Courses of Study

The Bachelor of Music course is an 8-semester undergraduate program, divided into two 4-semester phases.

In the first 4 semesters (basic undergraduate phase), in addition to instruction in the main artistic field of studdy and ensemble practice (orchestra/choir/chamber music), subjects such as music theory (the rudiments of composition, study of harmony, counterpoint), musicology, aural training, and instrumental-vocal didactics/methodology, as well as the minor subject of piano, are taught. The basic undergraduate phase ends on successful completion of your intermediate exam.

In semesters 5-8 (the advanced undergraduate phase), concentrates more on your main artistic field of study and ensemble practice. The areas of reflection subjects here include analysis and music education. Part of your intermediate exam will entail making a decision on your individual main focus for the advanced undergraduate phase of your degree: otherwise known as the profiling phase. In the profile phase we offer a wide range of options to accommodate as many interests as possible. The profiles you choose will influence your final Bachelor degree exams and can, to some extend, be considered as a move towards specialization in later postgraduate programs. 

The postgraduate programs Master of Music or Master of Arts have a normal course length of 4 semesters.

The main focus of the program is to help you further your professional development in your main artistic field of study. In addition, there are broad elective areas where students can freely choose further courses. Certain Master's programs have a specific set of mandatory subjects.

You can continue the postgraduate program with one of the options in the third stage of study options.

THe HMDK also offers part-time Master's programs in the subjects of Wind Orchestra Conducting, Choral Conducting, and Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy. These courses of study are pursued on a part-time basis (see Continuing Education Master's at the bottom of this page).

Experiencing intensive artistic-aesthetic experiences and reflecting on them – understanding in which reference systems music emerges, how it is constructed, and how it is received by whom and when – experimenting with how teaching can be designed, and reflecting on it: Few studies are as diverse as a teaching degree program with a focus on music – with around 150 students, it is one of the largest course of study at our university.

Bachelor Teaching Degree Program

Master Teaching Degree Program

Music education - Specialization Jazz & Pop

In active contact among students, trainee teachers, and colleagues at schools, we inquire about current trends and continuously develop our diverse offerings. Thus,voice, pop, jazz, and historical keyboard instruments have been added as possible primary instruments; recently, accordion, euphonium, and practical piano playing can also be chosen as main instruments upon students' request. Chamber music and accompaniment are selectable, speaking in the practical semester addresses the special needs of the voice in the future work environment, the basic Jazz & Pop course and creative media practice are open to all music education students as well as various contemporary music didactic offerings (e.g., Scene Interpretation, Class Music Making, Dance in Music Lessons, or Music Theater Didactics). Insights into empirical music pedagogical work broaden the spectrum, as do excursions and lecture series on current research topics.

To be able to teach music in schools, the course of study is complemented by Educational Sciences (a selection of school-relevant topics from the disciplines of Educational Science, Philosophy, and Pedagogical Psychology) and a freely selectable academic subject, which are studied simultaneously at the university. The specialization Jazz & Pop can replace the scientific subject, and a Bachelor Church Music B can also be recognized later as a second subject to teach. Passing a separate entrance examination and the existing of an available place in this subject are essential for both programs.

Please note that for studying at the university in your desired subject, access restrictions or separate entrance examinations (sports) may also apply. Passing the entrance examination in music does not override these.

Information on the Entrance Examination

Date: The entrance examination for the Teaching Degree Program is usually held at the end of January for the summer semester and around mid-June for the winter semester.

Total Duration: All test parts are completed in one day.

