Learning guitar independently can be rewarding, but have you ever considered studying music formally and building a professional career in the field? Music education preserves tradition while encouraging innovation. Studying abroad can expose you to different performance practices, musical styles, and professional networks.
Below is an editorial selection of seven countries with established music schools and distinctive musical traditions. It is not a formal ranking; the best destination depends on your instrument or specialization, budget, preferred language, and career goals. Are you ready to go on a trip with us? Let’s go!
Top Countries to Study Music
1. Austria
Austria has a central place in European classical-music history, especially through Vienna and Salzburg. Its opera houses, concert halls, festivals, museums, and active contemporary scene give music students access to both historic traditions and current performance culture.
Vienna developed as a leading European music center from the Classical period through the early 20th century. Students in the city can study near institutions and venues connected with composers and performers whose work continues to influence music around the world.
Austria has several specialist public universities, including the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, and Mozarteum University. These institutions offer programs in areas such as instrumental performance, composition, music theory, conducting, music education, theater, and related artistic fields.
The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, commonly known as mdw, reports more than 3,000 students from around 70 countries, 115 programs of study, and more than 1,200 university events each year. At Austrian public universities, EU and EEA students generally pay no tuition during the standard program duration plus two additional semesters. Most other third-country students are generally charged €751.92 per semester. All students must also pay the compulsory €25.20 student-union and accident-insurance fee, although exemptions may apply in certain cases.
2. United States of America
Music in the United States reflects influences from many communities and traditions, including those originating in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere. Students can study and perform in genres such as classical music, jazz, blues, pop, punk, rock, musical theater, electronic music, and film scoring.
One well-established music school in the United States is The Juilliard School. It was founded in New York in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art by Frank Damrosch, the godson of Franz Liszt. Juilliard now enrolls more than 800 artists from 42 US states and approximately 50 countries and regions.
Admission requirements at Juilliard vary by division and program and commonly include prescreening materials, auditions, interviews, or portfolios. The school offers training in dance, drama, and music, with music programs covering areas such as instrumental performance, vocal arts, composition, conducting, jazz, and historical performance. Undergraduate Bachelor of Music students also complete liberal arts coursework. Tuition for the 2026–27 academic year is $57,200, although Juilliard reports that more than 90% of its students have received scholarship assistance in recent years.
3. Japan
Japan was the world’s second-largest recorded-music market in 2025, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Its musical landscape includes traditional forms, Western classical performance, popular music, electronic music, anime and game music, and other contemporary genres.
Traditional Japanese music remains an important part of theater and cultural performance, while contemporary artists frequently combine Japanese and international influences. Popular genres include J-Pop, rock, idol music, visual kei, techno-pop, anime music, and game music.
Tokyo College of Music describes itself as Japan’s oldest private music college. Its predecessor established what the college identifies as Japan’s first symphonic orchestra, which performed aboard Pacific steamships between 1912 and 1929.
Tokyo College of Music offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral study in areas such as vocal music, instrumental performance, composition, conducting, music education, and music technology. Admission involves an entrance examination and program-specific assessments. Most international applicants to degree programs must demonstrate Japanese proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2, while certain graduate fields require JLPT N1 or a specified score on the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students. Requirements should be checked against the guidelines for the applicant’s intended program and admission year.
4. Germany
Germany attracts international students through its state-funded universities and specialist colleges of music. Most students at state-funded institutions do not pay general tuition fees, but semester contributions are required, and important exceptions exist. For example, Baden-Württemberg generally charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, while some Bavarian institutions may set tuition fees for students from outside the EU and EEA.
The Berlin University of the Arts College of Music offers study in instrumental and vocal performance, composition, music education, conducting, and related fields. The Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin also offers bachelor’s, master’s, concert-examination, and other programs in voice, instruments, composition, conducting, chamber music, and music theater.
International students may apply to Berlin University of the Arts, but the required level of German varies by program and can range from intermediate to advanced proficiency. Most standard degree programs do not charge tuition, although some continuing-education master’s programs are exceptions. For the winter 2026–27 semester, enrolled students must pay a semester fee of €377, which includes student-services, administrative, student-union, and public-transport contributions.
5. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is home to several long-established conservatories and diverse performance communities. Scholarships and other financial support may be available, but tuition and living costs vary considerably, so international applicants should review the current fees and funding information for each institution.
Many international students apply to the Royal Academy of Music, which was founded in 1822 and is Britain’s oldest conservatory. It has been part of the University of London federation since 1999. The Academy provides junior, undergraduate, postgraduate, and research-level training in areas such as guitar, historical performance, conducting, composition, and opera.
The Academy’s museum and collections include historic musical instruments, original manuscripts, artworks, letters, scores, and other archival materials. Notable alumni include Elton John and Annie Lennox. For 2027 entry, the international tuition fee for the four-year Bachelor of Music program is listed as £29,900 per academic year, while the one-year intensive Master of Arts in Performance is listed at £32,700. Fees vary by course and may increase during a student’s program.
6. Hungary
Hungary has a long tradition of music education and performance. International students can find music programs in Budapest and in university cities such as Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs, although the language of instruction and admission requirements vary by institution and program.
The Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest states that it is the only university of music in the world founded by Franz Liszt. Established in 1875, it operates as both a university and a concert center. Its main building and concert hall are notable examples of Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture.
The Academy offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, postgraduate, and young-talent programs in areas including instrumental performance, voice, opera, composition, conducting, musicology, jazz, folk music, and music education. Current tuition for its listed full-time bachelor’s programs is HUF 800,000 per semester, while the listed master’s programs cost HUF 950,000 per semester. International students may pay in euros using the Hungarian National Bank exchange rate published on the first day of classes.
Other Hungarian institutions offering music programs include the University of Szeged, the University of Debrecen, and the University of Pécs. Their offerings include performance, music education, conducting, voice, and instrumental specializations.
7. South Korea
South Korea combines traditional Korean performing arts with internationally prominent contemporary music and media industries. Students can explore Korean instrumental and vocal traditions alongside Western classical performance, composition, music technology, and contemporary popular music.
Korea National University of Arts, commonly known as K-Arts, is a national university devoted to artistic education. It has six schools and 27 departments, including the School of Music and the School of Korean Traditional Arts.
The K-Arts School of Music offers study in areas including instrumental music, vocal music, composition, conducting, musicology, and music technology. The university has admissions routes for international students. Its official institutional profile lists annual tuition at approximately KRW 4.8 million and reports that 61% of students receive scholarships.
Other South Korean universities offering music-related study include Seoul National University and Sejong University. Seoul National University’s College of Music covers vocal music, composition and theory, instrumental music, and Korean music. Sejong University offers performance specializations in voice, piano, strings, woodwinds, and brass instruments.
In conclusion, these are seven established destinations for students who want to pursue higher education in music. A country not included here may still be an excellent option. France, Australia, Switzerland, and many other countries have universities and conservatories offering music degrees. For more European options, see our guide to the best music schools in Europe. You can also explore the Best Music Schools in the World to learn about institutions in other destinations.
We hope this article on the best countries to study music was informative and insightful. If you’re interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students!
