Master of Music
- 2 year(s)
- English
- Master
- Full-time
Get to know us
- Open days
- Meet us on campus
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Are you musically gifted
and do you seek a career as a professional performer on an international stage? Then this master might be for you. Fontys offers a unique programme with a personalised component in which you receive a 2-year budget to tailor the programme according to your needs. Additionally, a personal coach will guide you on your path towards your future career as a highly skilled and professional musician.
About
The Fontys Master of Music is a truly unique programme designed to cater to your artistic and professional needs. Choose your direction in Classical, Jazz, Music Theatre, Pop, or Creator Performer. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by your main professor, a personal career coach, and a research coach.
As a Master of Music student at Fontys, you receive a two-year personal budget, ranging from €3000 to €4000 per year, to tailor your curriculum. You may even use this budget to take lessons with artists outside Fontys, even internationally.
Our strong connections with local concert halls and venues provide ample performance opportunities in the region. With personalised support and a wealth of resources, you will be well-prepared for a successful career as a highly skilled and professional musician.
Why this study in the Netherlands?
- Extensive personalisation and bespoke study programmes.
- You will be guided by three coaches: a main professor, your personal career advisor and a research coach.
- This study provides many network opportunities, as you can choose to be taught by educators and professionals from outside of the school.
- You will be part of an international community of 600 music students and 1500 art students.
Programme
Ines:I really appreciate the fact that the teachers give us all the necessary tools to be a professional musician, push us out of our comfort zone, and at the same time, deeply respect our individuality and encourage us to follow our own paths."
Directions
- Individual instrumental lessons, chamber music & ensemble, coaching on research and study career.
- Elective courses for your personal and professional development.
- Project weeks connected with other performing arts master students.
- Extended research programme, connected with other performing arts.
- Performance exam at the end of each academic year.
- Three supervisors: your main professor, a personal career coach and a research coach.
- A personal budget that you can use to personalise the curriculum according to your artistic and professional needs.
- Ample performance opportunities in the region.
Before the entrance exam, it is important to think about your career goals. In your personal development plan, you outline your professional goals for the upcoming years of study. This plan supports your personal qualities and interests, and sketches where you see yourself as a professional in two years. The exam commission will evaluate your plan and is part of the application procedure.
Besides your Personal Development Plan (PDP), you create a single A4 page proposal (500-1000 words) for a research project you would like to pursue as part of your Master. This project should be focused on your artistic practice as performer and/or creator. The format for both the PDP and Research proposal will be send to you in pdf by
faa-admission@fontys.nl.
Besides your Personal Development Plan (PDP), you create a single A4 page proposal (500-1000 words) for a research project you would like to pursue as part of your Master. This project should be focused on your artistic practice as performer and/or creator. The format for both the PDP and Research proposal will be send to you in pdf by
faa-admission@fontys.nl.
In your first year you will have individual and group lessons on your instrument, based on your personal plan.
You can choose 3 electives, that will fit your need to become a complete professional.
6 research days are planned to teach and inspire you to research a topic that fits your personal artistic practice.
A performance exam is planned where you can show your achievements.
You can choose 3 electives, that will fit your need to become a complete professional.
6 research days are planned to teach and inspire you to research a topic that fits your personal artistic practice.
A performance exam is planned where you can show your achievements.
In your second year the work on your artistic plan continues.
There will be two projects to connect your plans to your professional future. Together with your research coach you will finalize your research.
Eventually all three parts; artistic, research and professionalism will show in your final performance.
Artistic Research is a vital part of our programme. This approach integrates creative practice with scholarly inquiry, allowing students to explore, experiment, and reflect on their art. Through Artistic Research, musicians develop a deeper understanding of their craft and contribute new knowledge to the field. Our programme collaborates with other master’s programmes through the Artistic Research Days, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and enriching the educational experience.
Conference Society for Artistic Research
SAR promotes artistic research within and outside academic institutions. They facilitate collaboration and communication through conferences and meetings, and disseminate knowledge about artistic research practices and results.