Requirement: University entrance qualification (e.g. A-levels)

Practical Examination in the Subjects:

• Main Instrument
• Vocal (if singing or jazz singing is not chosen as the main instrument)
• Secondary Instrument Piano (if piano or jazz piano is not chosen as the main instrument)
• Practical Piano Playing
• Music Theory
• AuralTraining
• Musical Group Leadership

The following instruments are eligible as main instruments: Piano, Jazz Piano, Keyboard, Organ, Harpsichord, Historical Keyboard Instruments (combination of organ and harpsichord), Harp, Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Jazz Saxophone, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Jazz Trumpet, Trombone, Jazz Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Jazz Bass, Electric Bass, Harp, Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drum Kit, Jazz Drum Kit, Percussion, Singing, Jazz Singing, Accordion, Euphonium, and Practical Piano Playing.

For more information, refer to the admission requirements for each sub-degree course.

To prepare for the entrance examination an Admission Test Check (APC) s regularly offered at the HMDK Stuttgart.

For enrollment in a teaching degree program in Baden-Württemberg, proof must be provided that the Orientation Test has been successfully completed.

Questions and Contact

Dean of Studies Prof. Dr. Sointu Scharenberg

Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Artistic Research Prof. Dr. Matthias Hermann

Other Advisory Services

Student Counseling Center at the University of Stuttgart
Information and Advisory Formats at Tübingen School of Education (TüSE)

Links to the Professional School of Education Stuttgart-Ludwigsburg (PSE)

Professional School of Education Stuttgart-Ludwigsburg (PSE)
PSE – Servicepoint Teaching Degree

Links for School Internships

School Internships in Baden-Württemberg
Internship at Schools Abroad
Central Agency for Schools Abroad

Seminars for Training and further Education for teachers

Seminars for Training and further Education for teachers
Seminar Stuttgart – Department of High Schools
Seminar Heilbronn – Department of High Schools
Seminar Tübingen – Department of High Schools

The HMDK offers a nationally unique range of artistic bachelor's degree programs in the performing arts sector.

In addition to acting, you can also study puppetry and spoken arts/communication pedagogy with us. All bachelor's degree programs (B.A.) have a standard duration of 8 semesters.

In acting, in the fourth year of study, you can choose between specializations in theater, film, or performance. Public productions are planned for all semesters, some of which are also shown in the university's own Wilhelma Theatre.

In the fourth year of the puppetry course of study, you can specialize in directing, puppet design, or acting/interpretation.

The Bachelor's program in spoken arts/communication pedagogy offers specializations in media speaking, rhetorical communication, spoken arts, and communication pedagogy. You can deepen the three specializations of media speaking, rhetoric, and spoken arts in a one-year Master's program (M.A.).

A Master's program in directing for puppetry is in the planning stage.

In the Third Cycle at the HMDK Stuttgart, two courses of study can be taken: 

• the course of study Concert Exam/Stage Exam
• the artistic-scientific doctoral program (in preparation)

Additionally, the HMDK Stuttgart offers scientific doctoral studies in the fields of musicology and music pedagogy with the degree of Ph.D. in Philosophy. In the purely artistic Concert Exam, training for soloists or chamber soloists is provided. In the artistic-scientific doctoral program, an artistic and a scientific field are interconnected.

The HMDK Stuttgart has had the right to award doctoral degrees in the fields of musicology and music pedagogy since 2003, and in the field of philosophy since 2019. Additionally, since 2005, it also has the right to award habilitation degrees in these three disciplines. For more information, please visit Doctorate and Habilitation.

Among our Continuing Education Programs are

Continuing Education Master Wind Orchestra Conducting

Continuing Education Master Choral Conducting

Continuing Education Master Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy

The Continuing Education Master's programs are studied part-time while working. Therefore, several years of professional experience are an important admission requirement. Access to a part-time Continuing Education Master's program is through an entrance examination. A respective registration at the Student Administration Office/Examinations Office is required for this purpose. The standard period of study is 4 semesters. The program incurs tuition fees, with the amount set at €500 per semester. The program concludes with a Master examination, and graduates are awarded the academic title "Master of Music."

In addition, we offer

Supplementary Studies Instrumental/Vocal Didactics

Supplementary Studies Elementary Music Pedagogy (EMP) / Rhythm

Contact Study

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