About this program
Degree Program in Folk Music
This 5.5 year Program leads to a Bachelor's and a Master's degree.
Study to become a music professional in a world-class Program leading to a university degree in folk music.
While instrument and ensemble studies are the core of the bachelor’s studies, it is also vital that students acquire theoretical skills. The versatile course selection also includes studies in folk dance and instrument building, for example.
You will delve into the essence of memorisation-based musicianship, acquire skills in different forms of improvisation and learn how to use archives and other sources as material for songwriting that is inspired by research. You will acquire the skills needed to form your personal artistic vision and learn how to reflect on it orally and in writing.
As a master’s student, you can direct your focus in instrument studies, pedagogy or research. After completing a master’s degree, you will have a profound understanding of the playing and singing styles in old and contemporary folk music and know how to apply concepts that are central to the history, aesthetics and research of folk music.
You can also choose courses organised by the other two academies of the University and complete so-called joint studies that are available for all students.
Admission requirements
To be eligible to study for a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree at Sibelius Academy you need to have completed at least one of the following:
- The Finnish Matriculation Examination (a final certificate from upper secondary school is not sufficient)
- An International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
- A European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma at a European School
- A Reifeprüfung or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (RP / DIA) diploma
- A vocational upper secondary qualification, a further vocational qualification, or a specialist vocational qualification defined under the Act on Vocational Education and Training
- A foreign degree or qualification that makes you eligible for corresponding higher education in the awarding country
- A Cambridge Advanced International Certificate (AICE)
- A degree at a Finnish higher education institution or a degree abroad corresponding to at least a bachelor’s degree.
Language requirements
The languages of tuition in the Classical Music Performance Program are Finnish, Swedish, and English.You must demonstrate your language proficiency in one of the abovementioned languages by the given deadline. However, the majority of group tuition at the Sibelius Academy is provided in Finnish or English.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreProgram content
Folk Music, Bachelor of Music
Instrument and ensemble skills
The main instrument
- Folk song and use of sound
- The use of voice by a folk singer
- The main instrument
- Folk music ensemble
- Getting to know folk instruments
- Music perception skills
Folk music history and research
Creative, interactive and community skills
- Instrument construction and maintenance
- Instrument building
- Instrument maintenance
Folk music pedagogy
Study skills, wellbeing and career skills
Proficiency Demonstration And Maturity Essay
- Maturity essay
Language Studies
- Foreign Language
- Second official language
- Written communication
Folk Music, Master of Music
Instrument and ensemble skills
- Ensemble
- Improvisation in folk music
Folk music perception skills
Folk music history and research
Creative, interactive and community skills
Study skills, wellbeing and career skills
Proficiency Demonstration And Maturity Essay
- Maturity essay
For more information, please check the course webpage.
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program delivery
The languages of instruction for this Program are English, Finnish and Swedish.
Tuition
The tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is €5000 per year.
Tuition fees at Uniarts Helsinki are only applicable to Non-EU and non-EEA students studying for a BA or a MA degree in English.
Qualification
Target degree - Bachelor’s + Master’s Degrees in Music
Continuing studies
It is possible to complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at the University as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you will have the option to apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Career paths
After graduating, you will have a wide range of career options and can work as a musician, composer, pedagogue, researcher, community musician, and entrepreneur, or in expert and developer duties in different organisations or socially engaged contexts and in various roles in multi-artistic productions. Depending on your interests, you can specialise in creative musicianship, pedagogy or research.
About this institute
University of the Arts Helsinki
The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) offers the highest education in fine arts, music, dance and theatre in an inspiring multidisciplinary environment. Uniarts Helsinki’s wide selection of programs in the field of arts and productive dialogue between teaching...
Why study at University of the Arts Helsinki
- The University of the Arts is one of the leading performing arts universities in the world: Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy has ranked among the top 22 universities in the QS World University Ranking for five consecutive years (2016–2022).
- We have unique facilities for creating arts with two campuses in Helsinki and a new building for fine arts which was opened in 2021. The facilities are in the use of the Academy of Fine Arts as well as students of light design, sound design, and design for the performing arts. We host over 1,000 public performances or exhibitions per year.
- At Uniarts Helsinki you can study in an inspiring environment where different disciplines of art influence each other. The academies of Uniarts Helsinki;Academy of Fine Arts, Theatre Academy and Sibelius Academy, have roots deep within the Finnish arts education and history of art. The predecessors of all three academies were founded in the 19th century although then they operated under slightly different names.
- The Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki is an international academy with a focus on fine arts. Students' personal aspirations and one-to-one guidance in teaching are at the heart of the academy.
- The Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is one of the largest music academies in Europe. It is the cornerstone of the Finnish music culture through its expertise in teaching, research and artistic activities.
- The Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is a reformer of the performing arts and offer the highest education in theatre, dance and writing in Finland.
