Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik
About Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik
Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Halle (EHK) is a state-recognised specialist conservatoire for church music in Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt, operating under the sponsorship of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKMD). Founded in 1926, it describes itself as the oldest and largest state-recognised university for church music in independent ecclesiastical sponsorship in Germany. All programmes are accredited.
The institution is housed since 2001 in the Händelhaus-Karree in central Halle, a modern building containing seven teaching and practice organs, rehearsal halls, and spaces for academic work. A joint degree with nearby Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) allows students to combine church music training with a secondary-school music teaching qualification.
Teaching spans seven subject groups: Organ, Piano, Choir and Orchestra Conducting, Singing and Speech Education, Music Theory and Musicology, Popular Music and Additional Instruments, and Theology. The institution holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021–2027 and runs student exchanges through the Erasmus+ programme.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1926
Oldest and largest state-recognised church music conservatoire in independent ecclesiastical sponsorship in Germany
Founded in 1926; celebrating centenary in 2026
Seven teaching and practice organs within the campus building, plus access to major city church organs
Joint Bachelor programme with Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg combining church music and gymnasium music teaching
Holds Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021–2027 for international student and staff exchanges
All programmes are state-accredited and BAföG-eligible
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
Studies at EHK are eligible for German BAföG state funding, which indicates tuition-free public status for enrolled students. No programme-specific tuition fees are listed on the official website. A standard semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) is expected; exact amount is not published on the site — applicants should confirm with the secretariat. Saxony-Anhalt does not impose the non-EU surcharge applicable in Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria.
Admission requirements
Admission to all programmes requires passing an aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung). Entry qualification is the Abitur (or equivalent school-leaving certificate); exceptional musical talent may compensate for an alternative school certificate. A phoniatric medical report (HNO-Arzt) is required for Bachelor Church Music, Master Church Music, and Master Concert and Oratorio Singing. International applicants must provide proof of German language proficiency per the programme-specific aptitude test regulations (§3). No APS certificate requirement is listed; Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants should confirm the current APS requirement with the institution and the German embassy before applying. Required application documents include: written application with passport photo, curriculum vitae, documentation of musical training, school-leaving certificate, and (where applicable) the phoniatric report.
Application deadlines
Applications for most programmes (Bachelor/Master Church Music, Master Organ, Master Choir and Orchestra Conducting, Master Concert and Oratorio Singing): by 1 June 2026 for the June aptitude test, and by 17 August 2026 for the September aptitude test. Master Church Popular Music: deadline 12 June 2026 for a 13 July 2026 aptitude test. Deadlines are updated each cycle — verify at ehk-halle.de/bewerbung.
Languages of instruction
All programmes taught in German. International applicants must demonstrate German language proficiency as specified in the relevant Eignungsprüfungsordnung (aptitude test regulations).
Campuses & locations
Main campus since 2001; Kleine Ulrichstraße 35, 06108 Halle (Saale)
Living in the city
Halle (Saale) is a city of approximately 240,000 inhabitants in Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany. It sits on the Saale river, roughly 30 km north of Leipzig and about 170 km south-west of Berlin. The city is well known for its connection to composer Georg Friedrich Händel and hosts the internationally recognised Händel-Festspiele festival each year. Living costs are low relative to western German cities, and the large student population of Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (some 21,000 students) gives the city an active cultural and social scene.
Student life & support
Student housing is available through the Schlesisches Konvikt (60 places, many rooms equipped with pianos) adjacent to the institution, as well as through Studentenwerk Halle. Religious student communities (Evangelische and Katholische Studierendengemeinde) are active. The city offers opera, theatre, cabaret, and concert venues, plus the Peißnitz riverside park for outdoor activities. The institution maintains a student council (StuRa) reachable at [email protected].
5
Accredited Programmes
1
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
4
Master
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