Requirements
English language proficiency
English language proficiencyAdmission requirements for the master's degree programme
Prequisite for admission is a Bachelor of Music degree or equivalent.
And all applicants need to submit a short (500-1000 words) research proposal for a research project focused on their artistic practice as performer and/or creator. The format for both the PDP and Research proposal will be send to you in pdf by faa-admission@fontys.nl.
English language proficiency
English language proficiencyAdmission requirements for the master's degree programme
Prequisite for admission is a Bachelor of Music degree or equivalent.
In case a candidate cannot provide a Bachelor of Music degree, an intake procedure will be initiated.
Visa
As a non-EU/EEA student, the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa* (MVV) and a Residence Permit. Fontys will apply on behalf of its students for these documents. We recommend you start the process early, i.e. approximately three months before you plan to enter the Netherlands.
*except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the USA and Vatican City State.
English languagroficiency
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required. As an applicant with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma you can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test.
Admission requirements for the master's degree programme
Prequisite for admission is a Bachelor of Music degree or equivalent.
Non-EU students who do not yet meet the requirements of the Master’s programme, but who can be expected to develop their skills within a reasonable amount of time to reach the appropriate level, may be accepted to the Pre-Master, a preparatory year. During the Pre-Master, students follow intensive lessons in preparation of the first year of the Master. The decision to accept a student to the preparatory year will be communicated to the student after the audition.
Costs
The tuition fees indicator helps you to determine the tuition rate for your situation. The information and tuition rates from this indicator are without engagement.
go to tuition fees indicator 2025-2026 go to tuition fees indicator 2024-2025
Statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees
A distinction is made between statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees. Only if you satisfy all statutory requirements regarding your nationality and if you have not yet been awarded a degree, will you be eligible for statutory tuition fees. Via the tuition fees indicator, you can secure an indication of the type of tuition fees that will be applicable in your situation. To do so, please make use of the indicator above.
Distinctions are made between the following types of Institutional Tuition Fees:
- Low institutional tuition fees
- High institutional tuition fees
Different types of tuition fees and Exemption Regulations
These different types of tuition fees and the Exemption Regulations are fully detailed in the:
The amount to be paid may vary in accordance with the following situations:
- If you have enrolled in more than one course programme (at Fontys and/or elsewhere), it is possible that you may only be obliged to pay one set of statutory tuition fees.
- If you believe that you may be eligible to pay only the statutory tuition fees on the basis of information that may be unknown to us, please report this to your Course Department.
- If it later transpires that you do not meet the requirements for statutory tuition fees, you will be obliged to pay the (higher) institutional tuition fees and if this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.
Paying in instalments
Collection will occur in a maximum of ten equal instalments on or around the 26th of the month. Depending upon the processing time required after your enrolment, the direct debit may need to be moved to the following month. If so, the amount outstanding will then be divided and added to the remaining instalments to be executed until and including the June instalment.
If paying the full sum in a single payment
If you commence your studies on 1 September, the direct debit pertaining to your Tuition Fees will be executed on or around 25 September. If you commence your studies after 1 September, the direct debit will be executed on or around the 26th of the month in which you commence your studies.
Non-EU students
Incoming non-EU students will receive a payment letter from their study department, which must be paid before the deadline. In the following academic years, payment can be made by direct debit.
Non-SEPA
If you have a Bank account number of which the bank is not situated in one of the SEPA countries, and you are a national of a country outside the EEA without an address in The Netherlands, then you will receive a payment letter from Fontys via your course department.
The Dutch currency unit is the Euro (i.e. abbreviated to ‘EUR’ or ‘€’).
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Holland are between EUR 1,100 and EUR 1,500 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Dutch Immigration Service (IND) requires non-EEA students to proof they have access to € 14.641 per year (€ 7.320 per semester)
Costs within the first months upon arrival will be higher than all other months due to a housing deposit, intro week and books. Study books are usually bought at the start of the semester and therefore it is wise to reserve and have direct access to an amount at the start of the semester which can cover the price of all study books and the living expenses for the first two months.
