The music industry is massive with an estimated global value of more than USD 50 billion, making it one of the most impactful industries in the world.
As a small country with one of the greatest traditions in music, Austria is known as one of the most musical countries out there. Its impressive musical history has continued to inspire and nurture young minds today. Music has become an essential part of all Austrians’ lives and is a source of great pride for them.
Austria was also the European capital of classical music in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the home of many musical talents in the past, namely Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Strauss, Franz Schubert, and more.
As one of Europe’s greatest cities, that has captivated many audiences with its music and still serves as a source of inspiration for others, you would certainly be making the right decision in choosing to pursue your dreams in Music in Austria.
Top Music Schools in Austria
Austria is well known for offering some of Europe’s most affordable educational degrees. Public universities are usually free for EU/EEA citizens, with non-EU/EEA students only having to pay affordable tuition fees usually less than 2,000 EUR per annum.
Local Austrian universities are usually ranked among the best in Europe, hence they can provide affordable education without compromising academic quality.
Here, we have five top music schools in Austria that offer education to international students.
1. University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious universities that specializes in the performing arts.
It is committed to recruiting students of great dedication and talent. Therefore it does not have a specific quota for taking in international students, meaning everyone has an equal opportunity to get in.
As of now, the institute is engaged in training over 3,000 students coming from around 70 countries. They also have the most ideal student-faculty ratio among institutions of this kind in Austria.
The mdw – the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna offers an array of bachelor’s and master’s programs in Instrumental Studies, Voice and Musical Theatre Direction, Music Education, and Music Therapy, as well as several doctoral programs in music.
2. University of Vienna
The University of Vienna was founded in 1365 and is the oldest institute of higher education in the region. It is a public research university and among the largest higher education institutions in Europe.
This university offers degree programs in several fields including a bachelor’s and master’s program in Musicology. The university allows students to choose a specialized pathway that best suits their abilities and interests.
The program offers a great starting point for individuals wishing to delve into music and serves as a great foundation for students interested in furthering their education in music. In addition, the program also equips students with skills applicable to various occupational fields like, media business, sound and image recording, editorial techniques, and more.
3. University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (Kunstuniversität Graz) can be traced back to the oldest music school in the world Akademischer Musikverein, founded in 1816.
KUG is located in the center of Europe and is well-known internationally. The institute has been successfully combining traditional Austrian music and performing arts while maintaining its contemporary nature.
KUG currently has more than 2,300 students, 17 institutes, and 2 schools for doctoral education. It offers a variety of Bachelor’s and Master’s programs like Computer Music and Sound Art, Jazz, Instrumental Studies, Composition and Music Theory, and more, along with a Doctoral Program in Artistic Research and a Scholarly Doctoral Program.
4. Jam Music Lab University
Jam Music Lab University was founded as a private conservatory for music in 2011 and was recognized by the public as an educational institution. Since then it has developed into a top
institution for education in professional music. It is now the very first Austrian university that primarily focuses on jazz, media music, and popular music.
Jam Music Lab is located in Gasometer Music City and offers an array of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in music education, music, and music production. The university has gained much prominence across Europe and aspires to expand Austria’s fame to include pop, rock, and jazz, in addition to classical music.
5. Mozarteum University
Mozarteum University aspires to combine artistic challenges and encounters with education and research. The university recruits highly talented students from around the globe who work together with an expert team of teachers to embark on a journey to develop and open up the arts and train outstandingly talented individuals.
The university portrays itself as an artistic challenge and encounter. It is also the only Austrian university that combines fine art, music, and performing arts. As a renowned artistic and scientific center the university commits itself to maintaining relations with the outside world by engaging in international exchange programs, scholarship programs, joint projects, and exchange concerts with other music and art institutions.
Mozarteum University offers a range of bachelor’s and master’s programs in Music Education, Music, Performing arts, and Dance Education, as well as several doctoral programs in Music Education.
FAQs: Music Studies in Austria
What Career Opportunities are Open to Graduates with a Music Degree?
As a Music graduate, teaching, performing, and composing are just three of the many ways you could pursue a music career. Firstly, you could choose to engage in further education in your desired field of study, like instrumental, vocal teaching, music performance, etc.
There are plenty of job opportunities related to a music degree, including Music producer, Special effects technician, Music therapist, Sound technician, Private music teacher, Sound engineer, Secondary school teacher, Sound designer, Talent agent, Acoustic consultant, and many more.
Austria’s rich musical history attracts many young talents globally. Today, Austria can offer affordable education to students from all walks of life as long as they are ready to prove their talent and dedication. In addition to affordable tuition fees and high-quality education, Austria is also popular among international students for being one of the safest nations worldwide.
We hope this article will serve as a guide in choosing the right music school! You can also find more information on different European universities and scholarship opportunities on the Study in Austria and Available Programs for International Students pages.
