Barenboim-Said Akademie

Admission is highly selective and based primarily on artistic merit. The process has two stages: an online application via SlideRoom (no application fee), followed by an in-person audition before a faculty jury in Berlin. Shortlisted candidates participate in an interview; composition applicants additionally sit a Music Theory and Ear Training test. Required documents include academic transcripts with certified translations if applicable, proof of English proficiency (TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL iBT/ITP, Academic IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, LanguageCert LTE, or Linguaskill General - minimum B2), a CV, passport copy, biometric photo, pre-screening video recordings, a recommendation letter, and essay responses. No APS certificate is required for Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese applicants because admission is audition-based and not a standard German university admission. Non-EU students admitted to Master of Music or Artist Diploma programmes must demonstrate financial means equivalent to approximately €950/month (blocked account of €11,908 required for residence permit purposes). Travel bursaries are available for audition candidates from eligible countries.

Applications for AY 2026-27 opened 1 November 2025 and closed 9 January 2026. The application portal for the following intake is expected to open around November each year. Check barenboimsaid.de/en/admissions for current cycle dates.

Direct application - no uni-assist, VPD or hochschulstart. All applications (Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Preparatory, Artist Diploma) are submitted via the SlideRoom portal (barenboimsaid.slideroom.eu) with no application fee; admission is two-stage: online application (transcripts with certified English/German translations, essays, CV, recommendation, proof of English proficiency such as TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge/LanguageCert/Linguaskill, pre-screening recordings) followed by an invited in-person audition and interview in Berlin (composition candidates also take a music-theory and ear-training test).

English is the working language of instruction. Students are expected to demonstrate B2 English at matriculation and are expected to reach C1 within the first year.