Before starting your study at Fontys, you must find suitable housing. Unfortunately, it is not easy for international students to find accommodation in the Netherlands due to the housing crisis. Start your accommodation search early. Please be aware that finding a place to live is your own responsibility. However, we are happy to assist in any way we can.
More information about accommodationCareer opportunities
After your studies the whole professional musical field is open for you. You can audition and join theatre companies, orchestras and ensembles. You will have the ability to create your own work, by starting collaborations, groups and ensembles or doing free lance work. You will be a professional musical entrepreneur, with a strong network, who knows how to arrange sustenance.
- Musical entrepreneur
- Orchestral musician
- Theatre performer
- Free lance musician
Arthema Quartet:The Master of Music program will not only help you in developing your musical skills, but also will educate you in abilities a contemporary artist needs in a rapidly evolving artistic landscape."
How to apply
All applications for our programmes have to be conducted via www.studielink.nl. Studielink is an online portal that allows applicants to apply and maintain their registration whenever they want to.
The Master of Music application process may differ for EU and Non-EU students, please read below what applies for you.
How to apply for admission at Fontys Academy of the ArtsAdmission Support
Do you have any questions regarding the audition process, Portal Plus or anything else? Do not hesitate to call us or send us an e-mail. We are here to help!
Audition process
- To take part in the audition you first have to apply. See the link "How to apply for admission above what the 3 steps are for application.
- The preselection of the audition will take place online
After completing the first 2 steps to apply for admission you will receive a link to your personal admission page where you will find the audition assignment and where you can upload your material. It will take a couple of days to proceed through all the steps, so make sure you start in time.
Read the Audition Requirements below for details about what to prepare for your live or online audition.
The deadline to upload your material is either the 2nd of February, the 30th of March or the 11th of May (the last one is not accessible for Non-EEA candidates because of the Visa procedure). There are 3 audition periods, these are not different rounds, you only participate in one!
- All candidates have to submit a Personal Development Plan (PDP), outlining their professional goals for the years of study, and a CV. You can upload these on your personal admission page.
- After the preselection only selected candidates will advance to the live audition (for candidates living in the Netherlands/ Belgium) or to the online interview (for candidates living in other countries)
The auditions will take place in the following weeks:
24-28 February 2025
22-25 April 2025
2-6 June 2025 (not accessible for Non-EEA candidates because of the Visa procedure).
- The deadline for the auditions of Master of Music-Pop is 6 February 2025!
- The deadline for Master of Music-Music Theatre is the 12th of May. Selected candidates will be invited for an audition on the 20th (or 23rd) of May. Save the date!
- Make sure you apply in time! If you are accepted early on you can start looking for a room, your place is guaranteed and you don't have to be on a waiting list, you will receive all the information on time, you can already participate in activities, you can already make contact with the teachers etc.
Admission requirements
To be admitted for the auditions, specific entry requirements should be met. Check all the admission requirements via the button below.
Admission requirementsAdvice
The longer you wait with your application and enrolment, the harder it will be to find a room in Tilburg. Tilburg is a real student city, so from July/August, it isn't easy to find a room.
Agenda
Sign up for one of our events. There's no better way to find out if this study programme is right for you! Visit a webinar from the comfort of your home or meet us live on campus. Whichever you choose, we hope to meet you soon.
Information session Master of Music | Online
27 Jan 2025
18:00 - 18:45 CET
Programme
Information session Master of Music | Online
27 Jan 2025
18:00 - 18:45 CET
Programme
Nice of you to register for this online information session about the programme and the admission. You can ask questions via the chat function.
You can also e-mail your questions to FAA-menc@fontys.nl at any time.
On Wednesday 12 February 2025, the open evening will take place. Mark this date in your calendar. You can register for this open evening starting Tuesday 21 January.
More events
Our team is here to help you with your choice of study. Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to book a trial lesson or if you have a question about the auditions for example. Don't hesitate to send us an e-mail or give us a call.