Austria · Master's
University of Vienna
MA Musicology
University of Vienna
Course Overview
The University of Vienna's MA in Musicology (Musikwissenschaft) is taught from the cultural capital of Western classical music — the city of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Mahler. The 4-semester (120 ECTS) Master's covers historical musicology, systematic and ethnomusicology, and music analysis, with unrivalled access to Vienna's archives, the Austrian National Library's music collection, and the living tradition of the Vienna Philharmonic, the Musikverein, and the State Opera. Vienna's Institute of Musicology is one of the oldest and most respected in the German-speaking world.
Sri Lankan applicants — music graduates, performers, conservatory-trained teachers, and researchers — choose Universität Wien for: tuition at just €1,480/year for non-EU students, immersion in an unmatched musical heritage, and Austria's open post-study pathway. Note: while several seminars are offered in English, the programme has German-language components — applicants should confirm the language profile of their intended specialisation. The MA suits students aiming for academic research, music criticism, archival and curatorial work, arts administration, or PhD study.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in Musicology, Music, or a closely-related discipline with substantial music-theory and music-history content.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants with music degrees from the University of the Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA) Colombo, or conservatory-level training, are competitive.
- check_circle Evidence of music-theory and historical-musicology coursework; portfolio or research sample where relevant.
- check_circle Motivation letter, academic CV, and certified transcripts with module breakdown.
- check_circle Document nostrification through the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education is part of the application file.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0) for the English-taught components.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 95 Overall.
- check_circle German (B2/C1) is required for German-language seminars — confirm the language profile of your chosen specialisation.
- check_circle English waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | €1,480 | Rs. 510,600 |
| Living Expenses in Vienna (12 months) | €12,600 | Rs. 4,347,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | €900 | Rs. 310,500 |
| Books, Scores & Concert Access | €800 | Rs. 276,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €15,780 | Rs. 5,444,100 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Graduates qualify for Austria's Red-White-Red Card for Graduates (12-month job-search permit), converting at a qualifying offer. Vienna's dense cultural economy offers roles at the Musikverein, the Austrian National Library, museums, broadcasters (ORF), music publishers, and festivals, plus academic and PhD positions. Sri Lankan returnees route into university and conservatory teaching at UVPA, music research, arts administration, broadcasting, and cultural programming.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.