available options.
Who should apply
Applicants to the Akademie’s Bachelor of Music should 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.
If you are in your last year of high school, or your first year of an undergraduate music degree, the Bachelor of Music is the suitable program for you at the BSA.
If you have completed your undergraduate music studies (e.g. Bachelor of Music), then the Master of Music is the suitable program for you at the BSA. However, if you have completed your undergraduate degree outside of a member state of the European Higher Education Area, then you are eligible to apply for 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 currently amounting to 861€/month. There is no need to apply for the stipend separately. For transfer students, the stipend duration will be adjusted to the expected length of studies for instrumental instruction, not the length that it would take to finish the entire program. Transfer applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after successful submission of academic transcripts from their previous undergraduate studies.
Additionally, all Bachelor of Music students enrolled at the Barenboim-Said Akademie are eligible for shared student housing only for their first two academic years of their undergraduate studies, at no additional cost. The length of housing for transfer students is adjusted according to their placement in the bachelor program. For example, transfer applicants for the Bachelor of Music program will be eligible for student housing for only one academic year if they are projected to start in the second academic year of their undergraduate studies.
Bachelor of Music students who do not live at student housing will receive an additional 200€/month.
An Undergraduate degree for serious musicians and thinkers
The Barenboim-Said Akademie’s Bachelor of Music is a four-year, accredited undergraduate degree. The Bachelor of Music is offered in all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition.
The Bachelor of Music is intended for musicians who are looking for an undergraduate education that bridges intensive music performance studies with a strong grounding in the humanities.
master of music
How do I apply?
If the Master of Music appears right for you, please view the pre-screening and audition requirements listed for your field of study – make sure the repertoire that is required for the Master of Music admissions process is a good match for your current skills and experience.
Go to the Apply Now page and click Start Your Application Now. You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. Once you complete the registration, profile creation and sign-in process, select 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 BSA.
If you have completed your graduate music studies (e.g. Master of Music), the Artist Diploma is the suitable program for you at the BSA. However, if you have completed your graduate degree outside of 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.
However, 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 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.
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”.
PReparatory Program
How do I apply
If the Preparatory Program seems right for you, please view the pre-screening and audition requirements listed for your field of study – make sure the repertoire that is required for the Preparatory Program admissions process is a good match for your current skill and experience.
Go to the Apply page and click Apply Now. You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. Once you complete the registration, profile creation and sign-in process, select 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.
Go to the Apply Now page and click Apply Now. You will be redirected to SlideRoom, the Akademie’s application portal. Once you complete the registration, profile creation and sign-in process, select 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 BSA 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.
Do you have questions? Browse our Frequently Asked Questions or get in touch!
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